MANGOBOSS.com |
| Foods That Strengthen Erectile Performance Related Links Exercises That Improve Erectile Performance Quicker Recovery Times After Sex? Herbs and Foods to Boost Testosterone Top 10 Vitamins to Improve Your Erections Fatty Diet Linked to Prostate Cancer Blood Pressure-What It Means Foods That Reduce Blood Pressure Laughing Improves Erectile Dysfunction Low Folate Harms Sperm Penis Shaving Bumps-Home Remedies Yoga That Improves Erectile Performance Better Tasting Sperm Get Lean Diet for Men Normal Penis Size 5 Common Beliefs About Penis Size -Are They True or False? The Add Muscle Diet 10 Superfoods for Men's Health Top 9 Foods Not to Eat Foods That Shrink Your Waist Six Pack Abs--The Exercises That Work Low Testosterone?-Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid Foods That Raise Your Risk for ED Sex After a Heart Attack?-Why and Why Not Is Sex a Good Exercise? Is Monogamy Normal? May 30, 2008 , last updated May 3, 2013 By Editors of MangoBoss, L, Carr Associate Editor and Featured Columnist Erectile dysfunction --ranging from complete inability to maintain erection to inadequate length of your erection -- affects up to 20 million men in America. The causes of ED, as it is commonly known, are varied. But one chief culprit is high blood pressure and arterial disease. What does high blood pressure have to do with maintaining an erection? Plenty. In fact, many doctors believe that asking a man how he's doing in bed is the single most important clue to his overall health. Sex matters. The reason is clear. To maintain an erection, the entire system of your blood vessels and arteries must work properly. An erection can only occur when blood circulates properly and allows engorgement of the penis. It's all about the pipes. The arteries are pipes. Complicated pipes but pipes nonetheless. If the pipes are clogged-- by fat or cholesterol or plaque-- your circulation and therefore your erection will be damaged. What Is Erectile Dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction is defined as having the inability to maintain an erection that is hard enough (stiffness) and that lasts long enough (duration) to achieve penetration during intercourse. On a chemical level inside your body, producing an erection requires a choreography of several different chemicals. As a 2010 study from the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine in Ghana noted, "ED occurs when there is an imbalance of or defects in any of the following: decreased nitric oxide (NO) generation, decreased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels and increased phosphodiestrase (PDE) activity." No need to dust off your old chemistry books. Basically, you need enough nitrous oxide ---laughing gas -- in your blood stream to relax the blood vessels so that your penis can get sufficiently hard. Erectile dysfunction can also manifest itself in terms of your inability to produce a strong enough projectile stream of ejaculate or in premature ejaculation. This latter form of ED has more to do with the strength of the muscles needed to produce a strong ejaculation than with the stiffness or duration of your erection. What can you do about it? You can lose weight. You can eat differently. You can exercise. But one of the best things you can do to improve erectile dysfunction is to make sure you do not have high blood pressure (hypertension). According to two studies unveiled at the American Society of Hypertension's Twentieth Annual Scientific Meeting, the link between hypertension and ED is strong. "It is estimated that at least 20 million American men have some degree of erectile dysfunction," said Dr. Michael Doumas, from the 4th Department of Internal Medicine, University of Athens, Greece. "Our research determined that for men with high blood pressure, the chances that they may be at risk for or have the devastating condition dramatically increases." A new study puts the estimate of men who suffer from erectile dysfunction even higher. A 2012 study from the Georgia Health Sciences University estimates that as many as 30 million men in America suffer from ED. Moreover, 30% of all men with hypertension also complain of erectile dysfunction. Clearly, as the study concludes "Hypertension and erectile dysfunction are closely intertwined diseases". Your Erection and Your Overall Health Men with ED are also at higher risk for developing many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, liver and vascular disease. All these diseases have been associated with ED. ED is a particularly strong predictor of your risk for heart disease and heart attacks. In a 2010 study from the University of Saarland in Germany, researchers found that having erectile dysfunction raises your risk of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) by 200%, your risk for heart failure by 20% and your risk of suffering a stroke by 10%. Perhaps even more significantly, erectile dysfunction raises your risk of dying from all causes by 84%. Foods That Reduce Risk of Developing ED and High Blood Pressure There are foods which have been shown to reduce high blood pressure. In the study on erectile dysfunction conducted by Dr. Doumas, researchers found a strong link between high blood pressure (hypertension) and even moderately high blood pressure (pre-hypertensive) men. Since hypertension and erectile dysfunction seem to be so strongly related, the foods which are effective at reducing high blood pressure can be