When faced with life changing conditions, such as erectile dysfunction, it’s common to want to take action which will help promote and hasten healing. One area which is always considered in good health habits, but not often in regards to ED, is diet. There are, in fact, several foods that can help with ED. We want the changes we make to help facilitate our wellness so we can get back, as quickly as possible, to life as we once knew it, and diet is a great place to start that process. If you find yourself in this position and are looking for foods to improve your erectile dysfunction, there are a few things you should know about how food fuels, and heals, the body.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when exploring the impact of food on erectile dysfunction is that food affects the body differently than medications. As you know, medications are developed from specific chemical compounds. While these compounds are often found in smaller quantities in nature, medications refine and increase them to target and treat a condition or symptom. Medications are formulated for specific, measurable results. Because of the rigorously studied nature of prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, healthcare providers can more precisely predict timelines to see their results, as well as document any side effects, and expected outcomes.
You will have a different approach when looking for foods to help ED. This will be a long-term, nutritionally supportive approach. Foods to improve erectile dysfunction are going to be the foods which help support the integrity of your body’s overall functions. Through digestion the body extracts millions of compounds, including natural vitamins and minerals from our foods. Those compounds are then absorbed and sent throughout the body to support the many systems which help keep us alive and well. You can further help support your overall wellness by “supplementing” the foods you eat with natural supplements which will help replace important vitamins and nutrients which you may not be getting from your diet.
The importance of stress management cannot be emphasized enough when it comes to supporting your body when faced with ED. Not only can stress cause erectile dysfunction by interfering with how the brain sends signals to stimulate an erection, it can also cause hormonal shifts which can cause complications to an already enlarged prostate. Most profoundly, stress causes an increase in cortisol in the blood. Not only can high cortisol be a cause of erectile dysfunction, it creates inflammation. Inflammation is a leading cause of many of the most common diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and high blood sugar. As you know, circulatory and cardiovascular conditions, such as high blood pressure, as well as diabetes, contribute to ED.
Keep in mind that each of these foods are part of a healthy diet. Some of these foods can also help reduce inflammation in your body. So if you’re looking for foods to help ED, know that they will help to promote your overall wellness as well.
Foods rich in lycopene can help improve erectile dysfunction. Lycopene is a famous antioxidant abundantly found in cooked tomatoes. Antioxidants protect the body’s cells from damage, and also help reduce the risk of heart disease. You already know that the health of your circulatory system is directly linked to erectile dysfunction. So look to foods rich in lycopene such as cooked tomatoes, watermelon, dried apricots, and grapefruit, to name a few.
When looking for foods to improve erectile dysfunction it’s important to help your body get the blood circulating. The nitrates found in beetroots and leafy greens will help do the trick. As a part of the digestive process, nitrates in these foods are converted into nitrites. It is these nitrites which have shown improvements to the cardiovascular system. Once again, improving the condition of the circulatory system is integral if you’re looking to use foods to help ED. Small revisions to your diet to include leafy greens and beetroots may help, over time, manage your ED symptoms.
Up to now, we’ve been rather focused on circulation, but we don’t want to leave out foods which support the prostate. After all, a swollen prostate can not only cause elevated PSA levels, but also block blood flow to the tissues in the penis. There are a variety of foods which support your prostate, including foods rich in lycopene. There is even some research which indicates that lycopene may help reduce the development of prostate cancer.
To further improve your prostate’s health, look to foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Research is still preliminary on the link between Omega-3 fatty acids and prostate health, however these acids also reduce inflammation, which can be caused by stress. We often look to fish as a source of Omega-3s, but you can also find them in avocados and walnuts. Ultimately, when you eat foods that support your prostate, you are also supporting the integrity of your body's other, life-sustaining systems.
It can be tempting to make sweeping dietary changes to help arrest, manage, or reverse any stage of erectile dysfunction. However, these types of changes are difficult to make last for the long-term. Start slowly by adding single servings of these foods to your diet. Perhaps consider swapping one of your usual meals, or snacks, for one of the suggestions above.
When you look to foods to help ED, you should look at them as fuel for the body and support for your body’s systems. Foods to improve erectile dysfunction are part of an overall approach to the wellness of your body and life. Making small adjustments to your diet each day will help provide you with sustainable results. There are also a variety of products which can help you get close again as you begin to heal your body. If you’d like to discuss the options which may be best for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you!
