Attention men: Can’t get it up and/or keep it up? You’re not alone. Millions of men suffer from impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED), with as many as 50% of men over the age of 40 being impotent at least part of the time.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of Sex Medicine, erectile dysfunction (ED) is a far more serious condition than previously thought. Men who suffer from ED are more likely to die an early death. Researchers at the University of Mississippi found that those with ED were 70% more likely to die at a younger age due to cardiovascular disease. ED appears to be a barometer of a man’s overall circulatory health. Because of this, ED should also stand for “Early Death” and not just “Erectile Dysfunction.” ED is literally a ticking time-bomb and men who ignore it do so at the expense of their own life.
Is Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra the solution to ED? Such medications are a “Band-Aid” at best, and they do nothing to reverse the underlying circulatory dysfunction that leads to most cases of ED. Furthermore, long-term use of ED drugs is associated with hearing loss, retinal hemorrhaging and subsequent vision loss, strokes, heart attacks, cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), tachycardia (fast heartbeat), gastritis (stomach inflammation), acid reflux, anorgasmia (inability to ejaculate), urinary bladder infections, and urinary incontinence. Long-term use of ED drugs can also lead to psychological dependency.
So, what’s the solution? The real solution is cleaning up your diet and lifestyle to improve blood flow, not only to the penis, but also to the brain, eyes, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and muscles simultaneously. Not only does such an approach get to the very root of the ED problem and helps restore erections without the need for medication, it also improves overall health and reduces the risk of early death due to cardiovascular disease.
Here are six tips to help keep ED out of your love life and put you on the right path for maintaining your sexual health:
- Cut the meat and dairy products: Eating lots of meat may seem “masculine,” but animal protein can cause a host of very “unmasculine” problems for men, including erectile dysfunction, low testosterone, smaller penis size, breast growth (“man boobs”), and reduced sperm count. It’s time to rethink that notion that real men eat meat! Make the switch from animal protein to protein-rich plant foods, along with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, olives, and avocados.
- Eliminate fried foods: When oils are heated to high temperatures, they become damaging to the lining of your blood vessels, contributing to arterial disease, including ED.
- Avoid foods packaged in cans or plastic: Chemicals found in plastic and the linings of food cans contain phthalates, such as BPA. These endocrine-disrupting chemicals are a double-whammy to men: They can mimic estrogen and inhibit testosterone, both of which can lead to ED.
- Limit soy: Except for fermented soy, such as miso and tempeh, soy products contain plant-based estrogens called phytoestrogens which can interfere with erections.
- Quit smoking: This nasty habit accelerates arterial disease and slows blood flow to any organ or appendage, including the penis.
- Drop the drinking habit: Alcohol may lower your inhibitions, but it can also lower your erections. Regularly drinking can also lower your testosterone level, which is bad for erections.
