A balanced diet helps ensure good overall health. And certain foods are known to promote robust blood flow, which is essential to optimal erectile function. Add some of these foods to your regular menu.
Some foods are known to be good for you. A diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein helps make a body strong and healthy. Part of overall health in men is erectile health, so it stands to reason that certain foods can also help facilitate the strong erectile function that you want.
Generally, any food that’s good for your heart is also good for erectile health. When your heart is healthy and blood flow is robust and unimpeded, erections are more likely to happen naturally.
With the right nutrients, obtained from the foods listed here, you could see an improvement in erectle function. Although none is likely to help the way medications can, they all lead to better overall physical condition, which is the cornerstone of sexual health.
How Healthy Erections Happen
For an erection to happen, you need sexual stimulation. This might be a thought or anything else that sparks the mood. From there, the brain sends a signal to a set of nerves in the lower part of the spine. These nerves trigger the release of nitric oxide into the penis. When this happens, something unique takes place.
The blood vessels that supply the penis dilate and send more blood into the expanding spongy tissue. At the same time, the vessels leading out of the penis constrict, temporarily keeping it erect.
This process is unlike any other that takes place in the body. For it to work the way it’s supposed to, you need a healthy heart and blood vessels, and the right nutrients to feed your body. A healthy diet keeps you fit, and certain nutrients may even go to work, boosting erection health.
Watermelon Is a Healthy Choice
Watermelon has caused quite a stir with claims that it could very well be an all-natural and tasty substitute for Viagra. Although that may be a bit of hyperbole, watermelon does contain the amino acid citrulline, which relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow. A relaxed and dilated blood vessel carries more blood throughout the body, including the penis. Citrulline is converted into arginine, which WebMD says is a precursor to nitric oxide.
Cherries are another heart-healthy fruit. They contain anthocyanins, which are what gives them their red coloring. Strawberries have them, too. But anthocyanins are also antioxidants and may help reduce artery plaque. With less plaque, blood can flow more freely.
You’ve probably heard that bananas are a superfood. In support of the rather suggestive appearance of this humble fruit, Mens Health UK says the potassium content does an important job for erection health. It helps mitigate salt intake, which helps make the heart stronger.
Salmon and Oysters
Remember arginine and the nitric oxide connection? Salmon has it, too. It’s also good for the heart. The omega-3 fatty acids might help give your dopamine levels a boost, which can boost libido as a result.
Oysters didn’t get that aphrodisiac reputation for nothing. Casanova legends say he ate 50 raw oysters every day, but you can get what you need from about five. The magic ingredient is zinc, which supports healthy sperm count and circulation, according to SexMD by Men’s Health.
Snack on Nuts and Seeds
Nearly all nuts and seeds are good for you, with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Pistachios, walnuts, and almonds help reduce bad cholesterol, Brazil nuts have selenium for prostate health, and sunflower seeds are high in vitamin E, which is a powerful antioxidant.
It’s hard to go wrong with adding a handful of nuts to your diet a few times a week.
Spicy ginger does more than add aroma and flavor to foods and drinks. The International Journal of Cardiology says ginger also fights cardiovascular disease. And you know what that means for blood flow.
Nutmeg, however, is a spice with aphrodisiac qualities for a libido boost. In an Indian study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, nutmeg was found to possess “clinically applicable aphrodisiac activity and also lends support to the claims for its traditional usage as sexual function enhancing medicine.”
Don’t go overboard with nutmeg; a little goes a long way, and too much can be toxic. Michael Greger, M.D. for NutritionFacts.org says the toxic dose of nutmeg is 2-3 teaspoons.
Don’t Skip Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is one of the delights of life, and it’s good for erection health, too. Win/win. It contains flavonoids, which can dilate your blood vessels. Dilated blood vessels carry more blood where you want it.
Chocolate also does something else. It contains phenylethylamine, which releases the same endorphins as sex. In fact, the Sex MD article says the American Dietetic Association believes dark chocolate can even increase attraction between two people. Other research suggests that chocolate is more potent than kissing!
Garlic in Use for Centuries
BBC has a lot to say about garlic. It’s been used for thousands of years to treat anything from the plague to hypertension, but it’s also good for heart health. Garlic contains allicin, which improves blood flow. Allicin can also lower blood pressure and is a powerful antioxidant.
Garlic is available in supplements, but BBC’s experts say that’s not the best way to gain its benefits. Whole raw cloves are recommended, but that might not act as the best breath mint.
A Glass or Two Is Plenty
Red wine can help set the mood. And unless you drink to excess, it can also improve erection health. Red wine and the skin of red grapes contain resveratrol, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. It protects smooth muscle cells and helps stimulate the production of your old friend, nitric
One or two glasses of red wine is more than enough to receive the benefits of resveratrol. As with other alcohol, drinking more than that can lead to weaker erections.
It’s unlikely that any single food or food combination will cause a dramatic improvement in erection health. But each of these choices contains something that your body needs, so it certainly can’t hurt to try.
If you’re experiencing erection health problems and want a much more reliable and noticeable improvement, you’re probably better off talking with your doctor about Levitra, Cialis, or Viagra. These have been proven safe and effective for most men, and they work more often than not. Longtime online facilitator eDrugstore.com is a trustworthy online supplier of these and other brand-name ED medications, as well as generic formulations of Viagra and Cialis. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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