You are what you eat, so they say. No matter how yummy steak and potatoes are, you need to consider its effects, not just on your heart health, but also down there.
Let’s face it: most of the time, eating the unhealthy choices, such as chocolates and cakes makes you feel better. And when you are out with your guy buds, it is difficult to say no to another bottle of beer or a shot of tequila.
Payday Friday also means going out with your officemates for dinner to mark a job well done. You have no choice but to give in. It doesn’t happen everyday anyway, and at the same time, you deserve it,
That’s true. Treating yourself once in a while is okay, especially when there is a reason to celebrate. However, if this becomes a daily habit, then you and your man down there are in big trouble. The question is, why? Read on to find the answers, as well as some smart solutions, too.
The Penis – Diet Connection
Often times, experts refer to erectile dysfunction as an age and hormone-related problem. That’s true. As you get older, the levels of testosterone in your body decreases, which means your libido slows down and erections could be a problem.
On the other hand, how can you explain why the guys in their 20’s and 30’s experience occasional issues down there? This only shows that erectile dysfunction is not just an age-related matter.
In fact, your diet and lifestyle play a major role in your sexual health. The question what is the relationship between your diet and your man down south?
1. It’s All About That Blood Flow
Most men think that to be able to get your man up, you need to be sexually aroused. That may be true. However, your ability to get an erection is not solely dependent on your sex drive. It’s all in the blood flow. When your penis gets enough supply of blood, then you don’t have to worry about erections.
How Does Blood Flow Affect Your Erections?
Plaque buildup is a result of developing high cholesterol levels that most of us get from a poor diet. If you consume too much cholesterol-rich foods, then your entire body is also affected, including your penis.
When there is a buildup of plaque, the blood vessels stiffen and prevent it from dilating when you are sexually aroused. This means your arteries harden, but your man down there won’t, because there is not enough room for the blood to flow.
2. Two Important Erection Words: Nitric Oxide
Aside from blood flow, there is another important component, which could help with your erection issues.
Experts call it nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a compound in charge of relaxing the smooth muscles that line the blood vessels of your penis. It also helps the arteries dilate in order to accommodate an ample amount of blood supply.
Unfortunately, the production of nitric oxide is affected when the blood vessel liner cells are also inflamed or damaged due to smoking, unhealthy weight and a poor diet. Plaque buildup could also hamper the production of this compound.
3. It Affects Your Heart, Too
Did you know that medical practitioners refer to erectile dysfunction as an early symptom of cardiovascular disease? In fact, medical conditions such as strokes and heart attacks are also associated with ED.
Think about this. If your penis is not getting enough blood flow, then it only follows that your heart is also not getting an amply supply, too.
In other words, better and healthier blood vessels mean more production of nitric oxide. The more your body produces this type of compound, the better the blood flow will be, which also means you don’t have to worry about getting it up, and then maintaining it in that state.
Foods For A Healthier Penis
Keep in mind that there is no such thing as miracle food when it comes to giving your guy a boost. In fact, those foods known to address erection issues are mostly heart-friendly foods that ensure proper blood supply down there.
Once your penis receives enough blood flow, then you could say goodbye to a member that is not cooperating. Some healthy penis-friendly foods you should eat include:
1. Leafy Green Vegetable
When it comes to healthy foods, leafy greens will always have a spot at the top of the list. This is because leafy green veggies have high nitrates, which means it increases blood circulation, especially in areas that needs a boost.
Nitrates are vasolidators. This means they help open up blood vessels and increase blood circulation throughout your body. In fact, most ED drugs have the relaxing effects of nitrates.
To get enough supply of nitrates, add leafy greens in your diet, such as spinach and celery. Beets also have a high nitrates content. If you’re not into the idea of adding it to your favorite dishes, then make juice out of it. It is a good detox ingredient, as well.
2. Pistachio Nuts
You probably heard some where that nuts are good for you. However, it’s not just any kind of salted nuts you could find in the grocery store.
Almonds, peanuts and cashews may be a popular choice when it comes to nuts. However, there is one type of nut that you should always include in your shopping list, especially when you want to give your man down there a boost: pistachios.
Study shows that men who ate pistachios everyday experienced significant improvements in their erections, libidos and overall sexual satisfaction. This is because pistachio contains arginine, a type of protein that helps relax blood vessels. It helps improve blood circulation and distribute blood in areas where they are needed the most, including your man down there.
3. Shellfish
You heard from someone that seafood is good for you. In fact, fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel should be a part of your daily diet, which you should eat more often than beef.
Aside from fatty fish, shellfish such as oysters deserve placement on the weekly shopping list.
Oysters are famous aphrodisiacs, which mean they get you in the mood for bed simply by eating them. That’s not all. Oysters are rich in zinc, a type of mineral that plays an important role in producing enough testosterone in the body. Raw shellfish, in general, also contains compounds that stimulate the release of sexual hormones.
One of the reasons why men experience erectile dysfunction is low T levels. You could augment this deficiency by including oysters in your diet, though it is not advisable to eat them everysingle day.
4. Dark Chocolate
At least, some good news, right? According to a study published in the journal,Circulation, flavonoids found in dark chocolate helps improve circulation.
Flavonoid is a type of naturally occurring antioxidant that helps repair cell damage in both plants and humans.
Eating dark chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa content could be helpful in the bedroom.This could do a lot, especially when you are having issues getting and maintaining erections. At the same time, it lowers your cholesterol levels and blood pressure, which also affects your ability to keep your guy down there in an erect state.
5. Tomatoes
You often associate tomatoes with Italian food. However, there is more to tomatoes than adding flavor and texture to your pizza and pasta.
Tomato has lycopene, a type of phytonutrient that helps in blood circulation and a good sexual booster.
Several studies also show that eating tomato with oily foods, such as olive oil and avocado helps your body absorb the lycopene better. It also helps fight male infertility and reduces your risks of prostate cancer.
Go ahead and make yourself an oil-based salad. Sautee garlic in olive oil, add tomatoes, pour in sardines and pasta and toss well. Add a little salt and pepper to taste. In case you are not a fan of tomatoes, pink grapefruit could also be a good source of lycopene.
6. Watermelon
Watermelon is a popular summer fruit because of its high water content. It is 92 percent water and has a sweet, refreshing taste.
Did you know it could help with your erection issues, too? Studies show that watermelon has similar effects to that of Viagra, but it is far safer. It has positive effects on your erections and gives your sexual desire a boost, too.
Why Is That So?
Watermelon is rich in phytonutrients, an antioxidant that relaxes your blood vessels and helps supply blood down there to get your man up. It is good for the heart too, hence a win-win situation. In other words, you need to consume a heart-healthy diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, to ensure that your penis gets the proper amounts of blood flow. When this happens, then you don’t have to worry about getting erections and keeping them.
Still, this doesn’t mean you should rely solely on your diet. You need to move around more and work out to increase good cholesterol levels, boost the production of nitric oxide and get your heart pumping. You can play your favorite sport, enroll in classes and lift weights. You don’t have to work out intensely.
30 minutes a day is okay, but if you can extend it for another 15 minutes, then you will do well. Living a healthier lifestyle can extend your life span, improve the quality of your life and help you enjoy sex more, so drop those unhealthy vices and start living better. You’ll thank yourself later.