Erectile dysfunction is caused by a variety of factors, these can include psychological issues, diabetes, and side effects from prostate cancer treatment. Erectile dysfunction is a very common problem, which affects 52% of men during their lifetime. In order to avoid this recurring problem, it is important to avoid consuming foods that can affect the quality of your sexual performance.
By avoiding the 7 foods listed below, you will be able to prevent and treat the symptoms of ED. I will even suggest food alternatives that will allow you to improve the quality of your erections!
We will first look at the effects that food can have on your sex life.
How can foods affect the quality of erections?
The influence of your diet on the functioning of your penis can be explained by three main factors.
Hormones: A hormonal imbalance or dysfunction in the endocrine system can be directly associated with erectile dysfunction. The foods you eat contain nutrients that your body uses to produce hormones. If you eat the wrong or unhealthy foods, you may suffer from hormonal imbalances that can affect your cortisol or insulin levels. By favoring a healthy diet, you will optimize your testosterone and growth hormone levels (which directly affect the quality of your sexual performance). Get more information on this by checking out my article titled "How to Improve Your Sex Life by Regulating Your Hormone Levels?"
The heart and blood vessels: The foods you eat directly affect the functioning of your heart and blood vessels. It is important to optimize your blood circulation and increase blood flow inside the penis to achieve a firm and long lasting erection. The quality of blood flow depends on the condition of your heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and clogged arteries can reduce blood flow and damage nerves. These problems prevent blood from flowing inside the penis and therefore from achieving an erection. ED is often considered the first symptom of cardiovascular disease. In order to prevent this type of disorder, we recommend that you eat foods that improve blood circulation and cardiovascular health.
Drugs that are used to treat cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure can also cause erectile dysfunction. We therefore recommend that you protect your cardiovascular system by avoiding foods that clog the arteries.
Weight: Too much body fat can also cause erectile dysfunction. Being overweight ranks among the most common causes of ED in men of all ages. Weight gain that is caused by eating unhealthy or unsuitable foods can therefore seriously affect the functioning of your penis.
What foods should you avoid to regulate your hormone levels, protect your cardiovascular system and control your weight?
The 7 foods that can make you impotent
1. Prepared industrial foods
These foods contain refined carbohydrates which cause more weight gain than natural or organic foods. Being overweight increases the risk of ED.
But it is especially necessary to take into account the high quantities of BPA (Bisphenol-A) found in this type of food. This chemical comes from the plastics and packaging of prepared foods. Research has shown that BPA visibly reduces the production of sex hormones and also affects sexual functions. Research that studied the effects of BPA on Chinese workers for 5 years yielded the following results: The participants all suffered from erectile dysfunction four times greater than that which affects men who are not exposed to this substance. These workers also had a reduced libido and their sex life was also less fulfilling. A study carried out in Slovenia also proves that BPA reduces the quantity, vitality and motility of sperm produced by the body.
These results are due to chemicals, pesticides and herbicides that greatly disrupt the endocrine system. This hormonal imbalance can cause serious erectile dysfunction that is difficult to treat. In addition, BPA even increases the risk of brain damage, heart disease, obesity and prostate cancer; and all of these factors can cause erectile dysfunction and lower your testosterone.
Avoid buying pre-packaged foods. Choose whole foods and keep them in glass or ceramic containers. Look for products that have a "BPA Free" label. “We also recommend avoiding buying foods marketed in plastic bottles, such as mineral water, as these containers contain significant amounts of BPA. Use tap water instead.
We also advise against using plastic containers in your microwave or dishwasher. The heat produced by these devices allows BPA to migrate into your food, causing hormonal imbalances and erectile dysfunction.
2. Meats
Animal fats can clog veins, cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. These disorders frequently in turn cause erection problems. It has also been proven that excessive consumption of protein, such as red meat, can reduce testosterone production.
Reduced testosterone levels and hormonal imbalance increase the risk of ED. To prevent this type of pathology, you must therefore imperatively balance your diet: 50% carbohydrates, 30% proteins and 20% fats.
It is not necessary to completely eliminate animal fats from your diet. it is even recommended to eat a little red meat from time to time! In small amounts, red meat can boost testosterone production and muscle building. But this food must be consumed in moderation. Excesses are never good. I advise you to reduce your consumption of red meat to once a week in order to benefit from the stimulating effects of this food on your testosterone production while protecting your heart.
Choose organically grown or grass-fed meats. This will allow you to avoid chemicals and pesticides that are found in large quantities in industrial foods.
I recommend that you focus on proteins of plant origin as well as those found in fatty fish which are also rich in omega 3. Olive oil, avocado, seeds and nuts constitute excellent sources of protein and are an integral part of the traditional Mediterranean diet. Men who adopt this type of diet are less frequently affected by erectile dysfunction.
