The myth: Coca-Cola can cause erectile dysfunction
Mojo’s verdict: false, Coca-Cola won’t cause ED (just don’t drink too much)
Coca-Cola is the most popular soft drink in the world, selling 1.9 billion servings in over 200 countries each day.(1)
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects over 50% of men,(2) and it’s fair to assume that a significant amount of men with ED are enjoying Coca-Cola. The drink is widely thought to be bad for you due to the sugar and sweeteners, leading to some people wondering whether there’s a link between drinking Coca-Cola and erectile dysfunction.
Can Coca-Cola cause erectile dysfunction?
In a nutshell, no. Drinking a can of this soft drink won’t directly give you erection issues.
If you think your ED is caused by Coca-Cola, it isn’t. It’s more likely to be caused by other physical, lifestyle, or psychological reasons. If you’re curious, we’d recommend reading our blog post to see if your ED is physical or psychological. If it’s psychological, we can provide you with a structured path to erection success here at Mojo.
The causes we just mentioned are direct. Coca-Cola is not directly responsible for ED, but sugary drinks can cause other health problems, making them a potential indirect cause of ED. When combined with other health conditions and lifestyle choices, these could negatively impact your erections over time.(3)
“If you have a can of Coca-Cola it will not cause you to be impotent. Over time, heavy consumption of soft drinks such as Coca-Cola along with other unhealthy practices can create conditions in the body that can prevent healthy erections.”
– Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist
Coca-Cola’s impact on your erections
So, Coca-Cola isn’t going to give you ED, but it does contain ingredients that you should only consume in moderation.
Coca-Cola contains sugar (sucrose) in the UK and EU and high fructose corn syrup in the US. Both of these ingredients can contribute to obesity and health problems due to how the body metabolizes them.
“The bottom line is soft drinks are associated with a higher risk of obesity, diabetes, and a host of other health issues.”
– Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist
Health problems like obesity and diabetes can increase the chances of developing physical ED. Let’s take a look at the ingredients in Coca-Cola that you can keep an eye on to prevent these problems.
Sugar
There are 39g of sugar in a can of Coke,(4) which is over 108% of a man’s recommended daily allowance (RDA). This amount of sugar on a regular basis can cause health problems such as:
- An unhealthy cardiovascular system
- Insulin resistance
- Obesity
High fructose corn syrup
In the US, Coca-Cola sweetens its drinks by using high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of cane sugar. There’s about 33g of HFSC in every can of Coke.(5) HFCS can cause health problems such as:
- An unhealthy cardiovascular system
- Insulin resistance
- A slower metabolism
Let’s look at how these health problems can damage your erectile health.
An unhealthy cardiovascular system
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by endothelial dysfunction. This is where the arteries narrow and can’t work as well. This is because obesity can mess with your testosterone production, increase cardiovascular problems, and cause insulin resistance.(11)
HFCS can also contribute to weight gain and put you at risk of obesity.
“High fructose corn syrup, which is found in most soft drinks, significantly decreases the number of baseline calories people burn in a day. In other words, people who drink fructose drinks have slower metabolisms compared to those who don’t consume high fructose drinks.”
– Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist
How much Coke can you safely drink?
We asked nutritionist Aron how much Coke you can drink safely. He advised that you have Coke very occasionally.
“In my opinion, Coke shouldn't be part of any routine and consistent consumption should be avoided if you're looking to become healthier. Having said that if it's a hot summer's day and your heart desires a thirst-quenching Coke then have the Coke if it brings you joy! Just be aware that regular consumption is associated with adverse health effects.”
– Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist
Can Diet Coke cause erectile dysfunction?
So we’ve covered how sugar and high fructose corn syrup can be the bad guys. But you might still be wondering if there’s still a link between Diet Coke and erectile dysfunction.
Professional opinion is split.
There are studies demonstrating that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which is found in Diet Coke, are safe.(12)
However, there are also studies linking artificial sugars to obesity, cardiovascular problems, pre-diabetes, and a slower metabolism.(13) These are all risk factors for ED.
“This question splits opinion. There is a body of research demonstrating the safety of artificial sweeteners, ultimately the EU has passed these substances as safe to consume. There is a body of research linking artificial sugars to obesity and metabolic syndrome.”
– Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist
Overall, it’s unlikely that either Diet Coke or regular Coke is the root cause of your erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction causes
So, we’ve established that while Coca-Cola isn’t a direct cause of erectile dysfunction, it does contain ingredients that aren’t great for your overall health if you drink too much.
Your doctor can help you figure out what exactly is causing your ED. If it isn’t something physical, then your ED is probably being caused by something psychological or lifestyle-related.
Psychological ED
Erectile dysfunction nearly always has a psychological element to it.(14) Psychological ED can be caused by:
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sexual performance anxiety
- Relationship or marriage problems
- A lack of sexual desire (low libido)
If you’re looking for psychological ED treatment, we have it covered. We’re here if you want to:
- Learn the science of overcoming sexual anxiety by listening to ED podcasts
- Fix your erections by using our erection training and pelvic floor exercises
- Be understood and supported by our community who can give you tips on what worked for them
You can join Mojo by signing up here
A Coca-Cola Conclusion
Coca-Cola isn’t causing your ED, but an unhealthy diet could be making your symptoms worse if it’s leading to health conditions.
We recommend keeping the sodas as a treat, taking a trip to the doctor to get to the root cause of your ED, and signing up to Mojo to get the support you need in getting better erections.
(1) https://www.coca-cola.co.uk/our-business/faqs/how-many-cans-of-coca-cola-are-sold-worldwide-in-a-day
(2) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8254833/
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921721/
(4) https://www.coca-colacompany.com/faqs/how-much-sugar-is-in-coca-cola#
(5) https://sodapopcraft.com/does-coca-cola-use-corn-syrup/
(6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921721/
(7) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5174139/
(8) https://health.clevelandclinic.org/avoid-the-hidden-dangers-of-high-fructose-corn-syrup-video/
(9) https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/obesity-sugar-and-heart-health
(10) https://www.nature.com/articles/ijir20089
(11) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6479091/
(12) https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/press/news/131210
(13) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12850891/
(14) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11930-014-0023-9
Mojo aims to provide useful wellbeing resources to its users; however, you should not solely rely on opinions or advice available on the Website or given by the Community. Always seek advice from a qualified medical doctor or other healthcare professional before acting.
