The myth: nuts can help with erectile dysfunction
Mojo’s verdict: fact (but they won't help ED on their own, and eating nuts won't give you an instant erection!)
Indian brides and grooms are traditionally given nut milk on their wedding night as an aphrodisiac. And the Kama Sutra’s last chapter is less about sex positions, and more about sex nutrition – suggesting that almonds crushed in milk will increase libido and improve erections.
So, we’ve gathered our experts Nutritional therapist and naturopath, Aron Hywel Snowsill and Dr Matthew Chan to explain all the health benefits behind nuts, and to investigate whether nuts really can help your erectile dysfunction (ED):
Are nuts good for erectile dysfunction?
In a nutshell (sorry about that one), nuts are good for erectile dysfunction.
Certain nuts contain nutrients that can help improve your overall health, which can therefore contribute to good erectile health.
“But be aware that eating nuts alone won’t cure erectile dysfunction, and they also won’t give you an instant erection (as nice as that would be).”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Why are nuts good for erections?
Benefit 1: Cardiovascular and blood flow
To get and maintain an erection, blood has to flow to the penis and stay there. Clogged blood vessels prevent blood from reaching the penis, stopping you from having strong erections.
Decreased blood flow can be caused by clogged arteries, high cholesterol levels, or hypertension (high blood pressure).
“High blood pressure causes arteries to lose their elasticity, so they can’t cope with the rush of blood needed for an erection.
Hypertension can also affect veins, meaning that even if blood rushes to the penis it might exit just as fast – making it difficult to get or keep a boner.”
Dr Matthew Chan, Medical Doctor
L-arginine, Omega-3, and Magnesium in some nuts can help to improve blood flow, and can therefore help you enjoy better erections.
L-arginine
This amino acid relaxes blood vessels and promotes blood circulation. It may also play a role in reversing cholesterol levels. L-arginine has been shown in studies to improve ED.
Top nuts that contain L-arginine:
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Pine nuts
Other nuts that contain L-arginine:
- Pistachios
- Peanuts
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
Omega-3
Omega-3 fatty acids can help to lower blood pressure.
Top nuts that contain Omega-3:
- Walnuts
Other nuts that contain Omega-3:
- Brazil nuts
- Cashews
- Peanuts
Magnesium
A Magnesium deficiency is associated with vasoconstriction (constriction of arteries stopping as much blood to travel through them). Eating nuts that contain a rich amount of Magnesium can help with vasodilation (opening arteries to allow blood to flow better.
Top nuts that contain Magnesium:
- Almonds
- Cashews
- Brazil nuts
Other nuts that contain Magnesium:
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
Benefit 2: Testosterone production and a libido boost
A key player for good erections is the hormone testosterone. Lower testosterone levels can cause low libido, which can result in erectile dysfunction.
“Good sex hormone levels are needed for strong erections, as these hormones help regulate your sexual desire and function.”
Dr Matthew Chan, Medical Doctor
Zinc, Selenium, and Vitamin E are found in several nuts and can help your body boost and regulate your testosterone production.
Zinc and healthy fats
Zinc and healthy fats both play an important role in testosterone production.
There are some vitamins and minerals we can't store, such as Zinc. By taking in certain nutrients daily, we can avoid any nutrient deficiencies that lead to low libido, and nuts just so happen to contain a lot of these important nutrients.
“Zinc deficiency associated with lowered testosterone levels. A deficiency in essential fatty acids may lead to a host of problems including lowered sexual function, as well as low energy levels, difficulty concentrating, and mental health difficulties.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Top nuts that contain Zinc:
- Pine nuts
- Cashews
Other nuts that contain Zinc:
- Brazil nuts
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Walnuts
- Pistachios
Selenium
Selenium enhances the production of testosterone.
Top nuts that contain Selenium:
- Brazil nuts
Other nuts that contain Selenium:
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Walnuts
- Almonds
- Pine nuts
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also known as the ‘sex vitamin’. It regulates your sex hormones, giving a boost to your libido.
Top nuts that contain Vitamin E:
- Almonds
- Pine nuts
- Peanuts
Other nuts that contain Vitamin E:
- Brazil
- Pistachios
Benefit 3: Energy level increases
If you’re feeling fatigued or low-energy, this can lead to a lower desire to have sex, and if your body is trying to rest and recover, it may de-prioritize sex. This can then lead to erection issues.
“In today's high-paced society we burn through a lot of our nutrients just to keep up. Eating foods like nuts to boost these nutrients and therefore our energy levels can go a long way to getting better erections.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Nuts that are high in protein can increase your energy levels and ultimately boost your boners:
Protein
Although protein’s main function is to build and repair cells in your body, it can also be used as an energy source. It takes longer to break down in the body than carbohydrates, so it can provide a longer-lasting supply of energy.
Top nuts that contain protein:
- Peanuts
- Almonds
- Pistachios
- Cashews
- Walnuts
- Pine nuts
- Brazil
Benefit 4: Reducing anxiety and stress
General anxiety, sexual performance anxiety, and stress are all causes of psychological erectile dysfunction.
Some vitamins, such as Vitamin B, can help reduce these feelings, which can help improve your erections.
