DO YOU KNOW
THE INGREDIENTS IN THE VIRILITY DIET?
WHAT TO EAT
TO GET HARDER ERECTIONS. (LITTLE BLUE PILL NOT REQUIRED.)
* WATERMELON
The summer
fruit is high in citrulline, which—like that little blue pill—stimulates
nitric-oxide production and increases blood flow to the penis, strengthening
erections.
* DARK CHOCOLATE
This treat
is loaded with flavonoids that dilate your arteries. Eat about 1.6 ounces of
dark chocolate (about the size of a regular Hershey's bar) daily—that's the
amount researchers at the University of California found improved blood-vessel
dilation by more than 10 percent.
* CHERRIES
Studies
show that flavonoids in red, blue, and purple berries cleanse free radicals
from arteries, relaxing them and improving blood flow.
* OYSTERS
Yes, they
really are aphrodisiacs. Raw oysters are the richest dietary source of zinc,
which not only improves blood flow but also fuels testosterone production. When
testosterone levels drop, so do your performance and your libido, Lamm says.
Wild eastern oysters have the most zinc, followed by eastern farmed and wild
Pacific.
* GRASS-FED BUTTER
Recent
studies have shown that people with the highest intakes of the vitamin K2,
found in grass-fed beef and dairy products like butter, cut their risk of
coronary heart disease in half. And what's good for your ticker is always good
for your erections.
* BANANAS
Don't giggle:
Bananas are high in potassium, which relaxes blood-vessel walls, allowing for
better blood flow throughout the body. Plus it offsets a high-sodium diet,
keeping your blood pressure in check, according to a study in the journal
Hypertension. Narrow blood vessels lead to low blood flow, which leads to . . .
well, not much.
* GARLIC
This allium
vegetable boosts blood flow to the penis by increasing nitric-oxide production
and relaxing blood vessels.
* WALNUTS
The amino
acid L-arginine, found abundantly in walnuts, is one of the building blocks of
nitric oxide. Translation: A diet that includes these nuts with the rock-hard
shell makes for consistent, rock-hard erections. According to a panel conducted
by the European Food Safety Authority, you should eat about ¼ cup a day.
* GINGER
By
scrubbing blood vessels of free radicals and decreasing inflammation, ginger
relaxes arteries and improves blood flow. According to a study in the
International Journal of Cardiology, about 1 teaspoon a few times a week is all
you need to reap ginger's cardiovascular rewards.
* NUTMEG
A study of
natural aphrodisiacs in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal
found that nutmeg increases libido and erectile performance. Nutmeg also
contains myristic acid, which has been shown to stimulate production of the
all-important nitric oxide, the key to a healthy erection.
* OLIVE OIL
According
to a study in the journal Lipids, olive oil helps increase testosterone
production.
* SALMON
Rich in
omega-3 fatty acids, salmon promotes erectile health by effecting a threefold
increase in nitric-oxide production, according to the journal Fertility and
Sterility. The researchers recommend 1 gram of omega-3s a day, which you can
get in 3 ounces of salmon.
* ALCOHOL
Moderation
is the key. According to research conducted by David R. Meldrum, M.D., a
reproductive endocrinologist and a clinical professor at the David Geffen School
of Medicine at UCLA, one to two drinks daily can have beneficial effects on
erectile function, but more than that can suppress blood flow and decrease
nitric-oxide production. "Red wine is generally the best," Meldrum
says. "But the antioxidant content can vary a lot. Generally, warmer
growing regions produce wines with more antioxidants."
* PISTACHIOS
Adding a
daily handful of pistachios to your diet can improve your erectile function,
"sexual satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire, and overall
satisfaction," according to a study in the International Journal of
Impotence Research. These tasty snacks are high in arginine, which increases
nitric-oxide production.
* ALMONDS
Vitamin E,
of which almonds are a prime source, enhances nitric-oxide production,
according to the British Journal of Urology International. A small handful a few
times a week is all you need.