expected to increase erectile performance as well. These foods are rich in potassium. Potassium acts like a counter balance with salt inside your body. Together, salt and potassium regulate how much fluid goes back and forth through cell membranes. They are like constantly battling identical twins. Too much salt, you get high blood pressure. Too little potassium, same result. As The American Heart Association has noted, some people with heart failure need to eat foods high in potassium. Potassium helps maintain the normal function of the heart and nervous system. Many people with heart failure take a diuretic (water pill) to help their kidneys make more urine and get rid of excess fluid. This can cause potassium loss. Doctors sometimes prescribe a potassium supplement and recommend eating more potassium-rich foods. Dried fruits: raisins, prunes, apricots, dates Fresh fruits: bananas, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, oranges Fresh vegetables: beets, greens, spinach, peas, tomatoes, mushrooms Dried vegetables: beans, peas Fresh meats: turkey, fish, beef Fresh juices: orange Canned juices: grapefruit, prune, apricot Every situation is different, so ask your health care team what's needed. People who have kidney problems or take certain medications may risk having potassium build up in their systems. And too much potassium can be just as harmful as too little." Watermelons New research has singled out watermelons for their beneficial effect on erections. The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body," said Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station, commenting on the study released July 3, 2008. "We've always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study." Watermelon and other fruits listed above contain bio-active phyto-nutrients. Watermelons contain a high concentration of lycopene (as do tomatoes) , beta carotene and a particularly important phyto- nutrient called citrulline. Citrulline, like Viagra, causes the blood vessels to relax, producing erections. Citrulline is an amino acid, whose name is derived from the Latin word for watermelon (citrullus). Update: In 2011, a study from the University of Loggia in Italy found that supplementation with l-citrulline improved erectile hardness in men with mild erectile dysfunction. The study looked at mean with an average age of 56 who took a 1.5 gram tablet of citrulline each day for a month. The number of intercourses per month after taking citrulline increased from 1.3 on average to 2.3, almost doubling. Low-Fat Foods High fat diets have been associated with erectile dysfunction. Obesity caused by eating those high fat meats have also been linked to heart disease, stroke and prostate cancer in men. To reduce your chance of ED --and heart disease, cancer and stroke--eat healthy proteins such as fish. Oily fish like salmon, tuna, sardines, and mackerel have omega-3s which can reduce your risk of developing ED, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and prostate cancer. But the biggest risk factor of all for developing ED may surprise you. Belly Fat--What's Fat Got to Do With It? Improving your fitness overall can reduce your risk of hypertension and by extension ED. But abdominal fat, in particular, has been shown to be one of the strongest indicators of early heart disease. In fact, early studies have indicated that abdominal fat plays a significant role in erectile dysfunction. Men who carry excess pounds around the middle have decreased sexual potency at an earlier age than men who are fit. Did you get that? It's all about your belly fat. Lose the gut. Gain in your fight against ED. Article Continues Below. Making fibrous fruit and fish a part of your weekly diet, and eating foods which in particular have been found effective in reducing belly fat, are the best insurance you can buy against erectile dysfunction. Fiber can be both an ally and an enemy when it comes to erectile performance. Eating a sufficient amount of fiber helps but eating an excessive amount of fiber, especially in the form of grains, can actually lower testosterone levels. Finally, you need to make sure you do not snore. Snoring puts you at a higher risk for developing ED and a host of other health problems. Does Yohimbe Improve Erectile Performance? There have been countless herbs and natural extracts which claim to enhance erectile performance – your inbox is probably flooded with them everyday. Beware of these claims. Unfortunately not many actually have any power at all, except to part you from your money. One traditional aphrodisiac, however, may be effective in strengthening erectile performance. The bark of the African yohimbe tree has been shown to improve erectile performance. This natural extract is the source of yohimbine, an impotence drug, and many people claim the bark is more effective than the processed medication. There have been no studies to test this claim, but one 1994 study from the Sexual Dysfunction Clinic, Springfield University Hospital, London found yohimbine was better than placebo and successfully treated between 30 and 45 percent of men with erectile dysfunction who used it. Dangers of Yohimbe You do need to be careful with yohimbe. Herbal yohimbe may contain too yohimbine – according to a 1995 study from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the content stated on labels is frequently inaccurate. You should not take yohimbe if you have high blood pressure, kidney