It’s not a new disorder, in fact it’s probably been going on for a long timee!  Well, we’ve all heard of insomnia, the disorder where people cannot sleep and often have trouble getting a full night’s sleep. Now, there’s been a newly coined disorder that has to do with sex and sleep, called “sexomnia”.

Just an update on the product review front here at MEM.  We reviewed another hugely popular male enhancement alternative supplement that is supposed to both enhance penis size as well as enhance sexual longevity and libido (kind of an “all in one” male enhancement supplement if you will).  It’s called VigRX, and you can see the full review here : VigRX Review

One of the unique things about VigRX is that it is widely publicized, it’s been in magazines like Rolling Stone, Stuff, Maxim and others that a lot of us would recognize, and it’s a fairly well known alternative to the likes of Viagra, Cialis, and the other myriad of male enhancement drugs out there on the market. 

This means it’s a natural alternative by the way…  but I digressed.  What I was saying that was different about VigRX is that it is one of the few natural male enhancement products that does not contain the herb Yohimbe as a primary stimulant. 

Yohimbe is actually a fairly controversial herb that has been used in some other male enhancement supplements, and some men have chosen to steer away from using it after having negative side effects (granted, some men may experience zero effects from it, and it in fact can work  very well). 

But VigRX does not have yohimbe, and it works on a different level than a lot of other herbal products. The Yohimbe naturally occuring herb is actually part of the bark from a tree that is native to the forests of Western Africa.

The herb was used by herbalists, medicine men and more primitive doctors to treat coughs, fevers and leprosy, but it was also commonly used as an aphrodisiac and to help men be more virile (this translates into having erections more often and sustaining them for longer periods).

People with any type of health condition should seriously consider taking anything with yohimbe in it, because it is an herb that should be taken under supervision if you have low blood pressure, diabetes, and a number of other physical conditions that may interact badly with this herb.  It is also reported to sometimes cause unpleasant side effects in those who may be perfectly healthy as well, so it is not an herb to be taken lightly apparently.

The VigRX male enhancement products contains a unique compound called Epimedium which houses a flavonoid called “icariin”. Icariin is what we call a “cGMP-specific PDE5 inhibitor”, which is chemically the same as one of the inhibitors found in Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.  Here is the review : VigRX reviews. 

A reader recently posted a comment on One a Day Vitamins for men’s health that he saw an ad for on TV.  Curiously enough, I saw the ad just after I read that comment, and it generally looks like it might be a pretty good multivitamin for men. 

It’s got lycopene in it, which has been shown to be beneficial to a man’s prostate health and longevity in many studies.  Actually there were a few posts that talked about getting fruits and veggies rich in lycopene (it’s a potent antioxidant linked to many health benefits, among them prostate health, and is a common nutrient in natural vegetables), if you are concerned about prostate health, especially if you are a man over 40 years of age. 

It’s made by One a Day Vitamins, which also has other specialty vitamins for various age groups and population segments.  For example, One a Day makes vitamins for the aging population, the weight maintenance and weight loss concerned segment, and one especially for women’s special nutritional needs and common dietary short comings.

It could be debatable whether it’s the “best multivitamin for men“, but it looks like it may be promising as a decent standin if you are looking for a reasonably priced vitamin that you can purchase at a store.  It does claim to have double the amount of lycopene in it than it’s biggest OTC vitamin supplement rival Centrum.  The ingredients in this new vitamin offering from One a Day called One a Day Men’s Health Formula are as follows :

Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Potassium Chloride, Cellulose, Ascorbic Acid, dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Gelatin, Croscarmellose Sodium, Acacia, Dicalcium Phosphate, Zinc Oxide, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Dextrin, Magnesium Stearate, Corn Starch, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Silicate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Sucrose, Mannitol, Hypromellose, Cupric Oxide, Resin, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Acetate, Dextrose, Lecithin, Chromium Chloride, Lycopene, Sodium Carboxymethylcellulose, Folic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Beta Carotene, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Ascorbate, Sodium Citrate, dl-Alpha Tocopherol, Biotin, Phytonadione, Cyanocobalamin, Ergocalciferol.

Having a slim, trim waistline is even more important for men now, with the rise in heart diesase and the undeniable correlation between excess belly fat and higher heart disease risk.  But the belly is where most men tend to add their pounds after overindulging, or simply due to the aging process, so how are you supposed to adequately combat belly fat and reduce those abdominals to somewhat of a six pack (ok, a two pack would suffice, we just need to reduce the fat in this area).

Well, one thing that men really need to focus on is cutting the fat down in their diet.  This means less chicken wings, deep fried foods, fatty meats, and all the other fattening foods that so many American men have been bred to love and subsist on.  Does this mean you can NEVER have these foods?  Absolutely not, just not all the time, and not overconsumed when they are eaten.

Cutting down on fat intake actually helps shrink the fat cells - those pesky cells that stay at the same number practically your whole life, but which swell and gorge when you consume more fat and calories, making you get bulges you never had when you were say, eighteen years old.

Drinking plenty of water every day helps aid in digestion as well as helps to focus our bodies more on burning calories and excess fat, instead of focusing on digestion, which takes quite a bit of energy.

Eating several small meals a day rather than those huge, “heart attack specials” that we Americans like to call meals is also key to optimum fat burning, which means less ab fat for you.  Doing situps or crunchess is also important, as targeting the precise area of toning will help the body burn calories and fat more efficiently in that area, and create a more toned tissue which is less apt to hold fat. 

