Seven energizing foods and supplements with Viagra-like advantages

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People with penis may experience increased sex drive as a result of certain foods and supplements. However, they might interact with some medications and have side effects.

United Stocksy/Kristin Duvall

Finding ways to increase your sex drive is not unusual.

Many people prefer natural alternatives that are easily accessible, discrete, and likely to have fewer side effects, despite the fact that pharmaceutical drugs like Viagra may help people with penis get an erection.

If you’re worried about erectile dysfunction (ED), research has shown that a variety of foods and supplements can increase your libido.

This article provides product recommendations to aid in your purchasing decision as well as a list of 7 foods and supplements that might pique your desire for sex.

The best foods and supplements to increase libido are briefly discussed.

  • a tribulus
  • root Maca
  • Ginseng red
  • Fenugreek ,
  • A saffron
  • Biloba gingigo
  • citrulline l-

The top supplements to increase libido are briefly reviewed.

  • NaturaLife Labs Maca works best with maca.
  • Pure Encapsulations Panax Ginseng works best with ginseng.
  • NOW Sports L-Citrulline is best used with this substance.
  • Tribulus from NOW Sports is best used with tribulus extract.
  • Seven libido-boosting foods and supplements

1 . a tribulus

Negative effects include prolonged erections, liver and kidney issues, and digestive irritation.

Potential drug interactions include diuretics, blood pressure medications, medications that lower blood sugar, drugs that thin the blood, and substrates that contain P-glycoproteins.

Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine (2Trusted Source) both use tribulus, a small leafy plant with roots and fruit.

Additionally, it is frequently marketed to increase sex drive and testosterone levels and is widely available as a sports supplement.

Human studies haven’t shown that it can increase testosterone levels, but both sexes seem to be more driven to have sexual relations.

In one study, taking 280 milligrams (mg) of tribulus daily for three months was found to improve pre- and postmenopausal female sexual dysfunction without any negative side effects.

Studies on ED patients, however, yield conflicting findings.

According to an earlier study, ED was not treated by taking 800 mg of this supplement every day for 30 days. In contrast, in a different study, taking 1,500 mg per day for 90 days increased sexual desire and erections.

Tribulus terrestris and ED require additional study as a result.

2.  Maca

No known side effects are a potential side effect.

Drug interactions that might occur: none (6)

Root vegetable maca (Lepidium meyenii) has long been used to increase sex drive and fertility. Supplements come in a variety of packaging, including liquid extracts, powder, and capsules.

According to a 12-week study from 2002, 42% of men reported having more sex drive after taking 1, 500–3, 000 mg of maca daily.

One study found that maca may naturally act as an aphrodisiac to heighten men’s sexual desire. Although more research is required (8Trusted Source), it might also aid in the treatment of ED.

Additionally, some research indicates that maca may aid in preventing libido loss brought on by some antidepressant medications (9Trusted Source).

According to the majority of studies, consuming 1.5–3.5 grams (g) daily for at least 2–12 weeks was enough to increase libido.

3.Ginseng red

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Dry mouth, a higher heart rate, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, and nervousness are possible side effects.

Drug interactions that may occur include medications for diabetes, blood thinners, aspirin, chemotherapy, antivirals, and some antidepressants (10).

Red ginseng in particular may help with low libido and enhance sexual performance.

Red ginseng was actually found to increase sexual arousal in menopausal women (11Trusted Source) after reviewing 10 studies.

Red ginseng may also increase nitric oxide production. This substance promotes blood flow and relieves penis muscle tension. In fact, studies have shown that compared to a placebo, this herb significantly improves erectile function (12Trusted Source, 13, and 14 Trusted Source).

Red ginseng, among other types, is likely to improve erectile function or satisfaction with sex compared to placebo, according to a review of 9 studies involving nearly 600 males with mild to moderate ED. Even so, the impact is negligible, and the majority of the studies that were included had weak results (15Trusted Source).

More research is therefore required.

Additionally, it’s crucial to understand that red ginseng may have side effects like raised heart rate and upset stomach (10), despite the fact that it is typically well tolerated.

People who take blood thinners may want to speak with a doctor before using them because it may interact with other drugs as well (16Trusted Source).

A SUMMARY

Although more research is required, red ginseng may increase libido and improve erectile function.

