Everyday food could cure erectile dysfunction

According to a study which was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Friday fruits rich in flavonoids are good against erectile dysfunction. The study was conducted by researchers from Harvard University and the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Men who dread the inception of erectile dysfunction can rest somewhat easy because sexual health in males can be increased through fruit consumption. Eating berries and citrus fruits on a regular basis can have the same benefits towards combating erectile dysfunction in the same way as briskly walking for a couple of miles.

The study which came to this conclusion was conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard University in association with the University of East Anglia. The main element which increases sexual health comes in the form of the chemical compounds known as flavonoids.

Though, the analysis covered over 25,000 subjects, the link between flavonoids and the duration of an erection is seen by many as just a simple correlation. It is true that the study was not meant to prove the direct cause and effect of these chemicals, but the finding does show how a healthy lifestyle can affect sexual health.

The flavonoids in question are anthocyanins commonly found in red wine and berries, flavanones and flavones possessed by citrus fruits. These chemicals directly affect blood vessels present in the patient’s system, leading to a more effective blood circulation. This can eventually lead to a better performance, from a sexual viewpoint, but further studies have to be conducted.

“Erectile dysfunction is often an early barometer of poor vascular function and offers a critical opportunity to intervene and prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and even death,” said senior study author Eric Rimm, an epidemiology and nutrition professor at Harvard, in an interview with The Telegraph. “Men with erectile dysfunction are likely to be highly motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising more and eating the right foods which would greatly benefit their long-term cardiovascular health as well.”

The reason why this correlation is somewhat criticized by certain medical parties stems from the fact that, usually, men that have a larger intake of fruits and berries tend to have a healthier lifestyle. Erectile dysfunction is combated directly by having a healthy diet and exercising regularly, thus making the study somewhat inconclusive, according to some doctors.

When eating fruits and berries that contain flavonoids, the risk of developing erectile dysfunction gets reduced by 14%. If one would combine this diet with regular exercise, the risk gets exponentially lower, being marked at a 29% decrease in chances.

ED is usually seen as a telltale sign of coronary artery disease, either in early or advanced stages. Because flavonoids have a beneficial effect on the whole health system, doctors still advise regular fruit consumption in men, even though ED risk is lowered only as a somewhat side-effect.

Another reason why this research was criticized is based on how the questionnaire regarding erectile dysfunction was developed in the first place. By using a non-standard method of quantifying the onset of ED, several medical parties claim that they cannot draw a conclusive result from the research.