If you’ve read anything about nutrition and heart health in the last few years, you already know that red wine can be very beneficial. But a study from researchers at Harvard University and the University of East Anglia also found that it can be beneficial to your sex life by reducing your risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).
The findings
The study, which was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that regularly drinking red wine reduced ED by 10 percent. This was true even when other factors were taken into account, such as body weight, whether the participants smoked, and how much caffeine the men consumed.
Understanding flavonoids
Red wine helps ED because it’s high in flavonoids, as are berries, pears apples, radishes, herbs, tea and citrus foods. Chocolate also has flavonoids but the sweet treat is less likely to have an impact on ED.
Of the six main types of flavonoids, three in particular were shown to be beneficial: anthocyanins, flavanones and flavones.
According to the 40-year study’s lead researcher, Professor Aedin Cassidy of the University of East Anglia, just a few portions of red wine and other flavonoid-rich foods weekly can be enough to decrease a man’s risk of ED.
It was already widely known that flavonoid-rich foods and beverages could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but this study of 50,000 middle-aged men simply added another reason to consume these nutritious options.
Combining flavonoid consumption and exercise
The lowest risk for ED was found among men who consumed a high amount of flavanones and anthocyanins and were regularly physically active. By combining regular exercise and healthy eating, these men were most likely to benefit their long-term cardiovascular health.
The study’s senior author, Professor Eric Rimm, points out that “erectile dysfunction is often an early barometer of poor vascular function and offers a critical opportunity to intervene.”
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