Treatment
ED treatment can result from a variety of physical, psychological, or lifestyle factors. Physical causes include conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and hormonal imbalances. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression can also contribute to ED. In many cases, lifestyle choices such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and a sedentary lifestyle can exacerbate the problem.
Several types of medications are available to treat ED. These medications work by increasing blood flow to the penis, helping to achieve and maintain an erection. The most commonly prescribed ED medications include:
- Sildenafil (Viagra): One of the most well-known ED medications, Sildenafil oral jelly works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, allowing increased blood flow during sexual arousal. It is usually taken about 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity.
- Tadalafil (Cialis): Known for its longer duration of action, Tadalafil can last up to 36 hours, allowing for more spontaneity in sexual activities. It can be taken as needed or daily at a lower dose.
- Vardenafil (Levitra): Similar to Sildenafil, Vardenafil is effective in helping to achieve and maintain an erection. It is typically taken about 60 minutes before sexual activity and has a duration of action of about 4-5 hours.
- Avanafil (Stendra): A newer ED medication, Avanafil acts quickly, often within 15 minutes, and has a shorter duration of action compared to others. It is taken about 15-30 minutes before sexual activity.
Protein
Eating a healthy whole-food plant-based diet has been linked to reduced rates of obesity, heart disease, cancer, and inflammatory conditions like autoimmune diseases. It can also support urologic health, especially in men. A new study presented at the 2021 American Urological Association’s Annual Meeting found that men who eat a plant-based diet have a lower risk of erectile dysfunction.
The research examined the association of men’s reported dietary patterns and incident ED in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The researchers found that those who ate a predominantly plant-based diet, including whole grains, legumes, fruit, and vegetables, had a lower risk of ED than those who consumed more meat and dairy products.
A plant-based diet is high in soluble fiber, which helps to reduce inflammation and balance blood sugar levels. It is low in saturated fat and contains the omega-3 fatty acids, which help to maintain a healthy prostate. The plant-based diet is also rich in nitrates, which are converted into nitric oxide in the body and improve blood flow to the penis. This is important because vascular health conditions like atherosclerosis can lead to erectile dysfunction in middle-aged and older adults.
Fiber
A plant-based diet is rich in fiber, which helps improve vascular health, a condition linked to erectile dysfunction. A poor diet high in processed foods, refined sugars, and saturated fats can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the penis. A healthy, whole-food diet containing fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and whole grains can promote a healthier heart, normal blood pressure, and increased levels of nitric oxide, which boosts blood flow.
The researchers analyzed data from 2,549 men who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1988 to 1994. They created a healthy plant-based index (hPDI) from a food frequency questionnaire and then compared the frequency of reported erectile dysfunction to hPDI scores.
Another study presented at the 2021 American Urological Association’s annual meeting showed that a plant-based diet can reduce PSA levels, which is an indicator of prostate cancer. While the study used self-reported questionnaires and a small sample, these results are still encouraging. However, further well-designed studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Iron
Getting enough iron is important because it helps form hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in the blood. Having too little iron can make you feel tired and weak because your body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs. This is called iron-deficiency anemia.
A plant-based diet is rich in iron from foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and nuts. It’s also low in saturated fat and high in healthy unsaturated fats like omega-3 fatty acids. These fats help lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation, and improve blood flow to the brain and penis.
Persons on a plant-based diet are able to obtain sufficient protein, but some may be at risk for low intake of three conditionally essential amino acids (lysine, methionine and tryptophan). This puts them at risk for the rare, but potentially life-threatening condition kwashiorkor (a severe protein malnourishment disease) if not addressed. This article presents seven questions that can serve as a practical guide for physicians to incorporate nutritional status assessment into patient assessments and clinical reasoning, while supporting the ability of practitioners to counsel, refer and appropriately utilize clinical resources.
Zinc
A zinc deficiency can lead to low libido and even erectile dysfunction, as it plays a role in testosterone production. Fortunately, a plant-based diet rich in whole foods like beans and seafood is naturally high in zinc. Zinc can also be found in fortified products and supplements, though it’s best to speak with a doctor before using any kind of zinc supplement.
A plant-based diet also includes nitrate-rich vegetables, which promote the body’s natural production of nitrites, which then convert to nitric oxide in the blood. Nitric oxide relaxes penile blood vessels for increased blood flow, the physical process that creates an erection. Moreover, a plant-based diet is high in phytochemical antioxidants that protect against reactive oxygen species, which can further limit nitric oxide production.
While a healthy diet can significantly improve erectile function, it’s important to find and address the root cause of the problem. Common causes of ED include heart disease, diabetes, nervous system conditions and stress, which all lead to narrowing of the arteries and reduced blood flow. Once you’ve identified and treated the underlying medical condition, your erectile function should improve naturally.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Erectile dysfunction is common among men and affects their quality of life. Luckily, it can be reversed with diet and lifestyle changes. A healthful plant-based diet can help unblock arteries and improve blood flow to the penis, a condition that contributes to ED. A plant-based diet is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy cardiovascular system. These healthy fats are found in a variety of foods such as flax seeds, chia seeds, walnuts, hemp seeds, and algae-based supplements.
In a study comparing men on a healthful plant-based diet with those on other eating patterns, the group who followed a healthful plant-based diet had better urinary tract health and less erectile dysfunction. The findings were presented at the 2021 American Urological Association’s annual meeting.
A plant-based diet excludes animal products and includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. It can be a vegan diet (no animal products) or a lacto-vegetarian diet, which allows for eggs and dairy but not meat, fish, or poultry. This type of diet is known to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and other health conditions. Read More…
