By Steve Blechman

“A Mediterranean diet is associated with improvements in erectile dysfunction, according to research presented at ESC (European Society of Cardiology) Congress 2021.”

A study was published November 13, 2020, in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network Open) said that following a healthy diet pattern like the Mediterranean Diet, “was associated a lower risk of erectile dysfunction, suggesting that a healthy dietary pattern may play a role in maintaining erectile health.”

“In this cohort study among 21,469 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, higher diet quality based on adherence to either a Mediterranean or Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 diet, which emphasize the consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, and fish or other sources of long-chain (n-3) fats, as well as avoidance of red and processed meats, was found to be associated with a lower risk of developing erectile dysfunction.” The study also states, “Erectile dysfunction, especially in younger men, is an early sign of cardiovascular disease and may decrease quality of life. Men may be motivated to adopt a healthy dietary pattern if it lowers their risk of erectile dysfunction.”

“This cohort study found that adherence to healthy dietary patterns was associated with a lower risk for erectile dysfunction, suggesting that a healthy dietary pattern may play a role in maintaining erectile health.”

The super sex pill hope for men of every age: get a better erection! You see marketing hype and full-page advertisements in newspapers and all over the Internet. Hope for erectile dysfunction for sale. Quackery, fraud, snake oil marketing claims and ads selling bogus sexual performance products not based on good scientific research. Clearly, sex is a big business! Erectile dysfunction is the inability to obtain and maintain an erection for sexual activity as a result of hormonal, neurological and vascular factors. 30 million men worldwide have erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction affects some 18 million men in the United States. As men age, the risk of erectile dysfunction increases. From the early age of 30, the number of men who have underperforming erections, or none at all, increases. The main causes of erectile dysfunction include aging, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Today, when a man in his 30s or 40s goes to their primary care physician because of erectile dysfunction, it is often recommended that the patient see a cardiologist! Many cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by cardiovascular problems with a warning that you may be at a greater risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Do you have the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as: family history (mother, father, sibling, etc.), elevated blood lipids and LDL (bad) cholesterol, low HDL (good) cholesterol, hypertension, elevated triglycerides and C-reactive protein (a measure of inflammation in the body)? If you have any of these risk factors, you need to take charge and lower your risk. See your physician now! Every risk factor that you eliminate, you lower your risk of heart disease and erectile dysfunction. To improve long-term cardiovascular health and erectile function, men should eat a heart-healthy Mediterranean diet and engage in a daily resistance training and vigorous aerobic exercise program. Several studies have shown that men combining physical activity with the Mediterranean diet can provide additional and enhanced benefits to alleviate erectile function. Regular exercise and the Mediterranean diet also stimulate nitric oxide release and promote health and function of endothelial cells lining vascular walls.

Overweight men that lose weight often have improvement in their erectile function, testosterone levels, and sexual health. Research has shown that men following the Mediterranean diet, low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated fats, omega-3 fats, nitrates, and polyphenols (from extra virgin olive oil, nuts, fatty fish, fruits, and leafy vegetables) have less erectile dysfunction.  Research has also shown that men with metabolic syndrome – a group of risk factors (i.e., hypertension, high blood lipids and insulin resistance) – were more than 100% likely to have erection problems than people who exercise regularly. The incidents of heart disease were greatest in men suffering from metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction. Exercise and the Mediterranean diet protect against erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.

What are the best nutrients reported in the scientific literature to enhance erectile function and better sexual performance?

- L-citrulline, an amino acid that when taken orally is converted in the body to L-arginine. L-citrulline has been shown in the scientific research to increase L-arginine more efficiently in the body than L-arginine and increase nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator (blood vessel relaxant) and controls blood flow to tissues and to the penis. It is generally accepted that nitric oxide is the principal agent responsible for relaxation of penile smooth muscle. Research has shown that 5.6 grams per day of L-citrulline for seven days reduced blood vessel stiffness in middle-aged men (International Journal of Cardiology, Nov. 8, 2010). Research has also shown that oral citrulline can improve erectile function (Sex Med, 2018). Oral citrulline supplementation of 1.5 grams (for 30 days) improves erectile hardness in men with erectile dysfunction (Urology, January 2011). A study published in the July 2019 issue of the Journal Andrology compared the erectile dysfunction drug sildenafil (50mg) alone or in combination with L-arginine (3 grams) daily for eight weeks. Researchers concluded that, “adding L-arginine to sildenafil demonstrated more efficacy than sildenafil alone for treatment of erectile dysfunction patients.” Since L-citrulline is more effective than L-arginine for raising blood levels of arginine it would be expected that citrulline would be much more effective than L-arginine.†

