What Are the Best Foods for Male Virility?

Was Popeye on to something when he devoured spinach before a fight? Maybe! Here’s everything you need to know about the best foods for male virility.

But first, what is virility?

From the Latin virīlitās, virility is an outdated word for manliness — though it’s also associated with strong sexual desire, reliable erections, and male fertility. In ancient Greek, Indian, and Italian mythology, male virility is tied to the gods of procreation.

Despite the many interpretations of the word, it’s probably safe to say many men would like to increase their virility.

Habits to boost sexual performance can be as simple as drinking coffee, taking a walk, and, of course, eating the right foods. It’s common knowledge that a balanced, nutritious diet helps improve overall health — including sexual health.

Diet can improve some aspects of sexual health, but can it help improve sexual issues like erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE)? Maybe.

Keep reading to find out how certain foods contribute to male virility and what else you can do to boost sexual function when diet alone isn’t enough.

Male virility is commonly associated with manliness and fertility, but what does being a “virile man” mean, exactly?

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines virility as “male sexual strength or qualities.”

Merriam-Webster states that “masculinity” and “manhood” are synonyms for virility. If you type the word into a thesaurus, you might also see “vigor” or “machismo” — the latter comes from Portuguese and Spanish languages and is often shortened to macho.

Male virility is associated with a number of traits and features. But lots of folks might think of healthy sexual behavior as a primary characteristic of virile men. This entails proper erectile function, high libido, and an active sex life.

Can certain foods help you achieve these traits? Let’s find out.

The short answer? Yes, but indirectly.

The health benefits of some foods may impact certain aspects of virility, like increasing testosterone levels. After all, testosterone helps regulate sexual desire, reproductive health, and sperm count.

Your body also uses various nutrients to support healthy blood flow and manage a healthy weight — both of which can impact sexual function.

A balanced diet might not be enough for the treatment of erectile dysfunction or low testosterone on its own. However, eating the right foods — in addition to other healthy lifestyle behaviors — may have a positive effect on your sexual and overall health.

Stay with us to learn about the best foods for male virility.

The best foods for male virility contribute to heart health, balanced hormones, and a healthy body weight. As a bonus, they may increase sexual desire and boost overall sexual function.

Before you turn to supplements to boost your virility, consider adding these six foods to your diet:

• Spinach

• Coffee

• Apples

• Avocados

• Olive Oil

• Tomatoes

Get more details below.

1. Spinach

They say you should eat your greens. Don’t leave out spinach.

Rich in nitrates, a natural compound that widens blood vessels, spinach could help improve blood flow — a critical part of getting an erection.

Another way spinach could help ED is through the nitrate‐nitrite‐nitric oxide pathway. This is where the nitrates in some types of food are recycled to produce nitric oxide, which supports blood flow.

Spinach is also a rich source of magnesium, an essential mineral that may improve the effects of testosterone.

Other nitrate-rich foods that support erectile function include green, leafy vegetables such as parsley and beet leaves.

2. Coffee

You probably don’t need another reason to drink coffee, but here’s one more: A cup of joe in the morning could improve blood flow and support better erections.

A 2015 study found that men who drank two to three cups of coffee daily (excluding those with diabetes) had a reduced risk of ED.

We should note that the subjects self-reported these findings, so they may not be completely reliable.

Research is pretty mixed about whether coffee is useful for ED, which we’ve discussed in our full guide to caffeine and ED.

3. Apples

An apple a day keeps the urologist away? Maybe not, but this crisp fruit does hold some essential nutrients.

Apples are among the best foods for male virility because they support prostate health. Apple peels, in particular, contain a compound called ursolic acid, which may “starve” prostate cancer cells to prevent them from growing, according to one test-tube study.

Other studies also suggest that men who consume more fruits and vegetables have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

As you may know, prostate cancer can lower sexual desire and how frequently you have sex. And treatment for prostate cancer often impacts erectile function.

