Introduction
Did you know that it is estimated that more than 50% of men experience some form of erectile dysfunction in their life and it becomes more and more common with age. Although the risk of erectile dysfunction increases with age, it's still possible for young men to experience it too. Erectile dysfunction is one of those problems that men are really hesitant to talk about, which also means there's a fair amount of misunderstanding about the condition and how to go on.
Today, we're diving into a topic that affects many men and their partners, erectile dysfunction. It's a common condition that can significantly impact relationships and overall well-being of a some men.
But did you know that making simple changes to your diet can potentially help improve erectile function? That's right. In this post, we'll be exploring what erectile dysfunction is and we'll talk about five foods that have been scientifically proven to improve erectile dysfunction. So let's jump right in and let's first talk about what is erectile dysfunction and what are some of the common causes.
What is Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is commonly referred to as impotency and is characterized by a persistent inability to obtain or sustain an erection firm enough for a fulfilling sexual activity.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There can be multitude causes of erectile dysfunction, which are mostly divided into
- Physical factors and
- Psychological factors.
Some physical causes include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, heart diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, high blood cholesterol, sleep disorders, and low blood testosterone levels.
Psychological causes are more common and include stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship issues. Recent studies have shown that most men have a combination of some of these factors. Despite becoming more prevalent with advancing age, it is a common ailment that affects males of all ages.
Role of Diet in Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
When it comes to tackling erectile dysfunction, a healthy and balanced diet can play a significant role in improving your condition and overall sexual health. So let's take a look at five such foods that have been scientifically proven to have a beneficial effect on erectile dysfunction.
1. Red Korean Ginseng
The first one we have on the list is red Korean ginseng. Red Korean ginseng, also known as Panax ginseng, is a type of ginseng that is grown and harvested mostly in Korea and some other parts of Asia. It is derived from the root of the Panax ginseng plant, which has been used for centuries in traditional Korean medicine. Red Korean ginseng has been traditionally used for its potential benefits in improving sexual health, including erectile dysfunction.
The active compounds in red Korean ginseng, such as ginsenocytes, may enhance nitric oxide synthesis, improve blood flow, and have potential antioxidant effects which could contribute to its erectile function improvements.
Several studies have investigated the effects of red Korean ginseng on erectile dysfunction. For example, in this study published in the International Journal of Impotency Research, the researchers looked at the effects of ginseng berry extract on the sexual function of men with erectile dysfunction.
They conducted a clinical trial with 119 men who had mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. The participants were divided into two groups, with one group receiving the ginseng berry extract and the other group receiving a placebo. The participants took four tablets of either the extract or placebo daily for eight weeks, and the researchers then assessed the participants' sexual function using a questionnaire at the fourth and eighth week.
They found that the group taking the ginseng berry extract showed significant improvements in their overall sexual function scores compared to the placebo group. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that oral administration of ginseng berry extract improved sexual functions in men with erectile dysfunction. They suggested that it could be used as an alternative medicine to enhance the sexual lives of men with erectile dysfunction.
Here are some links to good quality red Korean ginseng extracts, so if you want you can check them out.
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2. Berries
The compounds found in berries like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries have been shown to enhance blood vessel function and promote a healthy circulation. Before we can understand the role of berries we need to understand the process and mechanism of erection, how does erection occurs?
What happens is that during sexual arousal, the blood vessels within the penis undergo relaxation and expansion. This allows blood to flow into the two sponge-like chambers along the length of the penis known as corpora cavernosa. As blood enters these chambers, it becomes confined under increased pressure, resulting in the formation of an erection.
From this, you can have a basic idea that healthy blood vessels are very important for a proper erection. Therefore, foods that improve the health of our blood vessels have shown promising effects on improving erectile dysfunction.
Berries are rich in compounds like anthocyanins, flavonoids, and vitamin C, which are essential in maintaining healthy blood vessels as they help to combat oxidative stress and inflammation in the body.
Another chemical compound found in berries that has a positive impact on improving erectile dysfunction are polyphenols. The polyphenols found in berries have been found to stimulate the production of nitric oxide synthase, the enzyme that is responsible for synthesizing nitric oxide, which is one of the most important chemicals involved in the erection function of the penis.
Additionally, the antioxidants present in berries also help to protect and preserve nitric oxide from being broken down by free radicals, ensuring its beneficial effects on vascular health and erectile function.
3. Watermelon
Do you know that watermelon is also known as natural viagra? Yes, watermelon contains rich quantities of an amino acid called citrulline. Citrulline basically gets converted into arginine, which is the precursor of nitric oxide in our body. And nitric oxide, like we just discussed, improves the blood flow by relaxing the blood vessels, which is crucial for achieving and maintaining an erection.
Watermelon is a nutritious fruit and is rich in antioxidants, including lycopene, which may help to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation. These properties indirectly support erectile function by maintaining overall cardiovascular health.
4. Oats
Oats are one of the best foods that you can include in your diet that can help in improving erectile dysfunction. There are a number of ways how oats can be helpful in this condition.
Firstly, oats are a rich source of amino acid arginine and like we just discussed, arginine is the precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide.
Secondly, consuming oatmeal on a daily basis is also a great natural way of increasing testosterone in the bloodstream. And testosterone is a key factor for a healthy sex drive as well as proper erectile function of penis.
Thirdly, oats contain a type of compound known as evananthramide, which has potent antioxidant activity. These phytochemicals are able to combat the oxidative stress present in the body that is responsible for decreasing the quality of our blood vessels. And as you know, healthy blood vessels are the key to having good and sustained erections.
5. Pomegranates
Pomegranate is a remarkable superfood with numerous advantages. And one of its main benefits is that consuming pomegranate can help in improving erectile dysfunction. Here are some ways how pomegranates can be beneficial for erectile dysfunction.
Pomegranates contain rich quantities of polyphenol antioxidants that have been shown to increase the production of nitric oxide in the blood.
This increase is different as it does not use a regular nitric oxide synthase enzyme, as cited in this study done in 2016, which evaluated the effects of pomegranate extract on blood flow and vessel diameter after high-intensity exercise in young healthy adults.
The main polyphenols present in pomegranates that are responsible for this action are flavanoids, elagutanins, and anthocyanins. These compounds have been proven to reduce oxidative stress, decrease inflammation, and stimulate vasodilation, which is valuable for improving blood vessel health and increasing blood flow and exercise performance.
Pomegranate extract can also help in increasing testosterone levels in the blood, which also has a beneficial effect on improving erectile dysfunction.
Closing thought
So there you have it, 5 foods that you can include in your diet that will definitely help in improving erectile dysfunction. You can begin by incorporating one or two of these in your diet.
Just remember to be patient. These are natural things, so they take time to show their effects, as compared to a pill which can offer a quick fix to this problem. But quick fixes can prove harmful in the long run.
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