05/09/2025
Even if heart attacks aren’t top of mind, young men should care about cholesterol levels because they may predict erectile dysfunction (ED) later in life. ED and coronary artery disease are just two manifestations of the same disease—inflamed, clogged, and impaired arteries—regardless of the organ.
Hardening of the arteries can lead to softening of the pen*s because stiffened arteries may not relax properly to allow adequate blood to flow through. In two thirds of men showing up to emergency rooms for the first time with crushing chest pain, their pen*s had been trying to warn them for years that something was wrong with their circulation.
How might watermelon help?
🍉 Watermelon contains citrulline, which is converted in the body to arginine—a precursor for nitric oxide. Our bodies use nitric oxide to open up our arteries and allow blood to flow. Consuming the citrulline found in five servings of red watermelon or in a single wedge of yellow watermelon (just 1/16th of a modest-sized melon) may help improve erection hardness.
Lifestyle matters.
In addition to watermelon, what else helps? The largest study on diet and erectile dysfunction found that each additional daily serving of fruits or vegetables may reduce the risk of ED by 10%.
Other important factors include:
✅ quitting smoking
✅ exercising regularly
✅ reducing alcohol consumption
✅ maintaining a healthy body weight
✅ following a healthy, plant-based diet
High cholesterol and high blood pressure may impair blood flow throughout our arteries, thereby impacting blood flow to our pelvic organs. Adopting an anti-inflammatory, plant-based diet can benefit both men and women by supporting heart and sexual health.
Watch the video “Watermelon as Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction” at https://see.nf/4klfjQa and “Best Foods to Improve Sexual Function” at https://see.nf/44tG9iS to learn more.
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