And never forget or neglect the cardio aspect.  Cardio is absolutely vital to your health and well being, not just to sculpt your abs and cut down on belly fat, but also to lead a productive healthy life. 

The second most popular male erectile dysfunction drug on the market (second only to Viagra of course) called Cialis, is a drug under a company that is being absorbed by the drug giant Eli Lilly.  The deal was recently inked between the more well known Eli Lilly to aquire the smaller biotech firm who created Cialis called ICOS Corp. 

Reportedly Cialis has been Viagra’s toughest competitor since Eli Lilly and ICOS launched it in a joint marketing and manufacturing effort back in 1998, and in some areas it has even beaten the sales of Viagra. 

The company is hoping that its acquisition of the smaller biotech firm will help boost its profitability and investability in 2008 (guess 2007 is too early to expect a return).  Cialis has gained notoriety and sometimes preference over Viagra because it supposedly give a longer lasting erection than Viagra, many times working up to 36 hours (of course hopefully not with a full erection this whole time).

Cialis may exceed sales of 1 billion dollars by the end of 2007. 

Prostate health has really come to the forefront of male health lately, hasn’t it?  It seems even with all the latest innovations in the medical industry, we still can’t seem to provide an improved method of regimen for men’s prostate gland health. 

True, there are quite a few things we can do to help along our prostate health, and prevent an enlarged prostate while also preventing cancer, but what about natural supplements for prostate health - do they help?  Saw palmetto was recently put in question as a long standing prostate health benefit, and yet so many men have reported positive effects from taking saw palmetto who have an enlarged prostate. 

By the way, your prostate gland is no bigger than the size of a walnut, but boy oh boy when it’s enlarged you know it, and when you have any issues with this tricky little seminal gland they make themselves apparent - but only sometimes.  Sometimes prostate issues go unnoticed or mistaken for other problems. 

This is why maintaining prostate health is imperative, and we should really take all precautions we can to maintain its health and ensure we remain cancer free.  Other than dietary restrictions, what else can you do? 

Well, there is a new supplement that comprehensively addresses male prostate health that we’ll talk about soon here.  I think it’s a good thing….

Metrosexual men are those men who are heterosexual, but really get into taking care of their bodies, skin and fashion sense just about as much as women (if not more).  It used to be guys like this might be shunned for being “too feminine”, but not any more. 

Take guys like David Beckham, whose quite the ladies man while at the same time being a style icon for men and women alike, and maintaining his sex symbol status as well as “stud” status with men since he’s married to the beautiful and sexy Victoria Posh Spice. 

Other celebs have gone through metrosexual tendencies - like Ben Affleck when he was dating Jennifer Lopez  - he seemed to be a little too into coiffing his hair just right, and wearin the right jacket with the right pants.  Or someone like this guy who claims to be Anna Nicole Smith’s baby’s dad, the photographer.  Don’t tell me he doesn’t use a straightening iron to get his hair that flat, or doesn’t go to tanning beds!

I’ve seen my fair share of metrosexual men, and while I’m not 100% immune to it (yes, I have some skin care products in my meidcine cabinet), I’m still proud to say I’m no more into my looks than the next guy is.  I like to stay fit and look nice, but that’s about as far as it goes. 

I’m no slouch, but I also wouldn’t consider getting a nose job or anything like so many men are now doing, or lipo just to get rid of my stomach.  I also don’t obsess about my body and go to the gym like it’s my job, but I do all right!

Body image and poor body perception is not something the solely affects the female sex any more. Now, more and more men are becoming “body conscious” and more health conscious just like women are to maintain a sleek, muscular look to their body.

A 43 year old woman has recently become what’s called a “consecrated virgin” in a rare and little known ceremony performed by the catholic church, where women can confirm their vows to maintain their virginity forever, and instead give themselves over to God.

This woman has forsaken all “earthly desires” such as male female attraction, and instead is saying that, like a nun would, she will instead serve God.  The ceremony is one similar to a wedding, in that the virgin wears a white gown and veil, much like a bride would. 

Not only are there other “consecrated virgins” in this world, but there is also an Association of Consecrated Virgins with just under 200 women in the US belonging, and just under about 2,000 belonging worldwide. 

The idea is that there lies a “mystical marriage” bond between the consecrated virgins and Jesus Christ, and they must be an actual virgin their whole lives in order to fulfill this duty.  The women who are consecrated virgins not only sport a veil and white dress during the ceremony, but they also wear a band on their wedding finger, much like those who are actually married to an earthly being.

This latest woman, named Lori Rose Cannizzaro, knew about ten years ago that the dating scene just wasn’t working for her, and that she felt a duty to serve God, although she never shunned the idea of having children. 

She never lived in a convent either though, and prefers to continue to live on her own.  I guess this is the difference between a nun and consecrated virgin. 

Many couples who have been together for a long time tend to think that all the lust, spontaneity and desire has gone out of their relationship after anywhere from 2 years to 5 years. While this is true for most couples (and I bet the ones that say it isn’t are fibbing a bit, or just in denial) experience this ebb in the tide of sexual desire, it is not impossible to get it back.As long as you and your partner are committed to one another, and genuinely want the other one to be happy, there are ways which you can both help to get the spark back in the relationship, sexually speaking.