Reader Reports Beets Make Sex Better:
Viagra and Cialis are usually helpful for men with erectile dysfunction. This reader found a natural way that may make such medications even more effective.
Q. Using beets to increase nitric oxide in the blood for 24 hours before using Viagra will make the little blue pill work better. Eating beets or drinking beet juice a couple of times the day before the event makes a huge difference.
We went from giving up because even a pump didn’t help to “oh, my word!” if you get my drift. My husband also takes L-citrulline and L-arginine that same day for an extra boost, but the key is the beet juice.
We are in our late 70s. You can buy beet juice at any natural food store.
Even if the ED pills don’t seem to work for you, this could make a big difference. It might even give you your natural performance back if you drink beet juice daily. It takes a couple of months to build up the nitric oxide in the blood stream to the point of having really good results, but it is worth the effort.
A. Thank you for your intriguing suggestion. Sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) work by blocking an enzyme (PDE5) that breaks down a compound called cGMP. Nitric oxide also leads to higher levels of cGMP. This dilates blood vessels in the penis and facilitates increased blood flow.
Boosting Nitric Oxide Naturally:
Foods like beets or dark chocolate also enhance nitric oxide formation. Studies have found that beet juice improves flexibility of the lining of blood vessels and lowers blood pressure (Nutrients, April, 2015).
Although there are no studies to suggest that eating beets or drinking beet juice can improve the effectiveness of sildenafil, your personal experiments are fascinating. One small study evaluated a formulation containing Pycnogenol, L-arginine and L-citrulline and found it seemed to work better than placebo for erectile dysfunction (Minerva Urologica e Nefrologica, March, 2015).