3. Soy and flax seeds
Soy greatly affects hormone production. Soy has a powerful estrogenic effect, which means that its effects are similar to those of female hormones called estrogen. Excessive estrogen levels can reduce libido and testosterone production, while affecting sexual function. Estrogen and testosterone levels need to stay in balance in order for the body to function optimally, and soy can seriously upset this balance. This problem can in turn reduce testosterone levels and cause erectile dysfunction.
Research that was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition proves that soy greatly reduces testosterone levels. A study conducted at Harvard indicates that half of a standard serving of soy can reduce sperm count by 40% in healthy men when consumed daily.
Flaxseeds are also very high in estrogen. 100g of soy contains 103,920 mcg of estrogen and 100g of flaxseed contains 379,380 mcg of estrogen. If we compare these levels to that of watermelon, which effectively boosts testosterone production and reduces ED symptoms, we find that 100g of this fruit contains 2.9 mcg of estrogen.
Fermented soy improves digestion. If you like soy, we recommend that you favor fermented preparations such as miso soup or tempeh.
If you consume soy because of lactose intolerance, you can substitute it with almond or cashew milk. Almonds are part of the Mediterranean diet, which can prevent erectile dysfunction (as we have already mentioned). Almonds and other nuts are helpful in treating ED as they improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system and blood circulation. This type of food is also associated with longevity and a healthy life.
4. Dairy products
Dairy products are generally high in saturated fat, which can clog the heart and blood vessels. By accumulating, these fats form deposits that prevent blood from flowing inside the penis.
Additionally, the milk that is used to make dairy products usually comes from cows that are fed synthetic hormones. These hormones or chemicals can seriously disrupt the human endocrine system. A study that was published in the Human Reproduction Journal indicates that men who consume dairy products produce less mobile sperm and generally have more erectile problems than those who avoid this type of food.
It is not necessary to completely eliminate dairy products from your diet. We simply recommend that you consume less and favor products that come from organic farming (which prohibits the use of hormones to feed cows)
Just like avoiding soy, you can try consuming almond or cashew milk. This will allow you to replace the milk you add to your cereal or your coffee. Some of these products are also enriched with Vitamin D to give you the same benefits as dairy products.
You can also replace the standard cheese with vegan cheese, which can be found at most grocery stores. I recognize that this type of cheese is not very good when eaten as it is, but it tastes like real cheese when melted in an omelette or in a panini!
5. fried foods
Fried foods can clog your heart and blood vessels, cause cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and even certain cancers. These foods also promote overweight and therefore cause serious erectile dysfunction.
We advise you to stop consuming fried foods immediately. If you follow this advice, you will start to feel fitter and more energized after a few days.
I know that fried foods are delicious. But I urge you to adopt the Mediterranean diet which effectively prevents and treats erectile dysfunction.
6. Salt
We also recommend that you limit your salt intake. Salt promotes cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and blood circulation problems; all of these factors can affect the quality of your erections.
Use reduced-sodium salt when cooking. This condiment will improve the flavor of your dishes by reducing your sodium intake.
You can also season your food with garlic and olive oil as both of these foods can boost testosterone production and reduce erectile dysfunction symptoms!
7. Alcohol
Although it is not considered a food, excessive alcohol consumption can greatly reduce your sexual performance. A heavy and regular consumption of alcohol can destroy the testosterone contained in your body while reducing the production of this hormone. This therefore aggravates the symptoms that are linked to the lack of testosterone and promotes erectile dysfunction. Additionally, chronic alcoholism can also damage the liver, nerves, and heart.
Beer can also disrupt the production of sex hormones. The hops in beer have a powerful estrogenic effect, which means that its effects are similar to those of the female hormones called estrogen and it also reduces the production of testosterone in the body. This testosterone deficiency impairs libido and erectile functions. It also promotes fat accumulation and weight gain, which can aggravate or cause ED.
Solutions:
You will be able to prevent erectile dysfunction by limiting your alcohol consumption to less than 2 drinks a day. Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation.
If you still want to consume an alcoholic drink, we recommend that you give preference to wine. Wine is part of the Mediterranean diet we mentioned earlier and it can reduce ED-related symptoms. Wine also contains flavonoids and antioxidants that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and help the body fight oxidative stress (oxidative stress causes disease and cancer). A study also seems to indicate that "a high consumption of foods rich in flavonoids can reduce the symptoms of ED."
Conclusion
Optimize the functioning of your penis by consuming foods that protect your heart and regulate your hormones and your weight. Avoid processed foods, meats, soy, fried foods, salt, and alcohol to prevent testosterone deficiencies and erectile dysfunction.