The penis is the most temperamental part of a man’s body. When you want it to stay hard during sexual activity, it goes soft. Then, when you finally manage to sustain an erection, you end up ejaculating too quickly. It responds poorly to alcohol, even when you are in a sexually arousing situation. It also tends to show up in a big way at inopportune times, like in the middle of your important presentation for work. As far as sources of pleasure go, it can be pretty frustrating.
Most men know their penis is not likely to be rock hard every time they have sexual intercourse. According to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, eighty-five percent (85%) of men between the ages of twenty (20) and thirty-nine (39) say they “always” or “almost always” can get and maintain an erection, which means fifteen percent (15%) of men in the prime of their life have a hard time getting hard at least occasionally. The same study found that of men between the ages of forty (40) to fifty-nine (59), only twenty percent (20%) said they could get a healthy enough erection for sex most of the time. In other words, a solid erection is far from a foregone conclusion.
Though you may never be able to predict how your penis will behave with 100 percent (100%) accuracy, there are steps you can take to make sure that when it comes time to perform, your erections are as healthy and strong as they can be. Here are ten (10) proven ways to harden your penis:
1. Vitamin D
Men with low levels of Vitamin D are more likely to have penis performance issues, as getting more vitamin D can boost your erection and performance between the sheets. Researchers from the University of Milan in Italy found that having a vitamin D deficiency can increase your risk of erection issues. According to the research, the team tested one hundred forty-three (143) erectile dysfunction sufferers and discovered nearly half of them had low levels of Vitamin D and only a fifth had optimal levels. Men with the most extreme cases of Erectile Dysfunction had twenty-four percent (24%) less vitamin D than men with mild erection problems.
But this wasn’t the only study to notice a link between trouble getting it up and the natural nutrient. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University studied three thousand four hundred (3400) healthy Americans and those who had a vitamin D deficiency were nearly a third more likely to have issues with getting hard. Sources of Vitamin D include food like oily fish, eggs, and cereals but for most people, the bulk of their vitamin D comes from sunlight.
2. Watermelon
Watermelon has been dubbed “nature’s Viagra” by Italian scientists so you can enjoy its benefits by making a tasty smoothie out of the fresh fruit and a little lemon juice. According to a study published in the journal Urology, watermelons have high levels of the amino acid called citrulline which triggers the body’s blood vessels to relax and dilate while improving circulation. This means that watermelon has similar effects on most Erectile Dysfunction drugs without its side effects. The catch is, you would have to eat at least six (6) slices of that juicy watermelon to get the same effects, but at least you would not be subjected to its side effects. Here are the steps to make your own natural Viagra using watermelon:
- Slice watermelon into small pieces and scoop it into a blender – aim to make about one liter of watermelon juice.
- Do not forget that the watermelon rind contains about sixty (60%) more citrulline than the flesh, so include that in the food processor too.
- Pour the watermelon juice into a saucepan and bring it to the boiling point while squeezing in the juice of a lemon.
- Once the liquid has reduced by half, transfer the concoction to a container and refrigerate it until you are ready to drink it.
3. A Cock Ring
Did you know that a cock ring can help you maintain an erection? This O-shaped toy fits around your penis and helps keep blood in the shaft, where you want it. A cock ring also helps prevent venous leakage, a form of erectile dysfunction where blood flows to your penis but has trouble staying there.
The purpose of a cock ring is to trap the blood inside the penis in order to maintain an erection or encourage a stronger erection. In order to do this, it must be placed at the base of the penis.
A ring made of stretchy material is simply stretched over the penis (and optionally also the scrotum, except when used with a pump for impotence) and situated against the body. Rigid rings are used differently: first, each testicle is fed through the ring and the entire scrotum is pulled through, then the flaccid penis is pushed through the ring and situated against the body. When used with a pump, a lubricating gel is always used to help the pump maintain a vacuum, in the same way, vacuum grease is used with a vacuum pump in scientific applications. The gel also makes it easier for the ring to slide off the pump, and later, to remove it from the penis.
4. A Penis Pump
A pump for the penis is one of the few non-medicated treatment options available for erectile dysfunction. ED makes it difficult to maintain an erection for long enough to engage in sexual activity. A penis pump consists of a plastic tube, a hand- or battery-operated pump, and a constriction ring for the base of the penis. The device is a safe and effective alternative to medications and more invasive procedures. In fact, experts say that penis pumps are so effective, it can provide visible results within a mere fifteen (15) minutes of usage and allow every man the ability to increase the size of their penis by up to 3 inches in length and 30% in girth. How do you put a penis pump? Here are the recommended steps:
- Step 1: Though this is not required, some men may want to shave the pubic hair around the base of their penis. This helps prevent the ring from getting caught in the hair.
