But have no fear, there have been a number of studies on ED and we’ve compiled a list of natural solutions to help.
1. Eat Well
Your first line of defense in fighting erectile dysfunction is what you are feeding your body. Raising a massive erection is an expensive proposition for your body. Blood and hormones all take up valuable nutrients. So good nutrition is key for those looking to having sex multiple times. Carbohydrates, being the building block of energy, are essential. Our sexual needs require eating carbs and plenty of them! Pasta and bread are solid carb sources. You also need to ingest zinc every day. Zinc is vital for production of testosterone, seminal fluid and sperm. You can find this mineral in liver, seafood, peas, and beans. Or take a zinc supplement.
Avoid high fat meals before sex. Excess fat intake lowers testosterone levels in your body, decreases libido and makes erection and ejaculation more difficult. And an unhealthy diet may lead to poor circulation and hence erection problems. Avoid overeating and stuffing yourself before sex. If you’re going out for dinner together, don’t gulp down a five-course meal with wine and dessert, at least not if you know you’re going to have sex later on that night. Eat at least one hour before sex so you are properly digested.
2. Get Down With DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands. It can be converted to both estrogen and testosterone in the body. Scientists make the dietary supplement from wild yam and soy.
The influential Massachusetts male aging study showed that men with ED were more likely to have low levels of DHEA. Forty men with ED participated in another study published in 1999, in which half received 50 mg DHEA and half received a placebo once a day for six months. Those receiving the DHEA were more likely to achieve and maintain an erection.
3. Sleep Is Your Wingman
Poor sleep patterns can be a contributing factor for erectile dysfunction. One study, published in Brain Research in 2011, explored the impact of sleep loss on testosterone levels in men, confirming that low concentrations of sex hormones are associated with sexual dysfunction. Hormone secretion is controlled by the body’s internal clock, and sleep patterns help the body determine when to release certain hormones.
Adhering to a set sleep schedule is a natural treatment for ED in that it can help ensure that those signals are clear and consistent.
4. Manage Your Medication
Medication for some ailments such as depression, social phobia, OCD, and anxiety are more and more common these days. These medicines are murder on your erection. If you’re on these types of drugs, or any kind of medication, work with your doctor to make sure you’re not over-medicated or taking something that can have a negative effect on your erection.
5. Stick With Acupuncture
Many studies on erectile dysfunction show positive results when acupuncture is used. A 1999 study, for example, found that acupuncture improved the quality of erections and restored sexual activity in 39 percent of participants.
A later study published in 2003 reported that 21 percent of ED patients who received acupuncture had improved erections. Other studies have shown conflicting results, but this treatment has potential and may work for you.
6. Stomp Out Stress
Too much anxiety, stress and nervous energy can cause you problems. Unfortunately, sex is often riddled with anxiety resulting from a negative body image, a fear of intimacy or concerns about having a small member. This “stage fright” always seems to happen at the worst possible time, like the first time with someone new. So it’s pretty essential that you find a way to make yourself comfortable if you’re prone to bouts of nervousness during sex.
7. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise
Do abdominal exercises. This will help your abdominal muscles support and hold your erection, as opposed to holding your belly. Furthermore, if you have a large gut, it tends to make your unit small by comparison. Being in shape and having a good physique will make you feel good about yourself and up your confidence. This will, in turn, make you comfortable with your body, enticing you to have sex and increasing your sex drive. You can also give your penis a workout with some Kegel exercises. While there’s no hard evidence that they will produce a larger size, they will help you stay hard longer.
8. Don’t Smoke & Drink To Excess
Smoking cigarettes gives you bad circulation. And when you want to get down, the blood’s gotta be flowing. So there’s one more reason to quit. Drinking too much alcohol numbs your wiener and can inflate your prostate.
9. Don’t Masturbate Too Often
If you ever needed an excuse not to masturbate, that’s it. This calls for a little self-control and well help you achieve stronger erections, longer.