Viagra turned 20 in 2018!

While most men aren’t openly talking about their erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments, thanks to popular culture, we all know about this little blue pill. It’s far from the end all be all and there are a number of lifestyle modifications and natural remedies that can have the same effect. In fact, while Viagra has proven to be a bestseller — with good reason, it’s very effective for many people — it has a number of side effects including headaches and anecdotal reports of possible links to heart attacks. The major problem with Viagra, however, is that it’s often a band-aid and doesn’t get at the root cause of a man’s ED. Given that it works so quickly and effectively (sometimes in as little as 30 minutes!), it encourages users to forget about visiting a doctor for treatment of their erectile dysfunction. Contrary to popular belief, Viagra should not be the first line of treatment, but rather one of the last resorts and most importantly used only after consulting with a doctor.

Why? “There is a strong correlation between mental and physical health and sexual function,” says Dr. Arash Akhavein, a urologist at the Cedars Sinai medical towers in Los Angeles. “As such, men can sometimes treat ED with a series of diet and lifestyle changes.” Here’s a look at some of those helpful changes, which are not only effective for treating and preventing ED, but for better health in general.

Alternative Solutions
Losing Weight

According to Dr. Akhavein excess body weight puts additional pressure on the cardiovascular system. “It can also disrupt blood flow to the penis, making it difficult for men to get or maintain an erection.”

Maintaining A Balanced Diet

We spend so much time and energy trying to treat problems that can easily be prevented with diet changes. If you have a diet full of processed foods, sugar, salt, and bad fats it causes problems far beyond tight pants. “Eating fruits, vegetables, grains, and other healthy foods as part of a balanced diet lowers the risk of vascular problems due to high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and being overweight, all of which have been linked to ED,” says Dr. Akhavein.

Avoiding Alcohol And Nicotine

According to Dr. Akhavein, men who consume alcohol or nicotine are more susceptible than others to ED. Therefore, avoiding alcohol and nicotine often helps men stop or prevent ED.

Minimizing Stress

“Limiting stress helps men boost their testosterone levels and, as a result, overcome or avoid ED,” says Dr. Akhavein.

Exercising Regularly

Exercise ties into a number of the points already mentioned in that it can help with both stress and weight loss. But that’s not all. “Exercising helps men increase their testosterone levels,” says Dr. Akhavein. “Also, an exercise regimen can be used in conjunction with a healthy diet to prevent ED.”

Getting Sufficient Rest

A lack of restful sleep can interfere with a man’s sexual performance. “In fact, studies show men who suffer from sleep apnea improved their erectile function after they started using a CPAP breathing machine at night,” says Dr. Akhavein.

L-citrulline and Trans-Resveratrol

“L-citrulline alone and in combination with trans-resveratrol (both are supplements) has been shown to be effective for ED treatment in men, especially with added use of PDE5i (e.g. Viagra),” says Dr. Akhavein. Dosages can vary so speak with your doctor before taking any supplements.

Maca

Research from a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of men with mild ED concluded that maca supplementation had a small, but still significant effect on men’s perception of sexual well-being, according to Dr. Michael Reitano, physician in residence at the men’s health service, Roman.

Red Ginseng

“In a review of the medical literature another study concluded that red ginseng had a positive effect on sexual function when compared to placebo,” says Dr. Reitano. “Ginsenosides, likely the active components of red ginseng, can cause relaxation of the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle (the erectile muscles of the penis) in rabbits.”

Horny Goat Weed

Could there be a more apt name than horny goat weed? Chuckles aside, it has been proven to have a benefit in animal studies. “A study in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that rats treated with horny goat weed improved their erectile function. Another study (Potent Inhibition of Human Phosphodiesterase-5 by Icariin Derivatives, J. Nat. Prod. 2008, 71, 1513–1517) found that icariin, the active component in horny goat weed, worked just as Viagra or Sildenafil chemically in test tube studies, but at about 1/80 the strength,” says says Dr. Reitano.

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