Foods for Erectile Dysfunction. What Local Singaporean Expert has to Say

“The desire for food and sex is part of human nature” – Confucius “The Book of Rites”

The belief that taking certain foods can improve one’s sexual prowess has long existed throughout history and among different cultures. In historic Singapore, penis soup and testis soup was popular, whilst Surabaya was known for cobra meat and cobra blood which had claims of improving erections.

References to aphrodisiacs can be found in elaborate details from the medical sources of ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, to ancient China, India and the Middle East, and even in traditional pharmacies of several African and South American cultures.

Examining the research

When researching this article, we referred to a medical article written by Dr. Peter Lim Huat Chye, entitled Asian herbals and aphrodisiacs used for managing ED.

Dr. Peter Lim is a practicing senior consultant urologist in Gleneagles Hospital’s Andrology, Urology and Continence Centre.

Among Peter Lim’s many achievements, he is also the founder of the Singapore Men’s Health Association which dedicates itself to healthy aging and awareness of men’s health.

Finally, Dr. Peter Lim is also listed as a medical advisor of Noah Singapore.

Noah Singapore is a men’s health clinic that treats erectile dysfunction, among other medical conditions that men can suffer from. Noah Singapore has been reviewed on Google and Facebook and has a 4.7 star rating and a 5/5 rating on Facebook.

Noah Singapore also has a female counterpart called Ofzoey, which was featured alongside SIRE in a Business Times article.

Tia gong (hearsay) does not equal to scientifically proven

However, pharmacological research has not been the most enthusiastic in the vast knowledge banks of aphrodisiacs across world history. Most of the traditional foods or herbs that have been sworn by to improve one’s sexual prowess have never been subjected to modern scientific investigations.

Foods for ED do not treat ED and they are still not a replacement for medications. However some of them have some effects in boosting testosterone and sperm count.

Here, we will discuss how some popular foods for ED in Singapore work to bring it up.

Ginseng

Ginseng was advocated as a treatment for ED way back in 2600 BC by the mythical Emperor Shen-Nung. He particularly described a “warm and sexually pleasurable feeling” after chewing the root. Even the legendary Chinese Emperor needed that extra lift!

Modern-day research has been primarily confined to laboratory animals. These studies have found that Ginseng contains significant levels of compounds that can increase testosterone levels. There is also evidence to suggest that compounds in Ginseng could possibly increase blood flow to the penis, improving ED.

Deer velvet

Deer velvet is the most popular amongst Chinese sexual tonics. Deer velvet refers to the growing bone and cartilage that develops into deer antlers.

In Chinese medical teaching, kidneys play a key role in sexual function; hence foods and herbs such as this can “cure” infertility and even increase semen production.

However, early research suggests that taking deer velvet powder for 12 weeks does not improve sexual function or desire among human males compared to a placebo.

Gingko biloba

Gingko is an herbal supplement derived from the ginkgo tree, known to be among the oldest living species on earth. Early reference to its medicinal use was in 2900 BC Chinese Materia medica which believed it increased sexual energy.

It has been found that Gingko contains two main active components: flavonoid glycosides and terpene lactones. Research has shown that terpene lactones increases blood flow to both the brain and the genitals, significantly increasing the production of chemicals in the brain such as dopamine and adrenaline that improves pleasure arousal and alertness.

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longiflora)

Tongkat Ali (also known as Long Jack, Malaysian ginseng) originates from a plant known as Eurycoma longifolia, which is native to the Southeast Asia region. It has been found that Tongkat Ali enhances the body’s natural machinery of building testosterone.

In animal studies, Tongkat Ali increases the number of times and duration of sexual performance with testosterone levels increasing up to 440% in some animals. In human studies, testosterone levels have been shown to increase when taken regularly over a period of time. Sperm concentration and motility as well as the energy of the individual were given a boost with Tongkat Ali.

Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium extract)

The story goes 2000 years ago; a Chinese farmer tending his herd of goats observed that his goats were more in the mood to procreate after feeding on this herb.

The active substance from horny goat weed was reported by Xin Zhong Cheng at Beijing Medical University as Icariin. It was found that Icariin works similarly to PDE5-inhibitors like Viagra – improving blood flow to the penis and creating an erection. However, it was also reported that Viagra was still 80 times more potent than Icariin.

Oyster meat

The legendary lover, Giacomo Casanova (1725-1789) was said to have started each day by eating 50 raw oysters. Known to be a powerhouse of protein and minerals, oysters are excellent for men’s reproductive health and endurance.

Historically known as an aphrodisiac, flavonoids in oyster meat have been shown to stimulate the reproductive system. However, its potency has not been fully validated.

Animal penises/testicles

Many Chinese people believe eating animal organs will nourish a human’s frail organs accordingly. For example, if you have weak legs, eat chicken feet; if you want to enhance the brain, eat a pig’s brain; and if you want to improve your sex drive, take on some penises and testicles.

Derived from bulls and wild boars, they have been used as a way to possibly increase testosterone levels and sperm counts. In Singapore, testis soup was once very popular. It is still sold in parts of China and Japan. However, research has yet to validate any of such claims.

Short-term use of these foods at standard recommended doses do not appear to have a significant side-effect profile and is safe for consumption in most people. Prolonged use of these foods, however, may cause a variety of mild side effects.

Foods for ED still have a long way to go before they can be used as medical treatment for ED. Although they are natural products, they still have side effects and can possibly interact with other medications.

If you are thinking of trying a food supplement for ED, always speak to your doctor first. Read here to find out how you can protect yourself when purchasing foods supplements for ED.

How we can help

We believe that there is one tried and tested way to solve your erectile dysfunction.

It all centres around self-care with the aid of medication.

Self-care means ensuring you keep a balanced lifestyle involving adequate rest, a good diet and reducing stress- and anxiety-triggering situations.

Over time, your erectile dysfunction is likely to improve. However, in the meantime, medication could help you get past the frictions caused by poor sexual satisfaction.

Thankfully, SIRE provides direct-to-home consultation and treatment. You won’t even need to leave your home. No more embarrassment, and focus on getting well.