ED pills come with an ever-growing list of side effects: heartburn, chest pain, memory loss, vision loss, and hearing loss.
If you’re concerned about ED and want to improve blood flow naturally you have to change how you eat. The ONLY way to reverse atherosclerosis and unclog your arteries is to stop eating cholesterol-containing foods. These foods include meat, chicken, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese. This may take a while, so in the meantime, you can eat foods that contain nitrates to boost nitric oxide production.
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Be careful, nitrates are not nitrites. Nitrites are used to preserve meats and react with protein to form nitrosamines that can cause cancer. Foods that are naturally high in nitrates including pistachios also boost nitric oxide and sexual performance.
Foods high in citrulline also boost nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is made from the amino acids arginine and citrulline. Taking arginine is not helpful because it is broken down by digestion. Citrulline forms arginine that is then converted to nitric oxide in the cells. Foods high in citrulline improve sexual performance. Watermelons are very high in citrulline, especially yellow watermelons. Yellow watermelons have four times as much citrulline as red watermelons. Blended watermelon pulp makes a delicious, refreshing drink.
But don’t go all healthy yet.
According to Men’s Health, a vegan diet can hurt you in the bedroom as well. Despite the many benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables, cutting out animal products entirely means you’re more likely to develop a vitamin D deficiency, which can spell bad news for your penis.
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In fact, a lack of Vitamin D can raise your risk of ED, according to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. When you don’t get enough vitamin D, your body might not produce enough nitric oxide, a compound your blood vessels need to function at their best.
The good news is, you can boost your intake and be strong again. The National Institutes of Health recommends aiming for at least 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day, but many organizations suggest more than that. Experts say that most patients should probably take anywhere from 2000 to 5000 IU of vitamin D3 if they are found to be deficient.
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Your best bet is getting enough sunlight, but that can be a struggle. If you live in the northern U.S., Vitamin D is hard to come by naturally through your food, but it’s not impossible. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna, eggs, fortified milk, and cheese are all good options. Plant-based are not, you might not be getting enough, so check in with your doc if you suspect your D levels are low. He or she can work to find a dose that fits your needs and potentially recommend a supplement.