Vitamin B
Top nuts that contain Vitamin B:
- Peanuts
- Walnuts
- Almonds
Other nuts that contain Vitamin B:
- Pistachios
- Cashews
- Pine nuts
- Brazil
What nuts are good for erectile dysfunction?
We know nuts that improve blood flow, contain essential nutrients and vitamins, and boost testosterone production are good for ED.
We’ve compiled a list outlining 7 of the best nuts for ED below:
Do pistachios help with ED?
Yes, pistachios help with erectile dysfunction.
Pistachios contain:
- L-arginine
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Protein
- Vitamin B
In a 2019 study, a group of men who had been experiencing erectile dysfunction for over a year was given 100g of pistachios a day for 3 weeks. They all had significant improvements in their cholesterol levels, and reported a higher libido and improved erections.
All in all, this shows us that pistachios are good for ED.
Are walnuts good for erectile dysfunction?
Can walnuts help with erectile dysfunction? The answer is yes.
Walnuts contain:
- L-arginine
- Omega-3
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Protein
- Vitamin B
These can all contribute to better erections, so men could feel the benefits of introducing walnuts into their diet if they're struggling with erectile dysfunction.
“If you grab some walnuts, your penis could feel all the circulatory benefits. Good erections need good heart health and blood flow.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Almonds for erectile dysfunction
You might be wondering about the link between almonds and erectile dysfunction.
Well, almonds contain:
- L-arginine
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Vitamin E
- Protein
- Vitamin B
These health benefits can boost your erectile health, and therefore may help you with any erection issues.
Peanuts and erectile dysfunction
These are one of the most popular nuts, accounting for over two-thirds of all nut consumption.
Peanuts contain:
- Protein
- Vitamin B
- L-arginine
- Omega-3
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Vitamin E
These nutrients all help to strengthen your erections. Pass us the peanuts, please!
Cashew nuts for erectile dysfunction
Cashew nuts contain:
- Zinc
- L-arginine
- Omega-3
- Protein
- Magnesium
- Selenium
- Vitamin B
They can help with cardiovascular health, energy levels, and testosterone production – overall contributing to improved erectile health.
“A healthy cardiovascular system is important for sexual function, and eating cashews is an easy way to ensure you’re getting your magnesium.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
Are brazil nuts good for erectile dysfunction?
Brazil nuts are one of the best nuts for erection improvement. That’s because they contain:
- Selenium (and a lot of it)
- L-arginine
- Omega-3
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin E
- Protein
- Vitamin B
Aron has heard about the benefits of brazil nuts in improving his clients’ sex lives firsthand:
“I've had clients raving about brazil nuts for improved sexual function. Some of my clients’ partners have been feeding them brazil nuts, they’re enjoying the benefits that much!
My clients tend to see a positive effect from eating brazil nuts after 5 days.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
However, don’t overdo it with the brazil nuts. Stick to 3 nuts a day or you could exceed your recommended intake of selenium, which could lead to selenium toxicity.
Pine nuts and erectile dysfunction
These nuts have been called the 'vegan oyster' because of their potential as an aphrodisiac.
Pine nuts contain:
- Zinc
- L-arginine
- Selenium
- Vitamin E
- Protein
- Vitamin B
It’s safe to say that pine nuts can not only boost your sex drive, but could also have health benefits to help with ED.
Incorporating nuts into your diet
Here are some of Aron’s tips for adding more nuts into your diet to reap all of their racy rewards:
- Crumble some cashews into your noodles
- Add a sprinkle of nuts to your pesto pasta
- Throw some walnuts into your morning porridge or yogurt
- Replace chocolate bars, muffins, pastries, and donuts with some homemade trail mix. This can be anything you want, but you could start by combining walnuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, dried banana chips, and some m&ms for a little chocolate hit to keep you coming back for more
And remember:
“Eating a healthy diet that includes nuts will contribute to good erectile health. But if the diet is filled with ultra-processed foods, sugar, and alcohol and is deficient in whole foods, vegetables and exercise then only eating nuts is extremely unlikely to offset these unhealthy behaviors.”
Aron Hywel Snowsill, Nutritional Therapist and Naturopath
ED treatments alongside nuts
Nuts can improve your erectile health and help with erection issues, but eating a handful of nuts isn’t going to cure your erectile dysfunction alone.
They should be incorporated into your diet, alongside treatment tailored to the specific root cause of your ED.
Treating physical and lifestyle causes of ED
If you think your erection issues stem from physical or lifestyle reasons, check out our full ED treatment guide to find solutions alongside your handful of nuts.
Treating psychological causes of ED
Psychological ED is where your brain won’t let your body get it up. Sometimes even erectile dysfunction that starts as a physical or lifestyle cause, can plant a seed of doubt and lead to psychological ED.
Although some health benefits of nuts can help you tackle your psychological health, you’ll need other tools to overcome any mental barriers that you have around sex.
You can combine your nut-filled diet with tools such as:
- Sex therapy sessions, videos, and courses
- Group therapy sessions
- Mindfulness, grounding, breathing, and relaxation podcasts and exercises
- Erection training videos and techniques
- Community support
You can find out more about psychological ED treatments here.
If you’re curious, Mojo’s trial allows you to explore these psychological erection solutions (whilst munching on some brazil nuts).
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.
