Dietary Supplements For ED: 5 Things You Can Try

In this article, we’ll discuss some important dietary supplements for ED that men can make use of instantly.

What is ED?

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common medical condition among men in which the patient faces difficulties in achieving and maintaining an erection. A large number of relationships today are affected because of erectile dysfunction as poor sexual performance results in an unsatisfactory sexual relationship. ED affects around 30 million men today alone in the USA.

Symptoms of ED may include reduced libido or sexual desire. Common causes of ED may include alcohol abuse, smoking, high amounts of cortisol, consumption of high-fat foods, and lack of exercise. You may be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction if the condition lasts for more than a couple of weeks.

There is an array of medications available in the market today for the treatment of ED. The most common ones are Viagra, Cialis, and Stendra. All of these are PDE5 inhibitor drugs, with active ingredients as sildenafil, tadalafil, and avanafil respectively. These drugs treat erectile dysfunction by increasing the blood flow to the penis and helping the victim achieve longer-lasting erections. So, you can easily just buy generic Viagra online. But what if it’s not for you?

Though these drugs are effective, they have a range of side effects from indigestion to low blood pressure along with a number of other contradictions. This is why a lot of men have now started to consider natural remedies and other dietary supplements for the treatment of ED.

Dietary Supplements For ED

Dietary supplements are slowly becoming the choice of treatment for a lot of ED patients majorly because of their claims of low to no side effects and additional health benefits. However, it must be kept in mind that taking supplements alone is not a treatment for any ailment. Appropriate changes in the lifestyle and diet must also be maintained for receiving all-round benefits of the said supplements.

Some of these supplements have been used in various civilizations for years and have ancient medical texts mentioning their effectiveness. Modern medicine has conducted thousands of tests and performed ample research over many of these natural dietary supplements.

The majority of studies conclude that the findings are supportive, but more research needs to be done for utterly conclusive evidence. Some of these supplements include Panax ginseng, L-arginine, DHEA, Yohimbe, etc. Keep reading to know about these and other supplements.

1. DHEA or dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA is a sex hormone that is naturally synthesized in the body. It promotes the production of other sex hormones in the body. DHEA is generally prescribed for women to treat the thinning of vaginal tissue. Although DHEA is used by people for other purposes like improving athletic performance, promoting muscle growth, infertility, and several conditions related to aging. Men use DHEA for erectile dysfunction too, but there is no conclusive evidence that it benefits the patients.

A fair number of ED victims have reported positive effects on their ED issues, whereas some have not. Consulting a doctor before consumption of DHEA supplements would give you more clarity.

2. Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng, red ginseng, or Korean ginseng are all plants of the same family, Panax. Ginseng has long been used in Korea and China for treating chronically ill patients and in strengthening the immune system of patients who are recovering from illnesses. Ginseng is also quoted as a supertonic in some Chinese medical texts. Clearly, it has a lot of benefits.

In a study conducted by the NCBI, men who consumed ginseng for 12 weeks alongside their drug counterparts, had a 60% improvement in their ED symptoms in comparison with the 30% improvement achieved by people taking conventional medications. The results have come out positive, but esteemed organizations like NCBI still have no concrete evidence about the precise effects of ginseng on ED, except that it increases blood flow.

3. L–Arginine

It is a well-known amino acid that is obtained through the food consumed. L-Arginine is commonly found in red meat, poultry, dairy, fish, as well as readily available as a supplement in the form of capsules. L-Arginine is commonly used by athletes for speeding up recovery and improving athletic performance. It is also used by patients with angina and by people recovering from surgeries.

L-Arginine promotes the release of nitric oxide in the body which causes the blood vessels to dilate, this permits smoother and normalized blood flow. Due to this fact, it is also used as a supplement for erectile dysfunction. Keep in mind that if you are being treated with Sildenafil or any other PDE-5 inhibitors, it is advised to not use L-Arginine due to contraindications.

4. Yohimbe

Yohimbe is an evergreen tree found in parts of Africa. Yohimbe has been long used as an aphrodisiac. The bark of the tree is used as an active ingredient in Yohimbe supplements. Yohimbe is also used to treat some of the side effects caused by antidepressants.

This supplement has a compound called yohimbine which is believed to widen the blood vessels and lead to an increase in blood flow and nerve impulses to the penile region. Even women can use this supplement to increase sensitivity in their vagina.

Yohimbe has been tested on people and has yielded positive results. However, the use of this supplement is considered risky because of its adverse side effects which include possible kidney failure, seizures, and even heart attack. Once again, as long as you consult your doctor regarding the suitability of Yohimbe for your ED issues, you are safe to go about consumption.

5. Melatonin

Melatonin is a lab-synthesized chemical similar to the melanocyte-stimulating hormone that produces skin darkening pigments. It was originally developed to treat certain skin conditions. However, melatonin might also be used to stimulate the brain to induce erections.

Melatonin is said to be ‘possibly effective’ for treating ED by administering it as a shot. However, lack of regulation of this supplement and side effects like nausea have raised questions on its usability.

Choose a proper trusted supplier and take advice from your doctor. As long as this can be ticked off your checklist you are good to go with melatonin for your ED issues.

Conclusion

Natural remedies are becoming increasingly popular with people for treating their ailments and erectile dysfunction is no exception. Although these remedies have shown possible positive effects in some individuals, competent medical authorities have not published any such documentation which proves their effectiveness.

Some of these supplements like Yohimbe have also shown fatal side effects. Add to it the fact that many of these supplements are not regulated, which affects their authenticity.

It is therefore wise to consult your doctor or physician before consuming any such dietary supplements as they could possibly damage your reproductive system. The best supplement you could use right now would be to consume a balanced diet (that includes natural elements to combat your ED problem), throw that pack of cigarettes, and limit your drinks to one or two.

Also, include some form of physical activity like resistance training in your lifestyle. While this would not only reduce your dependence on medications, it would also improve your overall health.