The cause of erectile dysfunction is attributable to issues with physiological and psychological health. Your physiological as well as psychological health is dependent on your lifestyle habits. One among these habits is diet, which has a pivotal role in your overall health and well-being. However, persistent consumption of a diet devoid of essential nutrition gradually contributes to health issues, be it physical or mental.
With a healthy diet, one can certainly achieve sound health. Some foods contain hormone inhibitors of PDE5, while others boost the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in the body. Nitric oxide is an essential chemical, which ensures a healthy sexual function. Let us explore some foods that might help treat erectile dysfunction.
Foods That Can Improve Erection Function
Leafy Green vegetables
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and collards including cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and others are rich sources of nitrates, which get metabolized by the body into nitric oxide (NO). Consuming more of these vegetables will maintain adequate levels of nitric oxide in the body, which will keep your blood vessels healthy.
The vascular function remains healthy due to nitric oxide, as this chemical keeps the blood vessels of the penile relaxed and dilated, to allow a healthy flow of blood through them. A healthy erection function requires proper blood flow in the penile. Hence, including more leafy greens in your daily diet will be beneficial for enhancing your sexual performance.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a superfood for sexual health. It boosts the levels of nitric oxide in the body and keeps your vascular function healthy. It prevents your blood vessels from getting damaged because of plaque accumulation in their passages. The boost of nitric oxide from the fruit helps in maintaining the health of cardiovascular function. It also has strong antioxidant properties, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Besides, it is an excellent food for those who are experiencing issues with fertility and stamina.
Carrot
Carrots are a rich source of nitrates which get converted into nitric oxide by the body. It is laden with antioxidants that slow down the degradation of the blood vessels and limit the build-up of plaque in their passage. It relaxes the blood vessels and boosts blood circulation in the body. It helps manage blood pressure and lowers the risk of heart disease. Besides improving erection function, carrots are also helpful in improving your sex drive or libido.
Berries
Berries are superfoods for your sexual health. Especially, blueberries are more nutritious than others when it comes to treating sexual health disorders. They are loaded with flavonoids which are natural compounds having strong antioxidant properties that boost the release of nitric oxide in the endothelial walls of the penile blood vessels and prevent any damage to them.
Watermelon
Watermelon is an excellent source of nutrients and they are packed with essential vitamins such as Citrulline, which is an amino acid that can be found in the white portion of the watermelon which covers the pulp. Citrulline triggers the release of nitric oxide, which promotes vasodilation and relaxation of the blood vessels.
Citrulline boosts the flow of blood in the penile and helps improve the erection function. Apart from this, it also lowers the risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease and cardiovascular disorders which are primary contributors to erectile dysfunction problems.
Garlic
Garlic promotes nitric oxide production and release in the body. It improves blood circulation to the penile. It helps prevent plaque formation in the passages of the blood vessels by conducting vasodilation and relaxation of the blood vessels. Not only does garlic treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, but it also improves your libido or sex drive.
Chili Pepper
Chili peppers are great for your overall sexual health. Including more of it in your diet can provide a much-needed boost to your sexual performance. Specifically, Cayenne peppers are considered to be the most potent ones of all, as they promote an abundance of blood supply to the penile. The surge of nitric oxide due to these peppers helps in lowering the blood pressure and relaxing the blood vessels to allow more blood flow inside the penile. It helps restore a healthy erection function.
Dark Chocolates
Dark chocolate is laden with essential minerals and it is also a great source of flavonoids which are chemical compounds that help raise the levels of nitric oxide in the body. Flavonoids have potent antioxidant properties, which help with vasodilation and relaxation of the strained muscles of the blood vessels of the penile. It relieves constrictions and increases the supply of blood to the penile, which helps restore erectile function and enhance sexual performance. Hence, dark chocolate is a great food for managing erectile dysfunction.
Caffeine
Caffeine-based foods such as tea and coffee, which are natural sources of caffeine are loaded with flavonoids that stimulate nitric oxide production in the body and ensure healthy vascular mechanisms. Drinking up to 2 cups of coffee or tea a day can be helpful in providing a much-needed boost to your sexual function and alleviating the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.