- Natural polyphenols from beetroot extract, grape skin extract and pine bark extract contain potent antioxidants that have many health benefits including increasing nitric oxide and vasodilation. Most erection problems are caused by poor blood flow to the penis. Cells lining the blood vessels secrete nitric oxide that controls blood flow. Blood vessel disease disturbs the function of these cells, which reduce the ability to release nitric oxide and maintain erections. Researchers from Norwich Medical School in the U.K. found that men with the greatest dietary polyphenol intake showed a 14% lower risk of erectile dysfunction. Polyphenols are chemicals found in many plants that decrease inflammation, lower blood pressure, act as antioxidants, and boost nitric oxide (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2016).†

- Vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) are antioxidants that enhance the function of polyphenols in the body. Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) show higher levels of free radicals and lower levels of antioxidants than men without ED. Antioxidants such as vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) combined with the B vitamin folic acid can improve erection capacity in aging men. Vitamin C, NAC and folic acid work synergistically, together with polyphenols and the amino acid L-citrulline in the production of nitric oxide. Folic acid is a precursor of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), and when combined with vitamin C and NAC, plays an important role in sustaining nitric acid bioavailability and endothelial (blood vessel) nitric acid synthase and nitric oxide synthesis. BH4 increases nitric oxide bioavailability and systemic (cGMP) levels in healthy adults, which might be an attractive treatment for erectile dysfunction.†

- N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a more biologically active and more stable form of the amino acid L-cysteine. NAC increases the important antioxidant glutathione in your body. Research has shown that NAC can prevent oxidative stress and enhance nitric oxide bioavailability. NAC is also a precursor for the synthesis of hydrogen sulfide. Clinical studies are emerging that indicate hydrogen sulfide may be beneficial in the enhancement of cardiovascular health. Research has shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a potent vasodilator and increases healthy blood flow to the body and penis and enhances penile erection and sexual performance (Journal Andrology, July/August 2012). “The current pharmacotherapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) relies significantly of the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, but quite a proportion of ED patients are resistant to this therapy, necessitating a search for an alternative treatment,” researchers said. “Given the mounting evidence of H2S’ role in erectile function and how it appears to achieve its pro-erectile effects through different mechanisms, H2S represents a potentially alternative treatment or adjunct to PDE5 inhibitors.” (Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011)†

Research has shown that NAC is a safer hydrogen sulfide precursor and hydrogen sulfide donor than sulfide salts such as sodium sulfide. Sulfide salts release hydrogen sulfide in an uncontrolled manner and may cause acute toxicity to organs. NAC is the preferred and safest supplement for increasing hydrogen sulfide.†

- Niacin and horny goat weed extract: Niacin is a B vitamin and potent vasodilator along with horny goat weed extract standardized for icariin. Niacin releases histamine, which has been shown to release nitric oxide from endothelial cells to cause vasorelaxation and improved erectile function. Horny goat weed is an herb that has been a traditional remedy in China for enhancing sexual enhancement for many years. Icariin (a flavonol glycoside) is the active ingredient in horny goat weed that inhibits the phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) enzyme in the body that controls blood flow.†

Advanced Molecular Labs (AML) SEX COCKTAIL™ is the most scientifically advanced natural sexual enhancement dietary supplement ever developed!† For best results, take 30-60 minutes before bedtime daily. It is also recommended to exercise daily and follow a heart-healthy diet such as the Mediterranean diet. No erectile dysfunction drugs are present. It provides the most scientifically researched nutrients (see scientific references below) for helping to support healthy vasodilation, blood flow and natural sexual enhancement. AML SEX COCKTAIL™ is not for use by persons under the age of 18. Do not use if taking nitrate drugs. Do not exceed recommended dosage. Consult your physician prior to use if you have a medical condition before beginning any diet or supplement program.†

For more information on AML SEX COCKTAIL™ go to advancedmolecularlabs.com

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

©Published by from Advanced Research Media, Inc. 2022

©Reprinted with permission from Advanced Research Media, Inc.

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