Erectile dysfunction is widespread, and about 30 million men in the US alone suffer from it. A lack of a strong enough erection or one that doesn’t last long enough to sex is referred to as erectile dysfunction. Most men who suffer from erectile dysfunction resort to natural solutions since there are several therapies to choose from such as medication, surgery and counselling. One herbal treatment for erectile dysfunction that has become quite popular in recent years is beet juice. In this article, we are going to look into whether beet juice is a natural cure for erectile dysfunction.
To begin with, we must first figure out what ED is about. Physical causes include diabetes, hypertension or hormonal disorders, or psychological triggers like stress, anxiety or depression. The only way to manage ED is to cure these root causes. There have been experiments on how beet juice can alleviate physical and psychological ED-related conditions.
Improved Athletic Performance
The best-known benefit of beet juice is the ability to improve athletic performance. This is due, in large part, to its high nitrate content which is converted into nitric oxide in the body. Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator that dilates the blood vessels and increases blood flow to the muscles. Increased blood flow improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to active muscles, which increases exercise efficiency and endurance (Bailey et al., 2009).
Multiple studies have also proven the ergogenic effects of beet juice on sports performance. In 2010, for example, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in the Journal of Applied Physiology, cyclists who drank beet juice reported 2.8% greater power output and 9.26% lower time-to-exhaustion than those who took a placebo (Cermak et al., 2012). Additionally, a 2012 meta-analysis of 23 studies found that the consumption of beet juice increased endurance exercise performance in time-trial races by over 50% (Davis et al, 2012).
Lowered Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Beet juice is said to reduce blood pressure, which will help prevent heart issues. This is due to the nitrates found in beet juice, which are converted into nitric oxide, a chemical that dilates and relaxes blood vessels. This, in turn, lowers resistance to blood supply, which leads to a reduction in blood pressure (Kapil et al., 2015).
In a 2013 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, high-blood-pressure hypertensive subjects drinking 250 mL of beet juice every day experienced a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with those taking a placebo beverage (Coles & Clifton, 2013). A second paper in the American Journal of Hypertension in 2015 echoed this, with hypertensive subjects showing an incredible drop in blood pressure after drinking 500 mL of beet juice per day for four weeks (Kapil et al., 2015).
Enhanced Blood Flow
As noted above, the nitrates in beet juice are converted into nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator, by the body. This relaxation and dilation of blood vessels improves blood flow to organs, such as the brain, heart, and muscles. Increased blood flow to the brain has been associated with better cognition, and greater blood flow to the heart and muscles can boost cardiovascular fitness and athletic performance.
In one 2010 randomised, double-blind, crossover study, published in the Journal of Applied Physiology, drinking beet juice significantly increased cerebral blood flow through the frontal lobes of the brain during task performance. They hypothesized that this effect could lead to enhanced cognitive performance, especially when engaging in activities that require sustained attention and working memory (Presley et al., 2011). Furthermore, in 2015 a paper in the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology showed that drinking beet juice increased blood flow to the heart of older heart- failure patients, thereby lowering symptoms and increasing exercise tolerance (Hord et al., 2015).
Increased Exercise Efficiency
Even ingesting beet juice has been found to increase exercise efficiency, or the amount of work accomplished per unit of oxygen consumption. It’s thought to be because mitochondria perform better and muscle contractions have lower oxygen prices. Mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell, generate ATP, the body’s currency. Boosting mitochondrial efficiency can enhance fitness and endurance.
In a 2017 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, moderately trained volunteers who took beet juice improved their exercise performance by 7.1% over those who took a placebo (Wylie et al., 2017). In a separate paper in the American Journal of Physiology in 2016, beet juice supplementation decreased the oxygen expense of muscle contractions during submaximal exercise, further boosting exercise performance (Thompson et al, 2016).
Along with its dietary benefits, beet juice can also help to reduce the psychological factors that are associated with ED.
Less well-known is the psychological value of drinking beet juice, but this holds just as much weight in the ED context. Nitric oxide, made from beet juice, is also a neurotransmitter important for the brain’s reward system. Nitric oxide regulates the production of dopamine, a chemical that marks pleasure and reward. Therefore, increasing nitric oxide levels through the use of beet juice could augment the brain’s reward circuitry and mitigate ED-related anxiety and depression.
This study demonstrated that men with ED also have lower nitric oxide and dopamine than men without ED. Researchers in the Journal of Sexual Medicine discovered that men who drank beet juice reported higher levels of nitric oxide and improved erections. What’s more, in a 2016 study in the journal Urology, men on a diet rich in nitric oxide reported reduced ED symptoms and a higher level of sexual satisfaction.
Beet juice might also improve the psychological factors associated with ED due to its antioxidant effects. Bet juice contains antioxidants, such as betalains and polyphenols, which help lower inflammation and oxidative stress. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress have been linked to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. In this way, drinking beet juice could possibly mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress, which is helpful in improving mental health and alleviating ED’s psychological effects.
It’s important to note that, while these studies are encouraging, they’re small and more studies are needed to prove that beet juice is a natural remedy for ED. What’s more, not everyone can consume beet juice. Those suffering from low blood pressure or who are taking medication for high blood pressure should consult a physician before drinking beet juice.
Conclusion:
So, from the evidence we have, it looks like beet juice is a natural cure for erectile dysfunction. The presence of nitrates, together with the ability of beet juice to boost blood pressure and mood, lends it an edge in the fight against erectile dysfunction. But any undiagnosed physical or psychological cause of ED needs to be diagnosed and addressed by a healthcare practitioner before introducing beet juice into the diet.