or liver disease. If you take more than 40mg a day you are at risk of a dangerous drop in blood pressure, hallucinations, abdominal pain and paralysis. Lower doses may cause an increase in blood pressure, as well as dizziness, anxiety, nausea and hyperstimulation. You shouldn’t take yohimbe if you also take tricyclic antidepressants, phenothiazines, buproprion, clonidine, methamphetamine, and drugs for lowering blood pressure as there are negative interactions. Arginine Can Strengthen Erectile Performance Arginine is an amino acid present in foods like fish, poultry, nuts, dairy products, meat and chocolate. Your body uses arginine in order to make nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps relax blood vessels and also plays a part in developing an erection. Erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra increase your sensitivity to the beneficial effects of nitric oxide, so it would make sense to raise levels of nitric oxide in the body through arginine. A 1999 study from Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel tested 50 men with erectile dysfunction with 5g of arginine and placebo. More men who took arginine experienced a greater improvement in sexual performance than those that took the placebo. Arginine has also been tested in conjunction with yohimbine. One 2002 study from Hopital Foch, Suresnes, France gave 45 men this combination therapy of 6g of both supplements, one to two hours before intercourse. The study found it improved erectile function, especially in men who had moderate dysfunction. But L-arginine’s effectiveness in treating erectile dysfunction is still a subject of scientific dispute. One 1999 study from the University of Cologne in Germany examined 32 men with mixed-type impotence, meaning impotence caused by either physiological or psychological factors or both. The study examined 32 men whose average age was 51.6 years. The men were either given 500 milligrams of oral L-arginine 3 times a day or a placebo. At the end of the study, only 5 (17%) of the men reported a significant improvement in erectile function at the end of the L-arginine phase . This was less than the 6 (20%) of the men who showed improvement after taking placebo. And, many of the men showed little or no improvement with either L-arginine or placebo. Here’s a final caution about L-arginine. Though it is a natural amino acid, too much L-arginine can interfere with your body’s ability to absorb potassium, which can lead to other negative effects on your health, such as high blood pressure. Korean Red Ginseng Boosts Erectile Performance Ginseng has traditionally be touted as an erection-booster, but does it really work? In a 2002 trial from University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea 45 people received Korean red ginseng or a placebo three times a day for eight weeks. Results showed that the men taking the Korean red ginseng experienced better sexual function than the men in the placebo group. And in a 1995 study from Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 90 patients were tested with Korean red ginseng or placebo. In the group receiving the ginseng, patients experienced greater sexual satisfaction and improved erectile performance. A 2013 study from South Korea's Institute of Oriental Medicine in Daejeon has confirmed red ginseng's safety as a general matter. The study looked at 1415 other studies on red ginseng's use not just in treating ED but also various other conditions including diabetes and found that none of the studies reported any side effects of using red ginseng. Update: Read more about other herbs that increase testosterone levels, which in some cases help erectile dysfunction. OPCs Help Erectile Performance A group of chemicals present in a variety of food, herbs and plants may be useful in treating erectile dysfunction. Oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs) are found in the bark of the French pine tree, and similar substances are found in grape seed, red wine, blueberries, tea, cranberries, onions, parsley and hawthorn. Some experts suggest that OPCs, on their own or in combination with arginine, can help treat erectile dysfunction. One 2010 study from Department of Biomedical Sciences, Gabriele D'Annunzio University, Chieti-Pescara, Italy tested 124 men with moderate erectile dysfunction with a formula of pine bark extract plus arginine or placebo for a period of six months. Those men taking the OPC-enhanced formula experienced a greater improvement in their symptoms. Pomegranate Juice Can Improve Erectile Dysfunction A 2007 study from The Male Clinic, Beverly Hills, CA tested whether this nutrient-stuffed juice demonstrated powers to improve erectile performance. Researchers looked at 53 men with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction and assessed their reaction to pomegranate juice over two four-week treatment periods. 