The fruit bowl habit tied to fewer erection problems in 50,000 men
The one thing
Eat berries, cherries, and citrus fruit a few times a week, and stay active.
These fruits are rich in flavonoids, plant compounds linked to healthier blood vessels. Men who ate the most were less likely to develop erectile dysfunction.
Do it today
- Pick two: blueberries, strawberries, cherries, oranges, or grapefruit.
- Get a few portions a week. A handful of berries or one orange counts as a portion.
- Pair it with regular activity. The men who did both had the lowest risk.
What the study found
Men with the highest intake of these flavonoid-rich foods were about 10% less likely to report erectile dysfunction. Combined with physical activity, the risk was 21% lower.
- Who
- More than 50,000 middle-aged men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, tracked since 1986.
- Type of study
- Large observational study by the University of East Anglia and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
- Keep in mind
- This shows a link, not proof. Men who eat more fruit may also differ in other healthy ways.
Source: Cassidy et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2016
Educational information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.