{"id":7797,"date":"2015-02-05T16:16:47","date_gmt":"2015-02-05T16:16:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.edrugstore.md\/blog\/?p=7797"},"modified":"2015-02-05T19:22:29","modified_gmt":"2015-02-05T19:22:29","slug":"how-a-new-diet-in-the-new-year-can-mean-better-erection-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/how-a-new-diet-in-the-new-year-can-mean-better-erection-health\/","title":{"rendered":"How a New Diet in the New Year Can Mean Better Erection Health"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"One
One of the mainstays of the Mediterranean diet is heart-healthy olive oil, which is used in place of butter and margarine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What you eat — as well as what you don\u2019t eat — can have a profound effect on your erection health in the coming year. If you\u2019ve acquired some unhealthy eating habits over the years, trading them in for better habits can help you to prevent erection problems or ease your symptoms of impotence if trouble has already begun.<\/p>\n

As you may have heard, there is a very close link between the health of your penis and the health of your heart. If you\u2019ve already begun to experience symptoms of impotence, it\u2019s a warning that you may be headed for heart trouble down the road.<\/p>\n

For optimal function, both the penis and the heard depend on a strong and unimpeded blood flow. Because the arteries supplying the penis are much smaller in diameter than those that feed the heart, signs of trouble usually show up there first. Acting quickly to change your dietary habits and get rid of other unhealthy lifestyle choices in some cases can reverse the damage done to erectile function and avert more serious cardiovascular illness in the future.<\/p>\n

Heart-Healthy = Penis-Healthy<\/b><\/p>\n

Because the ultimate health of these two organs are so closely linked, adopting a heart-healthy diet \u00a0usually helps to protect against erection problems at the same time that it improves cardiovascular health. So all the advice you have heard about heart-healthy eating applies when you\u2019re looking for ways to improve erection health.<\/p>\n

If you were to adopt a single eating plan or pattern that\u2019s beneficial for both your heart and penis, it would be hard to top the so-called Mediterranean diet, which is rich in plant-based foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, unrefined grains and grain products, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. The diet also incorporates moderate amounts (at least twice weekly) of fish and poultry. Red meat is rarely eaten. For those who drink alcohol, the diet does allow moderate amounts of red wine.<\/p>\n

The Mediterranean diet is so-called because it follows the age-old eating habits of the men and women who live along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. They eat plenty of whole-grain bread, but eat it either plain or dipped in olive oil. Salt intake is minimized by using other herbs and spices to season food. If you\u2019ve got a yen for something sweet after a meal, eat some fruit, but steer clear of processed desserts made with refined sugar.<\/p>\n

Moderate Dairy Intake <\/b><\/p>\n

Moderate amounts of dairy products are allowable on the Mediterranean diet and should be consumed primarily in the form of yogurt and cheese. To maximize your benefits from this diet, or any diet for that matter, you should try to stay physically active, which is typical of the people living in the Mediterranean basin.<\/p>\n

\"Dark
Dark chocolate is high in flavonoids that promote healthy circulation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oldways, an organization dedicated to the idea that traditional ethnic and regional eating plans can guide us to good health and well-being, created the original Mediterranean Diet Pyramid<\/a> back in 1993. Food pyramids are helpful visual guides to the overall makeup of a diet and which foods are most important as well as those foods that should be eaten in moderation or not at all.<\/p>\n

Main Pillars of Diet <\/b><\/p>\n

Making up the base of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid are the foods that should provide the basis for every meal. These include fruits, vegetables, grains (mostly whole), olive oil, beans, nuts, legumes and seeds, and herbs and spices. The next level up on the pyramid is fish and seafood, which should be eaten at least twice a week.<\/p>\n

The next higher level is devoted to poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt, moderate portions of which are allowable. At the very top of the pyramid are red meats and sweets, both of which should be eaten in very moderate amounts to maintain good health. Drinking lots of water is also an essential part of the diet, which also permits some wine as well. Red wine, rich in resveratrol, is preferable.<\/p>\n

Other Heart-Healthy Diets<\/b><\/p>\n

Although the Mediterranean diet remains the gold standard for heart-healthy eating, other diets and eating plans can help preserve erectile function and protect your cardiovascular system as well. For general guidelines, check out the American Heart Association\u2019s diet and lifestyle recommendations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Down through the ages, certain foods have developed a reputation as particularly supportive of sexual function. To the extent that these foods are also heart-healthy, you should try to incorporate as many as possible into your personal diet. In an article posted at EverydayHealth.com, Chris Iliades, M.D., offers profiles of six erection-friendly nutrients and the foods that contain them:<\/p>\n