25 of the men reported improvements in erectile function after drinking the pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice has many other health claims to its name, so this juicy solution could be worth a try. Update: In 2011, a joint study from Boston University School of Medicine and VA Boston Healthcare System looked more closely at the effects of pomegranate of ED. The study noted that almost all cases of ED are connected to "oxidative stress" on your arteries, so-called "artherosclerotic ED". As the study noted, the main culprits of this oxidative stress are diabetes mellitus, smoking, hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol) and hypertension. Oxidative stress is the same process more or less that causes iron pipes to rust when exposed to oxygen and water. It's also the same process that turns a fresh apple brown when left open to the air. In plain language, this just means that anything that ages your arteries or causes stress on your arteries also damages your ability to maintain an erection. Scientists have long known that foods high in anti-oxidants fight this so-called oxidative stress. Pomegranates are among the foods highest in these helpful anti-oxidants. The researchers at Boston examined rabbits who were given ED by damaging their arteries. Afterwards, they were fed pomegranate juice. Result? The study concluded that "Pomegranate extract significantly improved intracavernosal blood flow, erectile activity, smooth muscle relaxation and fibrosis of the atherosclerotic group in comparison with the atherosclerotic group receiving placebo, but did not normalize them to the age-matched control levels". Bottom line is that pomegranate juice can help to improve blood flow to your penis, and improve ED somewhat. It may not, however, restore your erectile activity to 100% of normal. Update: Mondia Whitei, an African Root, Can Increase Erectile Hardness At Certain Dosages Mondia Whitei root is a woody plant native to Africa and that is used, particularly in Ghana, as a natural aphrodisiac. But scientific studies have reached conflicting conclusions as to its effectiveness. In 2010, study from a team of researchers from the University of Ghana and the Centre for Scientific Research in Plant Medicine decided to settle the issue once and for all of exactly what effect, if any, these plants have on erectile function. Using rabbits as their study subjects, the team examined the effect of various dosages of mondia whitei on erectile function. What they discovered is that, at a dosage of 200 mg per kilogram of body weight, mondia whitei performed remarkably well. It increased nitric oxide and thus induced erections as well or better than sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra. But more is not better, apparently. Dosages beyond 200 mg/kg did not work as well. There appears to be a sort of dosage cliff at 200 mg/kg, beyond which the effect of the root actually declines. As the scientists concluded: "The results therefore, showed that M. whitei has the ability to increase NO (nitric oxide) production at the right dosage". Tiger Nuts May Help Erectile Dysfunction Tiger nuts are a tuber that is grown in parts of Africa, Europe and China. Tiger nuts have been recognized by the World Health Organization as a possible solution to malnutrition in underdevelopment regions of the world. New research has also found that tiger nuts help; improve blood circulation, which of course can also improve erectile dysfunction as a side effect. (Read more about tiger nuts health benefits.) Fenugreek Has Promise as a Boost to Erectile Performance Scientists from the University of Queensland in Australia in Australia and a private lab have found that a common seed found in African and Middle Eastern food called "fenugreek" can raise your libido. Fenugreek, whose technical name is "Trigonella foenum-graecum" was combined with a mineral extract and fed to 60 men who did not have ED for 6 weeks. At the end of the 6-week period, the men reported that the concoction increased "satisfaction with muscle strength, energy and well-being but did not have an effect on mood or sleep." More test are needed to determine whether fenugreek can be reliably recommended as an enhancer of erectile performance. (Read about foods that raise your risk for erectile dysfunction.) Now, you know exactly 1/2 of what every man needs to know to prevent ED. Here are the rest of the tips: /Exercises That Strengthen Erections/ Low Testosterone? - Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid/ 5 Common Beliefs About Penis Size -Are They True or False?/ Zinc Increases Testosterone/Stop Burning When You Urinate / Male Menopause-Symptoms and Top 10 Remedies / Fordyce Spots- Causes and Cures / Dry Penis? -Causes and Cures / Does Beer Affect Erections? -New Report / Does Creatine Affect Sperm? /Herbs and Foods to Boost Testosterone Foods That Raise Your Risk for ED Recommended: Can Women Smell Your Testosterone? Enlarged Prostate?-Causes and Top 10 Natural Remedies Register-- it's free, fast and easy. Members get first access to articles. Selected Sources: Prostate Cancer Research Institute American Heart Association American Society of Hypertension The American Society of Hypertension (ASH) is the largest US organization devoted exclusively to hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases. ASH is committed to alerting physicians, allied health professionals and the public about new medical options, facts, research findings and treatment choices designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. American Society of Hypertension (ASH) 116 John St., 24 FL New York, NY 10038 United States http://www.ash-us.org |
| Home > Erectile Health > Here |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
About Us Privacy Policy Register (c) copyright 2008 -2013, and all prior years, mangoboss.com and its parent network. All Rights Reserved. |
| What do you think? |
| Read more about foods that shrink your waist. |
| Mondia whitei root from Ghana, Africa |