This isn’t to say apples should ever replace medical advice or life-saving medications. Much more research is needed to understand all the health benefits of apples. For now, they’re a healthy snack in a well-balanced diet.

4. Avocados

Rich in dietary fiber and healthy fats, avocados provide nutrients that can improve blood flow.

Avocados may help lower low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, a form of cholesterol that can clog arteries and affect blood flow.

This fruit (yes, avocados are fruit) is also rich in vitamin E, with 100 grams of avocado containing 2 milligrams of vitamin E. One smaller avocado provides about 13 percent of your daily value. Vitamin E may improve sperm quality — especially sperm motility — in men with infertility.

5. Olive Oil

Another food containing healthy fats that could help boost the effects of testosterone and improve male virility? Olive oil.

Olive oil was found to increase testosterone levels by 17.4 percent over three weeks in men who used this cooking oil instead of butter.

The men also showed a 42.6 percent increase in levels of luteinizing hormone, which is closely associated with the effects of testosterone and sperm counts.

6. Tomatoes

Another fruit commonly thought of as a vegetable, tomatoes could benefit sexual health. This includes fertility and prostate health, thanks to their nutrient and antioxidant content.

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant linked to several health benefits, such as a lower risk of cardiovascular disease (a risk factor for ED).

Other foods that contain high amounts of lycopene are watermelon, guava, and papaya.

Many of the foods listed above contain nutrients that may help improve sexual dysfunction. So, rather than hyper-focusing on eating one particular food to boost male virility, adding these to a balanced diet full of other nutritious foods could improve your overall health (and sex life).

While diet does play an important role in health — including sexual health — there are other proven ways to elevate sexual desire, treat ED, and improve other sexual dysfunctions.

How to Boost Sexual Desire

It’s completely normal for your desire for sex to wax and wane. But if your sexual desire is lower than usual, talk to a healthcare professional.

There can be numerous causes of low sex drive, so narrowing down the culprit can help you find the best treatment.

Here are a few ways to increase your sex drive:

• Check your testosterone levels

• Reduce stress

• See a therapist

• Exercise

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Prioritize sleep

As you can see, many of these things are simple lifestyle habits you can do without making an appointment with a healthcare professional. But if you’re interested in medication or therapy, seek medical guidance.

How to Treat ED

If you’ve been struggling with erectile dysfunction, eating certain foods to help ED is one way to support better erectile function. But dietary changes shouldn’t replace medical treatment.

The most effective treatments for ED are prescription medications that increase blood flow to the penis. These meds include:

• Sildenafil (generic for Viagra®)

• Tadalafil (Cialis®)

• Avanafil (Stendra®)

• Vardenafil (Levitra®)

Many of these medications are available as oral tablets or chewable mints.

How to Improve Other Sexual Dysfunctions

If you’re dealing with premature ejaculation or lower-than-normal ejaculation volume, talk to your healthcare provider to figure out the best treatment.

Some ways to increase ejaculation include pelvic floor exercises, lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, or other premature ejaculation treatments like topical creams or desensitizing wipes.

The literal definition of virility is “male sexual strength.” We wouldn’t call this centuries-old term the word of the day, but male virility can mean many different things.

Here’s what we know:

• Eating healthy foods is vital for your well-being, including your sexual health. However, diet is only one way to improve sexual behavior. Some male virility foods include spinach, coffee, apples, avocados, olive oil, and tomatoes.

• Improving your overall lifestyle can help you have a healthier sex life. Following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and lowering stress levels are all ways to improve your overall and sexual health.

• If you’re struggling with sexual dysfunction, talk to a healthcare provider. They can help you figure out a treatment plan that may include therapy, prescription medication, or other lifestyle tweaks.

Just as sexual health is unique to every individual, so are the ways to treat sexual dysfunction and improve sexual health.

Ready to get started and see what treatments are available? Schedule an online consultation today.