Improving marital life starts with modifying bicycle seats; Korean cuisine also has a "special effect."

**Improving your sex life starts with modifying your bicycle seat.**

China is a major bicycle-producing country, and cycling can sometimes lead to erectile dysfunction in men. However, some experts have found that if you rely heavily on cycling as a means of transportation or exercise, you might want to adjust the bicycle seat.

This study, published in the January 2009 issue of the American Journal of Sexual Medicine, involved a modified method that shortened the head end of the bicycle seat. The subjects were 90 patrol officers who regularly used bicycles as their mode of transportation.

Six months later, although there was no objectively significant difference in hardness test results among the participants, the subjects felt a significant reduction in numbness and discomfort in the perineum, and their pleasure during sexual intercourse increased month by month.

The damage to sexual function caused by bicycles mainly comes from the bicycle seat. When people ride a bicycle, almost all of the body weight is compressed on the perineum, and the pressure on the perineum is seven times higher than usual.

Many mountain bike cyclists suffer from scrotal hardening due to the prolonged wear and tear on their lower body from the saddle. In particular, the head of the saddle, which exerts constant pressure on the genitals, can have a significant negative impact on male erections.

Of course, not all cyclists will develop erectile dysfunction; it's important to pay attention to factors like intensity and duration. Moderate cycling, similar to localized massage, is generally beneficial and harmless. However, experts still recommend that people carefully consider the shape of the bicycle seat and take proper precautions when choosing a bicycle.

Cyclists should adjust the saddle to their own comfort level, such as lowering the saddle height or making the front lower and the back higher. Some manufacturers have noticed this issue and designed saddles with a hollow center; whether this provides adequate protection requires further ergonomic research and improvements based on customer feedback.

**[Related Reading: Tilt Your Bicycle Seat Down 10°]**

To avoid pressure on the perineal tissues from a narrow bicycle seat, the simplest method is to tilt the front of the seat downwards. Studies have shown that tilting the front of the seat downwards by 10 degrees reduces the pressure on the front by 44% compared to when it is horizontal, thus significantly reducing the pressure on the male perineum.

Author: Zhang Muchuan, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Korean food has "special effects".

In recent years, popular Korean dramas often feature mothers and grandmothers mentioning dishes like "grilled eel," "loach soup," "ginseng chicken soup," and "dog meat soup." Indeed, these are common dishes used by Korean men to nourish their bodies, enhance their virility, and boost their sexual performance, especially as their sons approach their weddings, mothers tend to prepare these soups for them.

Korean cuisine emphasizes that "food is medicine," and its food culture has created many unique "sexual dishes," so Korean men often have sex at the dinner table.

On the streets of South Korea, vendors selling grilled eel are a common sight, touting its "kidney-tonifying and health-strengthening" properties, and it sells very well all year round.

Three soups that Koreans most often make to enhance their sexual desire, namely loach soup, ginseng chicken soup, and dog meat soup, are staples in both homes and restaurants.

In South Korea, the custom of "drinking dog meat soup during the hottest days of summer" is indeed practiced during this period. The soup primarily uses yellow dog meat, and Koreans believe that male dogs are the most aphrodisiac. They believe that consuming it with plenty of leeks is highly beneficial for men and particularly suitable for those suffering from kidney deficiency due to excessive sexual activity.

In addition, cuttlefish and squid are also believed to have aphrodisiac and blood-nourishing effects, making them a staple snack in many restaurants. Many Korean men also drink "aphrodisiac wines" daily, such as wolfberry wine, snake wine, and epimedium wine.

Experts believe that most of these kidney-tonifying foods are warm in nature and can easily cause internal heat if consumed in excess. These medicinal diets are suitable for men with weak constitutions; those with excessive Yang energy and internal heat should not consume them in large quantities. Similarly, a biased or unbalanced diet without attention to a healthy mix of meat and vegetables can also lead to food stagnation and become a source of illness.

Author: Zhang Muchuan

Expert Support: Du Baojun, Chief Physician of the Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences