Libido low and phallus soft?
For men suffering from erectile dysfunction, the solution may be one of these natural remedies.
ED, which affects about 30 million US men, occurs when you can’t get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sex. Psychological troubles, such as stress or past trauma; physical problems, like diabetes or nerve issues; medications; or substance use can cause it.
While many men who experience these issues turn to medication like Viagra, some suggest that natural remedies are an equally effective means of regaining sexual potency.
But do any of them actually work? Read on to learn more.
Red grape juice
A new study published in the Aging Male has revealed that men who regularly drink grape juice could significantly lower their odds of erectile dysfunction.
Researchers at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Northern China found that, compared to those who consumed no grape juice at all, men who drank grape juice five times or more per week experienced a 79% decrease in ED struggles.
“Grape juice has many phenolic compounds with health benefits, and red grape juice has more of these than white,” the team said in a report on their findings.
The research team posited that this is likely because red grape varieties have higher levels of plant chemicals called phenols. These chemicals keep arteries healthy and hinder narrowing that might restrict blood flow to the genitals.
“Based on these results, we suggest men — especially those over 40 — may benefit from consuming grape juice more than five times a week to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction,” they stated.
In addition to its libido-boosting qualities, red grape juice is also known to improve cardiovascular health by strengthening circulatory tissues and protecting against damage from high cholesterol.
Coffee
A study from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that caffeine reduces the likelihood of ED.
Researchers found that men over the age of 20 who consumed the caffeine equivalent of two to three cups of coffee a day were less likely to report ED issues than men who steered clear of the stimulant. The connection was strongest in overweight gents.
Why does it work?
Caffeine has properties similar to ED drugs like Viagra, said study co-author Run Wang, MD. The stimulant triggers a series of effects that cause the arteries in your penis to relax and your blood flow to increase — both keys to a firm erection.
Bonus? Some experts suggest consuming coffee can intensify orgasms for both sexes.
Shilajit
Shilajit, a tar-like resin found in the Himalayas, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries and has lately been making the rounds on TikTok.
Known to some as “the healer of all weaknesses,” die-hard devotees claim the supplement can increase testosterone.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, low testosterone affects about 2% of men, with symptoms ranging from depression, loss of body hair and reduced libido to erectile dysfunction and low sperm count.
A clinical study found that men who were treated with a twice-daily dose of shilajit for 90 consecutive days saw a significant increase in their testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (both necessary for muscle growth and sexual performance) compared to those who were given a placebo.
However, it’s worth nothing that shilajit isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration and research on it is limited.
Beetroot
Beetroot has gained a reputation as a “vegetable Viagra.” Indeed, the blood red root veggie has been lauded for its aphrodisiac properties since antiquity. The Romans decorated brothel walls with images of lusty beets, and Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, is said to have consumed them to enhance her sex appeal.
Despite the beet’s long-standing reputation, there is little scientific evidence to back the claims that it enhances sexual health.
While there is no hard (pun intended) evidence to suggest beetroot directly aids ED, beets are known to increase the amount of nitric oxide in the body, a compound that plays a key role in producing and maintaining an erection.
Nitric oxide is also thought to support testosterone in controlling blood flow before and during sex in men.
Beets are also a rich source of boron, a trace mineral that increases the level of sex hormones in the human body.
Lastly, beetroot improves blood flow and can benefit the circulatory system, which could, theoretically, positively impact sexual function in both sexes.
