Diseases transmitted through passionate kissing and the principles of dietary regulation of sexual function

**VII. The Trouble Caused by a Passionate Kiss**

"What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?" In the midst of that search, one day you finally find the love of your life. You meet, you get to know each other, you start dating, you hold hands, and finally, on a quiet night when no one is around, you kiss her, or she kisses you. Everything is so beautiful, but the next day, you wake up to find a bump on your lip. Oh dear, it turns out some diseases can be transmitted through kissing! You should know this! What diseases might it be?

1. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1): When we stay up late or are overly fatigued, blisters or ulcers often appear at the corners of our mouths. This is usually caused by HSV-1, and the blisters at the corners of the mouth contain the virus and are contagious. Initial infection with HSV-1 most commonly occurs in children aged 1-3 years. Symptoms typically include numerous small blisters and ulcers on the oral mucosa, which can also affect the gums, causing gingivitis. Other symptoms include fever, swelling, drooling, and refusal to eat. It usually takes about a week to heal. Afterward, the virus often remains dormant in the body, and when our body is tired and our resistance is lowered, it seizes the opportunity to cause further problems.

2. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was originally confined to the genitals, characterized by vesicular ulcer infections on the penis in men and the cervix, vagina, and perineum in women. However, with increasingly open sexual attitudes and diverse sexual practices, HSV-2 has also spread to the genitals through oral sex. However, it is not easy to distinguish between HSV-1 and HSV-2 based solely on clinical symptoms, as they are very similar. Similarly, HSV-1 can also spread to the genitals through oral sex. Determining the specific type requires herpes simplex virus DNA analysis.

3. Syphilis. Syphilis is caused by infection with Treponema pallidum. When syphilitic lesions appear in the oral cavity, they are most commonly found on the lips, especially the upper lip. A chancre on the lip is usually a brown, crusted ulcer that is not painful; a chancre inside the mouth is an ulcer with a grayish-white membrane formed by bacteria on the surface, and it will be swollen and painful. If the patient neglects treatment or the treatment is incomplete, the chancre will still heal on its own in about 3 weeks. However, the Treponema pallidum does not disappear but enters the secondary stage of the disease. In the secondary stage, numerous 3-5 mm grayish-white mucosal plaques appear, surrounded by a ring of inflammatory erythema. The patient feels no pain. These plaques gradually enlarge and then merge, looking like snail tracks. At this stage, the patient's saliva is full of Treponema pallidum, making it highly contagious.

4. Gonorrhea: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is also a pathogen of sexually transmitted diseases. It can simultaneously invade the mucous membranes of the urogenital tract, rectum, eyes, and even the throat, causing acute purulent inflammation. Subsequently, the tissues are invaded, leading to chronic fibrosis. If the throat is involved, a lot of white or yellow pus can be seen in the patient's throat.

5. Hepatitis: If your partner is a carrier of hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and you both happen to have sores in your mouths, you could contract the virus during passionate kissing! Statistics show that over 80% of adult hepatitis B infections are related to sexual intercourse. While hepatitis C is primarily transmitted through blood, a case in 1989 in which an Australian man contracted hepatitis C after being bitten confirmed that the hepatitis C virus can indeed be present in saliva and transmitted through saliva.

6. Viruses that cause the common cold, such as rhinovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, enterovirus, etc., are very easily transmitted through kissing. If you have a bad cold, please wait a few days until you feel better before kissing your partner!

7. Other kissing injuries are not necessarily caused by germs. For example, biting each other during a passionate kiss can cause mouth ulcers; excessive sucking can rupture eardrums; or leaving "pressure marks" (hickeys) on the other person's skin, requiring you to wear a turtleneck or use bandages to cover them up the next day!

All of these factors mean that lovers in the throes of passion must be careful! A little extra attention will ensure a kiss that is both sweet and reassuring. Be careful not to kiss in ways that could cause problems!

**Section Five** **Diet** **and** **Sex**

**I. Dietary Principles for Regulating Sexual Function**

There is a significant relationship between food and sexual function. Both traditional and modern medicine believe that choosing a diet with kidney-tonifying and aphrodisiac effects can positively influence libido, sexual response, and sexual behavior, achieving goals such as strengthening sperm, enhancing male potency, and tonifying the kidneys and body. From the perspective of maintaining and regulating sexual function, the following principles should be followed in daily diet:

1. Sufficient High-Quality Protein: High-quality protein sources mainly include animal proteins such as poultry, eggs, fish, and meat, as well as legume proteins. Protein contains various amino acids needed by the human body, participating in the formation of human tissues and cells, including sex organs and reproductive cells. For example, arginine is an important component of sperm production and has the effect of improving sexual function and relieving fatigue. Legumes, especially frozen tofu, are rich in arginine.

2. Moderate Fat In recent years, with increased health awareness, many adult men worry that consuming fat and cholesterol will lead to obesity, heart disease, etc. From the perspective of maintaining sexual function, a certain amount of fat should be consumed. This is because fat contains essential fatty acids needed for sperm production; a lack of these can not only affect sperm production but also cause decreased libido. Sex hormones are mainly converted from cholesterol in fat; long-term vegetarianism can affect the secretion of sex hormones, which is detrimental to maintaining sexual function. Moderate fat consumption also helps in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin E.

3. Pay attention to supplementing enzymes. Enzymes are special proteins that catalyze metabolism in the body, promoting metabolism and benefiting health. A deficiency in enzymes can lead to functional decline, including decreased sexual function and even infertility. Enzymes are found in various foods. When cooking food, care should be taken to avoid excessively high temperatures and prolonged cooking times, and to avoid frying, baking, or sautéing, as these cooking methods can destroy enzymes.

4. Pay attention to supplementing vitamins and trace elements related to sexual function. Vitamins A and E both have the effect of delaying aging and sexual function decline, and have a good effect on sperm production and improving sperm motility. Poultry eggs, dairy products, fish, crab, shellfish, leeks, celery, carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, dried chili peppers, and tomatoes contain vitamin A; egg yolks, beans, sesame seeds, peanuts, vegetable oils, and oatmeal contain vitamin E. Vitamin C also plays a positive role in maintaining sexual function; foods rich in vitamin C include fresh dates, hawthorn, kiwifruit, and various vegetables and fruits. Zinc deficiency can cause a decrease in sperm count, an increase in the number of abnormal sperm, and a decline in sexual and reproductive function, even infertility; animal organs, lean meat, oysters, milk, beans, potatoes, and brown sugar are rich in zinc.

5. The following foods have good effects on strengthening sperm and enhancing male virility. You can choose to eat abalone, octopus, clams, oysters, whelks, scallops, etc., which are rich in amino acids. Scaleless aquatic products such as eels, loaches, and mudfish also have the effect of strengthening sperm.

6. Drinking alcohol should be done in moderation. While small amounts of alcohol may have some health benefits, long-term excessive drinking can damage the mouth, stomach lining, liver, cardiovascular system, respiratory tract, and lungs. It can also damage nerves and vision, and impair memory and intelligence. Fetuses conceived through sexual intercourse while intoxicated often suffer from deformities or intellectual disabilities; these are sometimes referred to as "alcohol babies." Ethanol has an inhibitory effect on sexual function, potentially leading to impotence, premature ejaculation, and nocturnal emission.