Cook with olive oil to set your sex life on fire – as docs claim it could be better than Viagra
A DASH of olive oil in the kitchen can help fellas keep the heat in the bedroom, experts claim.
They found consuming just nine tablespoons weekly is enough to slash a bloke’s chance of impotence by 40 per cent in later life.
It can also help dramatically boost testosterone levels – a key male sex hormone.
The findings suggest olive oil could offer a better long-term option than Viagra for maintaining a man’s bedroom prowess.
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to get and maintain a stiffie.
But Greek researchers found a diet rich in olive oil keeps blood vessels healthy - boosting circulation to key organs.
The study involved more than 660 men with an average age of 67.
Lead researcher Dr Christina Chrysohoou, from the University of Athens, said sticking to a Med diet was protects sexual performance.
It includes lots of beans, nuts, fish, fruit and vegetables.
Speaking at the European Society of Cardiology [must keep] conference in Munich, she said: “Men that follow a Med diet – particularly consuming lots of olive oil – see their risk of impotence reduced by up to 40 per cent in older age.
“It offers men a long-term solution without taking any medication, such as Viagra.
“This diet keeps your blood vessels healthy.”
She said the take-home message for OAPs wanting to keep it up was get some exercise and eat well.
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Dr Chrysohoou added: “A Med diet from middle-age boosts your chances long-term. Small changes to your diet, for example add some olive oil instead of butter.
“Having some nuts, fruit, vegetables, or some beans will also help.”
Impotence was reported to affect around a fifth of the study participants – significantly lower than levels in the UK among men of the same age.
Around five million Brits are affected by the condition.
Causes can be psychological or physical, from stress and depression to conditions which affect blood flow, including heart disease and diabetes.
UK experts welcomed the findings. Professor Mike Wyllie, one of the scientists who developed Viagra in the 1990s, said: “The message that you can affect your sexual function by modifying lifestyle and diet is a valid one.
“Erectile dysfunction is usually about 80 per cent a cardiovascular [heart] disease condition.
“Altering cardiovascular status you get an improvement in erectile function - this study reinforces that message.”
Drugs like Viagra have revolutionized the treatment, but they can have side effects - headache, back pain and visual disturbance.
And they do not work for all men, and are unsuitable for men with unstable angina.
They also have to be taken well in advance of sexual intercourse.
MORE ON DIET
Julie Ward, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation said: “It’s no surprise that the Mediterranean diet – which we know is beneficial to heart and circulatory health – might also benefit blood vessels elsewhere, and help men maintain healthy sexual function.
“Because the blood vessels in the penis are so narrow, being unable to achieve or maintain an erection can be one of the first signs of atherosclerosis – the narrowing of arteries that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
“It’s crucial that any underlying medical condition, such as atherosclerosis or diabetes, is spotted early and treated to keep your heart, as well as your sex life, healthy.”
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