Health Bytes:
Can caffeine do a Viagra?
As men get older , their chances of erectile dysfunction steadily
increase. But a natural stimulant that might be the most popular and
widespread in the world could help.
A study at the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston
shows that if you take in the equivalent amount of caffeine contained in
two or three cups of coffee you can reduce your risk of erectile
dysfunction (ED).
The
researchers found that getting 85 to 170 milligrams of caffeine a day
reduced a man’s chances of erectile dysfunction (ED) by 42 percent
(there’s about 85 mg in a cup of coffee). More than that didn’t seem to
lessen the benefit much. Men getting 171 to 303 milligrams of caffeine a
day were still 39 percent less likely to have problems with ED compared
men who didn’t take in any caffeine.
But there was one group of men who weren’t helped at all by coffee –
those with diabetes.
“Even though we saw a reduction in the prevalence of ED with men who
were obese, overweight and hypertensive, that was not true of men with
diabetes. Diabetes is one of the strongest risk factors for ED, so this
was not surprising,” says researcher David S. Lopez.
Caffeine probably helps keep impotence away for many men because
ithelps blood vessels function better and carry more blood.
Keep in mind, ED is primarily a sign that you’re having a problem
with your heart and blood vessels. If you’re not physically fit, you’re
more likely to have performance problems as well as heart issues. ED
difficulties are just more reasons for getting serious about improving
blood flow in your body in general.
As far as caffeine goes, try to stay away from products with
synthetic caffeine. It’s cheaper, so it’s more widely used, but I don’t
want my caffeine coming from a chemical facility.
Plus, synthetic caffeine absorbs faster, so you also get a faster
crash and might experience more negative side effects such as difficulty
sleeping, nervousness, heart palpitations or nausea. However with
natural plant sourced caffeine, the source and the co-factors involved
help regulate the absorption and give you a more normal and energizing
reaction.
Most products that have the ingredient “caffeine” have the synthetic
kind. Look for guarana or green tea to get the natural plant form. Or
just drink coffee and black tea, which give you sustained energy from
the naturally occurring caffeine.
- Health |