Erectile Dysfunction… Could It Be My Diet?

OK—this one is for the boys (but girls, you’ll want to keep reading too 😉)

By now, most people have seen the documentary The Game Changers. Ask the men what they remember most from the movie and you’ll likely get Patrik Baboumian’s (world’s strongest man) dead-pan answer of “Have you ever seen an ox eat meat?” and James Wilks doing Battle Ropes for more than an hour. My husband actually remembers the beautiful Morgan Mitchell and Dotsie Bausch exceptionally well—but that is for a different reason and I digress...

The other thing that men remember, though are less likely to talk about in mixed company, is the simple overnight experiment that showed increased frequency and length of erections. Indeed, a plant-based diet does wonders for men’s health, energy levels, overall appearance and (let’s just say it) penile performance. Why? Because getting hard and staying hard during sex is not only mental—it’s also physical and is impacted by what we eat. 

Why? 

Well, considering that the penis is a collection of blood vessels and nerves, this makes complete sense. What’s good for the heart is also good for the penis. According to Jamin Brahmbhatt, M.D., a urologist at Orlando Health, when we eat inflammatory foods, like sugar, refined grains, processed vegetable oils, processed meat and saturated fats, we are limiting blood flow in our arteries, and restricting blood vessels in that very sensitive area too. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases stated that Erectile Dysfunction (ED) affects roughly 30 million males in the United States. What’s the main culprit for ED? Poor vascular circulation caused in part by eating sub-optimally. Today’s modern diet leads to restricted blood flow to the penis. Ta-da! No surprise it’s also the leading cause of cardiovascular disease. 

What can one do to keep one’s penis healthy and functioning well? Like any other body part, living an overall healthy and clean lifestyle makes everything run smoothly and efficiently. Proper food choices, exercise, and plenty of rest keeps everything at peak performance. Following a plant-based diet can boost your testosterone levels (yes, it’s true) and gives you long-lasting, premium erections. 

Here are the top foods to incorporate into your diet to be at your all time best (in and out of the bedroom):

• Watermelon, pumpkins and cucumbers - All three of these contain L-citrulline. L-citrulline improves the production of nitric oxide throughout the body. In turn, nitric oxide creates a relaxing environment for your arteries and they will ultimately work better. What does this mean for ED? Increased blood flow everywhere! But let’s be clear, eating one slice of watermelon once in a while will not add enough L-citrulline to your diet, but incorporating these foods into your daily routine will help in the long run.

• Peanuts and Soybeans - Both of these plant-based proteins contain L-Arginine. The Mayo Clinic notes on their website that L-Arginine might help improve ED. Again, eating a handful of peanuts every other Tuesday won’t make a difference, but in conjunction with other foods and a good exercise routine, you’ll notice positive changes down under.

• Spinach, Arugula, Radishes & Cabbage - Among the other amazing benefits these delicious vegetables offer, the Nitrates found in all four of these increases the body's levels of Nitric Oxide. What does nitric oxide do? Reduces inflammation, for one, letting the blood flow free to all parts of your body.
  

• Pistachios, Almonds and Walnuts - Want a snack? Grab some nuts! Not only are they a great source of plant-based protein and help lower your cholesterol, but they have amino acids. Just like in watermelon, pumpkins and cucumbers, amino acids will boost the production of nitric oxide helping one achieve a better erection, increase the quality of orgasm, raise libido, and escalate one's overall happiness. What’s there not to love?
  

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Legumes, Blueberries and Whole Grains - In 2017 a study was published in the Central European Journal of Urology where men who had ED were placed on the Mediterranean Diet. The Mediterranean Diet focuses on real food including: extra-virgin olive oil, fruits such as blueberries and strawberries, plenty of whole grains and legumes. All these foods are rich in antioxidants and reduce inflammation. The study lasted 7 years, and the end results stated that a real food diet, incorporating whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds and lots of vegetables (sound familiar?), can help promote a healthy lifestyle, staving off ED and keeping men more virile.
  

So we say, ditch the Viagra! Keep your whole self healthy, super strong and functioning at its very best. Now who doesn’t want all that AND seriously delicious food delivered to your door? Sounds like a win/win for all of us 💚

🌱 plantable