‘You are what you eat.’ It’s an old saying, and like many old sayings, there’s a lot of truth to it. How does food apply to erectile dysfunction? Well, in two ways actually. Often, potency problems can have an underlying medical or nutritional contributing factor. Your lack of an erection may be a sign of other problems, rather than being the only thing causing it, so you need to look at your whole lifestyle and figure out if you can improve things on that end. And of course, certain foods are actually known to have aphrodisiac properties, so include these in your diet.
If you think diet is just something women have to concern themselves with, think again. If your eyes glaze over at the thought of nutrition and other boring stuff like that, it might help to think about it the same way you think about your car. After all, your body is an amazing machine too, and it deserves your love and devotion just as much as your car – even more, in fact, because your car doesn’t have to last you a lifetime, but your body does, so it needs to be treated with respect to get the best performance in all departments. See where this is going? When you refill your car, you use the most appropriate fuel to keep it in good running order. You wouldn’t put crap in your car, so if you’re already putting crap in your body in the form of processed foods and foods high in fats, sugars and salts, maybe it’s time to take a detailed look at your diet and make changes that can help your body function better and get your sex life back on track.
First and foremost, a healthy diet reduces the risk of many factors that can have an impact on erectile dysfunction. This is because one of the physical causes of the condition is vascular problems that restrict blood flow to the penis. This blood flow is vital in achieving an erection and maintaining it through lovemaking, so it is important to address your diet and see if it is heart healthy, because basically a diet that is good for the heart is also good for the penis! Factors that can impact heart health, such as being overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high levels of blood triglycerides can all contribute to vascular problems. One way to immediately improve this condition is to cut down on processed foods in your diet, or better yet, try to cut them out completely. Pledge to eat only recognizable foods, and you will be guaranteed to eliminate too many processed and junk foods from your diet.
Recent research suggests that in 80% of erectile dysfunction cases, the problem is vascular. Not only does it cause problems in the bedroom, it can be a sign and warning sign of a more serious condition like heart disease. Following the right diet can help reduce risk factors for heart disease, and at the same time, it can help with your potency problems.
The Mediterranean Diet
Many doctors and dietitians recommend the Mediterranean diet as one of the world's healthiest. More of a healthy eating plan than a diet, it's high in antioxidants that help prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. Recent research in Athens, Greece concluded that men who follow the Mediterranean diet are more likely to have healthier vascular systems and fewer problems with erectile dysfunction. Remember that this isn't a problem that's the exclusive preserve of older men - younger men have the problem too, and in the vast majority of cases, it's down to vascular health.
The Mediterranean diet consists of fresh, in season foods, emphasizing fish and low-fat proteins such as poultry and eggs. Olive oil is at the heart of it, and it is one of the healthiest oils out there. Following the Mediterranean diet will boost your metabolism and help you lose any extra pounds, as well as lowering your blood pressure and regulating blood sugar levels. All of this is great news for your vascular system. The Mediterranean diet involves eating natural foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, limited red meat, lots of heart healthy oily fish and some dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. Healthy fats come from nuts and olive oil in moderation. You can also enjoy a little wine. One aspect of the diet is that it is good for kidney health, and it can also help solve the problem of erectile dysfunction, as well as vascular issues, men can also have problems with urination which can contribute to the condition.
Because it is high in fruit and vegetable consumption, the Mediterranean diet is also high in antioxidants. It is these nutrients that fight off increased free radicals in the system that can cause cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions. Studies show that around a third of men with erectile dysfunction can return to full functioning within two years, simply by following a Mediterranean diet and incorporating more exercise into their lives. Many factors contribute to this success. Perhaps the main one is that a healthy diet can help men lose excess weight. Too much belly fat is known to lower testosterone levels, which can contribute to a loss of sexual function. In addition, many fresh foods have anti-inflammatory properties, and men who are overweight often suffer from internal inflammation, which can impact general health as well as sexual performance.
Foods that can help reverse erectile dysfunction
Along with following a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet, there are certain foods that can help reverse erectile dysfunction because of their specific nutrients. Healthy eating can also look after your general health, including your vascular health, which is an important component of addressing your potency problems, so that's a great start. Now let's look at some foods that can help, and why they're so important in your diet. These aren't necessarily aphrodisiac foods, but they do have vitamins and nutrients that can improve your sexual health, so put them on your shopping list, if you don't already have them in the house.
