Erectile dysfunction is a common problem that affects millions of men. Some have ED occasionally, and for some, it’s a recurring problem. All guys have experienced it at least once in their lifetime. So, even if it happens to you – don’t worry. It could just be the jitters.
Anyway, the most common problem-solver is a pill called Viagra, or pills similar to that one. But, the question is – is there anything else you can do instead of taking pills? Well, the short answer is yes, but there’s a caveat. Other than medication, there is no magical thing that you can do to help prevent or treat serious erectile dysfunction, and sometimes, not even meds can help.
However, according to some studies, you can do several things to help improve your ability to get erect, and one of those things is to practice eating healthy. Can that genuinely help? Well, let’s find out!
Can You Treat Erectile Dysfunction With A Healthy Diet?
The evidence that supports this theory is pretty compelling. You see, most of the time, ED is related to a vascular problem. To put it simply, the blood supply to your penis is not good enough for you to get erect.
As we all know, a healthy diet can lead to a much healthier cardiovascular system, which is the basic premise behind this theory. Eating foods that are rich in the key nutrients responsible for great vascularity should, in theory, help you with your ED.
But, how effective is this method? Well, that’s kind of hard to tell. If you’re generally healthy and don’t have any separate issues other than ED, and you’ve already been eating a healthy diet, then simply adding a few more nutrients to your diet probably won’t amount to anything. On the other hand, if you’ve been eating trans fats, processed foods and loads of sugar, switching to a more healthy diet could probably help you out.
Which Foods Can Help You Treat Erectile Dysfunction?
Now that we’ve established that eating healthy could turn out to be beneficial for your ED, let’s talk a little bit about what you should eat and why you should eat it. It’s easy to say eat healthily, but since most of us have a different definition of “eating healthy”, we’ve decided to simply name all the foods that might help.
Leafy Greens
Most green veggies will do wonderful things for your body, and a handful of them will help you get an erection. Most leafy vegetables, like celery or spinach, have a high concentration of nitrates. Nitrates are natural vasodilators. If you aren’t familiar, vasodilators are the ones responsible for opening up the blood vessels and increasing blood flow.
Most modern-day ED medications work on that same principle. For instance, Sildenafil tablets relax your blood vessels in the same way vasodilators do. This allows for the blood to rush to your penis, allowing you to have an erection firm enough for you to have and enjoy sex.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate is a known aphrodisiac, but there is more to that story. Dark chocolate contains a naturally occurring antioxidant called flavonoid. Many plants, including cacao, produce this antioxidant, and its main purpose is to fight toxins and help repair cell damage.
In humans, flavonoids have proven to be quite beneficial when it comes to increasing blood circulation, which could help with your ED. Furthermore, flavonoid has also proven to be quite beneficial in lowering cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. As you probably know, both cholesterol and high blood pressure could contribute to erectile problems.
Oysters And Shellfish
Once again, we have a well-known aphrodisiac on our hands. The thing with oysters is that they’re very rich in zinc. Zinc is one of the main contributors to healthy functioning testosterone production in men. As you know, low T can be one of many contributors to your ED, and if you’re assuming that low T could be the root of the problem – you may try incorporating oysters into your diet.
Pistachios
If you like snacking on nuts, this one will be easy for you. Pistachios are not only delicious, rich in healthy fats and protein, but they also contain a protein called arginine. Arginine is a protein that improves circulation and relaxes blood vessels.
Blackberries
Blackberries are not only a healthy snack, but they can be quite beneficial when it comes to ED, too. Blackberries are incredibly rich in flavonoids. In fact, there are six different types of flavonoids in blackberries, and as we have mentioned earlier – flavonoids can make a world of difference.
Is There More You Can Do?
Expecting a few diet changes to solve a problem might be a little bit too optimistic. In most cases, poor diet isn’t the only reason you’re suffering from ED. So, you might want to consider making a few more changes to your lifestyle.
Quit Smoking And Drinking
We really shouldn’t waste too much time telling you that you should quit smoking. You already know it’s bad for you, so just quit. The same thing goes for alcohol. Nobody minds an occasional drink, but regular drinking or heavy drinking on the weekends will have a negative effect on your sexual desire and your ability to perform in bed. So, quit that, too!
Start Exercising
Your body needs to move. You can spend your life on a sofa or in a chair. To be fair, you can, but that will cause you an array of problems. Exercising regularly, for at least 30 minutes a day, every other day, can improve virtually every aspect of your life – including erectile dysfunction. So, get up and start working out!
Sleep More
Everyone knows how important sleep is, so we won’t waste too much of your time. Essentially, if you don’t get enough quality sleep, your overall health will plummet. ED is among many things that will go wrong with you if you become sleep deprived, so make sure you do all you can to get at least 7 hours of sleep every single day.
The Final Verdict
We feel like it’s safe to say that there are many things you can do to treat ED to some extent. A healthy diet is definitely one of those things. Will it be enough? We can’t be certain. Maybe it will, maybe it won’t, but one thing is certain – it will make things better.