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One of the most popular drinks worldwide, coffee, has been shown to significantly reduce the likelihood of erectile dysfunction. A new study suggests that at drinking least two cups of coffee daily may protect men from impotence.
Researchers examined over 3,700 men aged 20 and over and searched for possible connections between caffeine consumption and erectile dysfunction.
There are several factors which increase a man’s risk of developing erectile dysfunction. A poor diet with little to no fresh fruit and vegetable intake, a sedentary lifestyle, tobacco consumption and alcohol consumption are just some.
In some ways, erectile dysfunction can be considered an extension of a person’s cardiovascular health. And scientific literature has investigated the positive effects of caffeine on heart health.
The study in question, conducted by researchers from the University of Texas, showed that drinking between 85 and 170 mg of caffeine daily (the equivalent of two regular cups of coffee) reduced a man’s risk of developing erectile dysfunction by 42 percent. That percentage dropped slightly (to 39 percent) in those drinking between 171 and 303 mg of caffeine per day.
Across the US, erectile dysfunction is taking a toll on the male population. Approximately 18 percent of men aged 20 and older have erectile dysfunction. This means that approximately 18 million men cannot properly perform in the bedroom.
In the case of middle-aged men, that number skyrockets. Approximately 44 percent of all men over 40 and 70 percent of men over 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction.
But since coffee is consumed by roughly 85 percent of adults, those numbers could change. The team of researchers also looked at other caffeine sources, such as energy drinks, tea or soda.
The most likely mechanism through which caffeine prevents erectile dysfunction is relaxing the arteries supplying the penis. According to the study’s authors, caffeine triggers a variety of pharmacological effects which in turn relax the penile helicine arteries. Furthermore, caffeine is also connected to smooth muscle relaxation additionally increasing blood flow in the area.
Sadly though, caffeine is no cure-all and there are some situations when it doesn’t deliver.
“Even though we saw a reduction in the prevalence of erectile dysfunction with men who were obese, overweight and hypertensive, that was not true of men with diabetes,” study authors wrote.
Most likely, diabetics cannot profit from the beneficial effects of caffeine because diabetes causes a very specific set of vascular problems.
Drinking or not drinking coffee remains your prerogative, although experts don’t recommend to begin drinking coffee if you’ve gone your entire life without the beloved drink.
Image Source: Madame Web
