We all know by now that following a healthy diet is good for us. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that eating well benefits your overall health in many ways.
But did you know that eating certain fruits may help erectile dysfunction (ED)? Bear with me on this one, I know it sounds a little hard to believe. However, I’m not the only one to have uncovered the potential secret powers of fruit!
Since a crappy diet can do more than encourage your body to gain weight (which in itself can lead to troubles getting hard), filling your body will processed foods can cause havoc with your blood vessels.
So, before we dive in, let’s talk some more about what your body (and junk) needs to perform in the bedroom.
Diet and erectile issues
A poor diet can do more than make you feel fatigued, it can also clog your arteries, leading to diabetes and even heart disease. Since these are all known risk factors for erectile dysfunction, a healthy diet packed with whole foods (and minimal processed junk and sugars) will help support heart health.
Following this type of heart-healthy diet can improve blood flow throughout your body. This means that when you’re looking to get hard, blood can reach your junk when you need it most.
With multiple medical conditions being a common cause of ED, a poor diet is often the trigger for bigger health issues that can ricochet into causing erection troubles.
So how can a diet packed with healthy fruits help your erection? Let’s see.
Which fruits can help with ED?
Much like other lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, getting regular exercise and minimizing stress), a healthy diet can help treat erectile dysfunction.
If anything, cutting back on unhealthy fats, processed sugars and cruddy junk food will benefit your general health – therefore your hard ons.
But which fruits should you be focusing on?
Berries
When it comes to fruits and ED, it’s all about flavonoids. No, that isn’t just a fancy word for their flavor. Flavonoids are a diverse group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) that are typically found in fruits and vegetables.
With powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, flavonoids help fight off free radicals that can cause oxidative stress on your system.
This means that your body can work more efficiently, including your erections.
Aim to incorporate the following into your diet:
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Strawberries (which have some anthocyanins)
- Raspberries
Watermelon
Sweet and refreshing, watermelon contains compounds similar to ED medication, having a positive effect on your blood vessels. According to studies, it may even ramp up your sex drive.
Although it is predominantly water, watermelon is actually loaded with lycopene, an antioxidant that’s great for your heart, prostate and even your skin.
Apples
An apple a day keeps the doctor away… And potentially keeps your erections at play. As well as being super easy to grab on the go, apples can help you burn fat (key for fighting obesity-related ED).
They are also packed with flavonoids, nutrients and fiber, too. Don’t be tempted to peel off the skin, though, as this contains the most flavonoids.
Aim for:
- Darker, redder apples
Pears
Another ED-busting fruit, pears are rich in flavonoids! Plus, pears can boost your body’s natural ability to protect itself against the degenerative signs of ageing.
So of course, if you’re a little older and looking to turn back the ED clock, adding pears into your diet can help you get – and stay hard.
Grapes
An excellent source of anthocyanins (which possess antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties as well as helping to prevent cardiovascular disease), grapes are packed with nutrients that can help fight off erectile problems.
Also Read: The importance of healthy sperm
With studies showing that a diet high in fruit can reduce the risk of ED by some 14%, there’s never been a better time to get some extra fruity flavonoids into your diet!
If you’re a lover of red wine, you’ll be pleased to know it has been shown to help protect against heart disease. However, if you prefer to steer clear of the booze (since alcohol and ED can be a tricky combo!), opt for grape juice or grapes themselves.
Pomegranate
While pomegranate juice has been labelled by some as the God of all natural ED cures, it’s not quite as simple as it may first appear.
One study reported that men drinking a glass of pomegranate juice did show ED improvements, however, this was a minor improvement. But don’t go eliminating pomegranate juice from your grocery shopping list just yet!
Since pomegranates are incredibly rich in antioxidants – they are also great for heart health.
Pink grapefruit
Lycopene is one of those phytonutrients that is key for circulation, and of course, we all know how important blood flow is for getting hard.
Found in deep-red fruits such as pink grapefruit and tomatoes (let’s save the ‘fruit’ or ‘veg’ tomato arguments for later), lycopene can be absorbed even more efficiently when mixed with oily foods.
So if you’re looking for ways to fight ED, get whipping up some salads! Plus, studies have shown that antioxidants – such as lycopene – can help fight prostate cancer and male infertility.
Ordinary grapefruit, however, has been shown to interact oddly with the way medication is absorbed by the body. One medication that takes the hit: Sildenafil.
Also Read: How to make your partner happy
Yep, the active ingredient in Viagra. So if you’re filling your days with a lot of grapefruit, you may notice an odd change in the way your body absorbs it.
Lemon
By now, we’re well acquainted with the way underlying health concerns can potentially cause or flag up signs of ED. While sucking on a lemon may not get you hard in seconds, it can indirectly improve erectile problems.
This is because lemons are rich in vitamin C and plant compounds that can reduce high blood pressure. Get your blood pressure down and you’ll be pounding away in no time (hopefully!).
Bananas
Jam-packed with potassium, bananas are great for heart health and circulation.
So when you’re looking to improve blood flow down below, get adding bananas into your diet! Not only are they easy to grab on the go and chomp on during your drive to work, but you can easily incorporate them into smoothies and breakfasts, too.
Papayas
Much like bananas, papaya is also full of potassium! They are also loaded with vitamin A, anti-ageing properties and immunity-boosting powers.
Also Read: Simple ways to get a better erection
If you’re looking for a health kick and a way to improve your body’s natural blood flow, papayas will most certainly deliver.
Kiwi
While there’s plenty of room for further research into the relationship between kiwi and ED, one study (on rats, bearing in mind!) has reviewed whether kiwi could combat the side effects of tadalafil – a pretty popular ED treatment.
The result? Kiwi is beneficial in this instance. Whether kiwi on its own can help you get hard, we’re not so sure.
Looking for a sure way to beat ED?
Sure, adding extra fruits into your diet is great, but if you’re fed up with hoping and praying that an apple-a-day will fight your erectile problems, there’s always an alternative.
Male Extra’s 100% natural formula is safe, effective and quick working, so you can jump back in the sack with confidence.
Stop waiting for your sex drive to return, and take action – the safe and easy way.
