Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Erectile Dysfunction

What should I eat if I have ED?

Research shows that a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED) and improve ED symptoms.3

Your food choices are important for managing or preventing ED. Studies have shown that certain diets—such as the Mediterranean diet—help decrease the chance of getting ED.4,5 Table A3-5 of the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF, 32.5 MB) offers more information about the Mediterranean diet for healthy eating.

Healthy food choices include

• vegetables, such as cabbage, leafy greens, and beets
• fruits, such as apples, berries, kiwifruit, and oranges
• legumes, such as lentils, beans, and peas
• unsaturated fats from nuts, seeds, and fatty fish
• whole-grain foods, such as oats, brown rice, and quinoa

Your health care professional may suggest you work with a registered dietitian, if possible, to create an eating plan for your individual needs. You can find a registered dietitian online through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or through your health care professional. A dietitian can create a custom meal plan for you.

A healthy diet can lower the risk of developing ED or improve ED symptoms.

What foods and drinks should I avoid if I have ED?

Foods and drinks that increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity can also increase the chance of having ED.

Try to avoid or limit

• foods high in saturated fats, such as red meat and fried foods
• full-fat dairy foods, including whole milk, cream, butter, and cheese
• refined carbohydrates, such as pastries, chips, white rice, and candy
• foods and drinks high in sodium and added sugars
• packaged foods, such as lunch meats and snack bars
• drinks that contain alcohol

References

[3] Bauer SR, Breyer BN, Stampfer MJ, Rimm EB, Giovannucci EL, Kenfield SA. Association of diet with erectile dysfunction among men in the health professionals follow-up study. JAMA Network Open. 2020;3(11):e2021701. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.21701

[4] Defeudis G, Mazzilli R, Di Tommaso AM, et al. Effects of diet and antihyperglycemic drugs on erectile dysfunction: a systematic review. Andrology. 2023;11(2):282–294. doi:10.1111/andr.13192

[5] Angelis A, Aggeli K, Dimitroglou I, et al. Exercise capacity benefit in relation to endogenous testosterone, coronary and central vascular physiology, and the Mediterranean regime in hypertensive males with erectile dysfunction. European Heart Journal. 2021;42(Supplement_1):ehab724.2390. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehab724.2390

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