Beans, seeds, legumes and other proteins
Protein is a very essential nutrient. It's needed for just about every bodily function, including cell repair and renewal, and it helps build muscle and keeps you feeling fuller for longer, which is great when you're trying to lose excess weight. The thing with protein, whether it comes from animal or plant sources, is that it contains amino acids that may not be essential for health, but can certainly improve your physical condition.
Arginine is one of these amino acids. It is essential for children, but not necessarily for adults. However, one important function of arginine is that it helps increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels. As already mentioned, it is important for vascular health and normal sexual function in men. How does it work? Simply put, Arginine helps the body produce nitric oxide, which plays a key role in relaxing blood vessels, leading to more efficient circulation and better overall health, as well as improved sexual function.
So if you can incorporate plenty of arginine-containing foods into your diet, you can help yourself have a more satisfying sex life. Foods that are high in arginine are mostly protein-based, so eat more beans, legumes and seeds, lean meat and poultry, dairy products and oily fish. The top arginine containing foods are tuna, salmon, trout, sesame seeds and walnuts. It's also in green peppers, as well as quinoa, oats and wheat or rice-based cereals. It can be a little tricky to make sure you're getting enough arginine, as it's not something that's listed on the nutrient panels of various foods. However, if you aim for a minimum of 56 grams of protein each day, you should get enough arginine to promote vascular health and dilate those blood vessels.
Fruits and Vegetables
If you've ever been tempted to buy drugs online to address your erectile dysfunction, or if you've thought about asking your doctor to prescribe them, there's something you should know. Most drugs for this condition are based on the action of nitrates in the body, and their ability to relax blood vessels, which allows for better blood flow to the penis. The good news is, unless you have a problem with nitrate absorption, you can get all you need from eating the right kinds of vegetables. Leafy green vegetables such as spinach and celery are high in nitrates, and so is watermelon. Lycopene is also good for relaxing those pesky blood vessels, and you can get it from tomatoes and pink grapefruit, among other things. A word of caution though - if you're taking statins for high cholesterol, or anti-coagulants such as warfarin, steer clear of grapefruit. For everyone else, lycopene works best when combined with oily foods, so why not make a salad with tuna, avocado and tomatoes, and fight erectile dysfunction in a delicious, healthy and all-natural way? Cranberries are also good to go for enhanced sexual health. They can help clear up any urinary tract infections or inflammation that may be exacerbating your performance problems.
Shellfish
Oysters have been talked about as an aphrodisiac since time immemorial. And the reason is that they're high in zinc. Zinc is essential for the production of testosterone, and if your levels are low, it could be contributing to your potency problems. The truth is, oysters and other shellfish can bring on that loving feeling in both men and women, so go ahead and tuck in. Not keen on oysters? They're probably the best source of zinc – just one oyster can provide the recommended daily allowance. If you don't like them, don't fret – other seafood such as crab, clams, lobster and mussels are also good sources of zinc. Aim for a seafood meal at least once a week. On days you don't go for seafood, meat, nuts and seeds and fortified cereals can help keep your zinc levels topped up for testosterone-producing levels. And of course, if you're following the Mediterranean diet, you're eating all of those foods anyway.
Dark Chocolate
Lots of recent studies have come up with good reasons to eat dark chocolate – especially high-quality dark chocolate. It seems that this former guilty pleasure may also help with erectile dysfunction, thanks to its high flavonoid content. Flavonoids are substances that repair cell damage in plants, and they’re great for humans too, as they can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which can have adverse effects on sexual health as well as general health. Of course, you need to remember that even though it’s good for you, chocolate is still high in calories and fat, so don’t have too much.
While no particular food can prevent or cure erectile dysfunction, it’s clear from nutritional knowledge and recent studies that a healthy diet can do wonders in improving general health and vascular health in particular. Remember that about 80% of erectile dysfunction cases have nothing to do with age, potency, sexual prowess or anything else. The root cause is problems in the blood vessels that supply the penis. Following a heart healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet can go a long way toward addressing those problems, and set you on the path to improved sexual health, especially when a healthy diet is combined with regular exercise.
Foods that are high in nitrates can be as effective in treating erectile dysfunction as many of the medications prescribed for the condition, since their main function is to improve circulation to allow unrestricted blood flow to the penis to achieve and maintain an erection. Wouldn't you rather eat yourself back to sexual health than pop pills that can have unwanted and unpleasant side effects? Take a long look at your diet, and make the necessary changes, and you'll soon have your mojo back
