Diet and ED

Sugar and fat decrease the production of NO (nitric oxide) by blood vessels and can have a significant negative effect on erectile function. Sugar is the least expensive way for the food industry to add flavor to foods, so it is often added to food products. Examine food labels and pick products with less added sugar. Of course sweets are loaded with sugar and should be kept to a minimum. Have one portion shared by the table or take 3 bites and stop. Sugary desserts are empty calories without nutritional value and sugar and carbs are preferentially stored as abdominal fat as in the beer belly. Abdominal fat has a greater impact on erectile function by causing inflammation and insulin resistance (see the review in The International Journal of Impotence Research for more details—a link to it can be found at the bottom of the Home Page.

Saturated fat should also be kept to a minimum because certain types of saturated fats are linked to atherosclerosis. The penile blood vessels are small and blood flow can be blocked by the same fatty deposits that can build up in heart vessels and cause a heart attack. Instead, emphasis should be placed on the good fats such as olive oil, which contains lots of monounsaturated fat that is good for health. Ask for olive oil and balsamic vinegar for bread instead of butter. Olive oil is also great on salads.

Juices and sodas often contain high amounts of sugar and are not filling. After drinking these products, blood sugar soars and then crashes, making an individual ravenous for their next sugar fix. Unfortunately, sugar is as addicting as cocaine, so it’s a difficult habit to break. Pick foods that are filling and when a sweet taste is needed, use sugar substitutes.