It’s a misconception that for a foodstuff to make you strong like bull it must have once trotted around a farmyard with a healthy pulse. Not so. Red meat is good, sure, it just doesn’t have a monopoly on boners. But don’t be disappointed: we’ll wager that your five-a-day sounds a good deal more appetising when you hear that certain fruits boast the dual benefit of keeping your end up. Yup, raising your intake of cherries, pomegranates and figs will give you a rise in other areas, too.
How it works
Researchers at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine examined the cholesterol levels and sex lives of 3 250 men over age 24, finding that as cholesterol rises so does his likelihood of erectile dysfunction. So the key to boosting your body’s natural love-making hydraulics is to eat foods that lower it. Many fruits and berries, especially red ones, are high in beneficial plant compounds called phytonutrients, which are effective in reducing cholesterol and, by extension, giving you the horn. And yes, that does mean red wine works, too. Go on, light some smelly candles and crack open a bottle.