4. Fenugreek

Possible adverse effects include low blood sugar (17Trusted Source), nausea, diarrhea, digestive problems, vertigo, and headaches.

Blood thinners, antidepressants, chemotherapy drugs, and bronchodilators (18) all have potential drug interactions.

An effective alternative medicine that may increase libido and enhance sexual function is fenugreek.

It contains substances that your body can use to make sex hormones, like testosterone and estrogen.

In 120 middle-aged and older males (21Trusted Source), a 12-week study found that taking 600 mg of fenugreek extract daily improved sexual function and raised testosterone levels.

The clinical significance of this rise in testosterone is unknown, though.

Similar to the placebo group (22Trusted Source), an 8-week study of 80 low libido females found that taking 600 mg of fenugreek daily significantly increased sexual arousal and desire.

However, there hasn’t been much research done on libido and fenugreek in human studies, so more is required.

Additionally, this herb interacts with blood-thinning drugs like warfarin. Speak with a doctor before taking fenugreek (23Trusted Source) if you’re taking blood thinner.

A SUMMARY

Fenugreek may increase libido by promoting sex hormone production.

5 . A saffron

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Possible side effects include nausea (24Trusted Source), dry mouth, appetite changes, anxiety, and stomach pain.

Blood thinners (25Trusted Source) may interact with other medications.

The Crocus sativus flower is the source of the delectable spice Saffron.

Its numerous traditional uses, particularly for those taking antidepressant medications, include reducing stress and acting as an aphrodisiac.

According to some studies, saffron may be able to treat antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction (26Trusted Source).

Additionally, according to one review of six studies, saffron enhanced men’s erectile function, sexual desire, and satisfaction. These conclusions are weakened by the fact that the methods used in the analyses had significant flaws (27Trusted Source).

Saffron significantly improved various aspects of sexual pleasure, desire, and arousal, but the findings among the studies varied significantly (28Trusted Source), according to an analysis of 5 studies conducted by 173 people.

Saffron has a mixed effect on enhancing sexual function in people who are not depressed or taking antidepressants.

A SUMMARY

Saffron’s effects on people who don’t take antidepressants are inconsistent, but it may increase libido in those who do.

6. Biloba gingigo

Low blood sodium levels (29) are potential side effects.

Potential drug interactions include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (29) and blood thinners, antipsychotic drugs, drugs for diabetes, depression, and cholesterol.

Traditional Chinese medicine frequently includes ginkgo biloba as an herbal supplement.

It may treat a number of problems, such as sexual issues like ED and low libido, according to some older research and animal studies. This is due to the fact that it can increase nitric oxide levels, which helps blood flow by encouraging the growth of blood vessels (30, 31, 32Trusted Sources).

Ginkgo biloba appears to have more potent nitric oxide-boosting effects in animals and people who have heart disease and other conditions linked to decreased production.

Ginkgo biloba-containing supplements have been shown to increase libido and sexual function when combined with other substances like L-arginine, zinc, and Tribulus terrestris (33Trusted Source, 34Trust Source).

A SUMMARY

Nitric oxide levels can be increased by ginkgo biloba, which may be used to treat a variety of forms of sexual dysfunction. Studies are inconsistent, so more study is required.

7. citrulline l-

No known side effects are possible (35Trusted Source).

Drug interactions between diabetes medications and blood pressure medications (35Trusted Source)

Your body naturally produces the amino acid L-citrulline (35Trusted Source).

Nitric oxide is then produced by your body and transformed into L-arginine, which aids in enhancing blood flow by widening your blood vessels. This could then be used to treat ED (36Trusted Source).

For instance, taking 1.5 g of L-citrulline daily significantly improved symptoms in 50% of participants after one month (37Trusted Source), according to a small 2011 study of 24 men with mild ED and conditions linked to it, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

Erectile function and hardness were improved in another 30-day study of men compared to the placebo treatment (38Trusted Source) by taking an 800 mg dose of L-citrulline, 300 mg of trans-resveratrol, and a prescription ED medication.

A plant compound called trans-resveratrol, also referred to as rensvell, serves as an antioxidant and has a number of health advantages (39Trusted Source).

Although L-citrulline can be taken as a dietary supplement in capsules or powder form, it is naturally found in nuts, dark chocolate, and watermelon.

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