- Step 2: Insert the penis into the plastic tube.
- Step 3: Use the pump to create a vacuum inside the tube. Depending on the device, the pump may be manual or motorized. The vacuum brings blood into the penis.
- Step 4: Once erect, place the constriction ring around the base of the penis. This helps maintain the erection by keeping blood inside the penis.
- Step 5: Remove the penis from the tube.
5. Coffee
A kick of caffeine can perk you up in more ways than one. Not only does coffee boost your metabolism and get your blood pumping, it can also make you have a longer sex drive and a stronger and harder erection. A hot cup of coffee can release fat stores giving you more energy to keep going all night. In fact, researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Centre at Houston found that men who drank the caffeine equivalent of two to three cups of coffee each day were less likely to have erection issues compared to non-coffee drinkers.
6. Eat your Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a class of compounds with antioxidant effects. Found naturally in a number of foods, anthocyanins are the pigments that give red, purple, and blue plants their rich coloring. In addition to acting as antioxidants and fighting free radicals, anthocyanins may offer anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer benefits.
A recent the University of East Anglia study found that men who look after themselves by working out and eating a diet rich in anthocyanins are less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Anthocyanins are found in berries, red onions, kidney beans, pomegranates, grapes (including wine), tomatoes, acai, bilberry, chokeberry, elderberry, and tart cherries. In this research, researchers began by tracking the anthocyanin intake in twenty-five thousand (25,000) men over a ten (10) year period. The men who regularly had food intake high in these flavonoids were ten percent (10%) less likely to have erection issues.
7. Put down the Beer
Putting your craft-brew habit on ice might sound painful, but the reason why you should make you wince: The hops in beer are rich in phytoestrogens, plant-based chemicals that raise the amount of estrogen in the blood. Too much of them, and they’ll predominate over testosterone, reducing your sex drive and leading to flop sweat in the sack. To reiterate further, alcohol is a depressant and using it heavily can dampen mood, decrease sexual desire, and make it difficult for a man to achieve erections or reach an orgasm while under the influence. In fact, overdoing it on booze is a common cause of erectile dysfunction.
Most experts say moderation is key. But the question remains… what is “moderation” exactly? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate drinking is no more than two drinks a day for men (and one drink a day for women). The liver can only break down the amount of alcohol in about one standard-size drink an hour, so regularly drinking more than that means that toxins from alcohol can build up in your body and affect your organs, including those involved in sex.
8. Hit the Gym
According to Ryan Berglund, M.D., a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic, blood flow is the key to a healthy erection, and there’s nothing that encourages blood flow like aerobic exercise. Not only does it keep you in shape, but it also builds the body’s nitric oxide, which helps maintain erections.
While running is great, stay off the bike if you can help it. “Endurance cyclists who spend a long time on their bike seats may have more trouble with ED,” says Erin Michos, M.D., an associate professor of Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
9. Put the Cigarettes Away
In a study conducted at the University of Kentucky, researchers found that when asked to rate their sex lives on a scale of one (1) to ten (10), men who smoked averaged about a five (5), while nonsmokers rated theirs a nine (9).
One reason is that smoking is a known cause of impotence, and there’s some evidence that smoking affects erection strength—and size. In one study, researchers found that smokers’ penises are smaller than those belonging to nonsmokers. “In addition to damaging blood vessels, smoking may cause damage to penile tissue itself, making it less elastic and preventing it from stretching,” says Irwin Goldstein, M.D., a urologist at the Boston University medical center.
10. Walk More
In one recent study, researchers found that men who walk just two (2) miles a day had half the rate of erection problems of more sedentary men, says Dr. Goldstein. (Twenty minutes of jogging or thirty minutes of weight training will work, too.)
Deposits that clog or stiffen penile arteries can also wilt erections. “Guys tend to think of their arteries as simple pipes that can become clogged, but there’s a lot more going on than that,” says Laurence Levine, M.D., a urologist at Chicago’s Rush-Presbyterian Medical Center. “The linings of those blood vessels are very biologically active areas where chemicals are being made and released into the bloodstream.” The more you exercise the healthier, cleaner, and more flexible those linings become.
There are many natural ways to have a stronger erection that can liven up your sexual experience with your partner. These natural ways have the benefits of a harder penis without the side effects of medication such as Viagra. Before contemplating popping medications or pills to help you with your problem, try the tried and tested methods above for healthier methods to make your erections stronger. However, if all else fails, it might be time to go to your nearest doctor who specializes in reproductive health and have your problem checked.