What Is the Best Drink for Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a health condition affecting men of all ages. It’s incredibly common, with between 30 and 50 million men facing ED in the U.S. alone. No foods or drinks are magic cures for sexual dysfunction, but a healthy diet can help support overall sexual health.

Regarding beverages, the best drink for erectile dysfunction may be the simplest. Water and other low-calorie drinks make good alternatives to alcoholic or sugar-laden concoctions.

Some research suggests that some juices (like grape and pomegranate juice) may help support erectile health, thanks to compounds called polyphenols. However, evidence of the potential benefits of these juices is scant. They likely only have a benefit if you drink them consistently almost every day.

Keep reading to explore the best drinks for erectile dysfunction, staying hydrated, and maintaining general health.

No drink will instantly give you an erection or make you stay hard long enough to have sexual intercourse. Many companies make big claims about products touted to cure erectile dysfunction, but none of these drinks or supplements have been found to be effective — and they might contain dangerous ingredients.

The best drinks for erectile dysfunction are more about boosting overall health and ensuring your body has good blood flow.

Researchers continue to examine whether consuming certain beverages (like juices with high antioxidant content) can support overall well-being and, down the line, also lower the risk of erectile dysfunction. These studies often have conflicting results or were performed with small sample sizes, so they’re not exactly reliable.

There may not be any particular drink that cures erectile ED. Having said that, making improvements to your diet may help support your overall health, which may indirectly improve erectile function.

The best drinks for erectile health include:

• Water

• Tea and coffee

• Milk

• Pomegranate and grape juice

• Watermelon juice

• Beetroot juice

• Orange juice

Keep scrolling for details.

1. Water

Water is essential for all life on Earth and every cell in your body. Consuming adequate amounts of H2O or other fluids can keep you hydrated and maintain your erectile health.

When you’re drinking water, you’re less likely to reach for other drinks that may have detrimental effects on your erectile health — think alcoholic beverages and sugary drinks like sodas or sports drinks.

Regularly drinking water can also prevent dehydration, which can, theoretically, hurt sexual health because it puts stress on the body.

In the long term, chronic and recurrent dehydration can impair your organs (such as kidneys) and strain your body. In the short term, it can decrease your blood volume and may negatively impact your mood and cognitive performance.

Alcohol and Erectile Dysfunction

Alcohol affects the central nervous system, sexual arousal, and sexual performance. In the short term, drinking can lead to a phenomenon called alcohol-induced erectile dysfunction — colloquially known as “whiskey dick.”

Long-term heavy drinking is also associated with increased rates of erectile dysfunction. What’s more, it can contribute to other health problems like liver failure. 

2. Tea and Coffee

Tea and coffee can support overall health and sexual health since they’re essentially calorie-free in their natural form. It’s best to minimize the amount of sugar you add to these drinks to avoid unnecessary empty calories.

If you don’t currently drink caffeinated teas or coffee, though, there’s probably no need to start. Likewise, if you currently drink a moderate amount of caffeinated beverages, there’s likely no need to stop.

According to the authors of a recent 2024 review published in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, caffeine may help improve ED symptoms by supporting molecules that allow blood vessels to relax. Specifically, it might boost a critical molecule called nitric oxide that helps the smooth muscles in the penis relax — a key component of erections.

Some studies also claim that there’s an association between caffeine and testosterone levels, but other research has refuted these claims. 

In contrast, too much caffeine could negatively affect cardiovascular health, which could have negative effects on erectile function.

The authors of the 2024 review concluded that there’s currently no significant relationship between caffeine intake and erectile dysfunction.

Caffeine-free herbal teas are essentially water and have the same benefits as water. Some types of tea, like chamomile tea, may help you sleep, which can benefit both your erectile and overall health.

Is There Any Benefit of Drinking Hot Water for Erectile Dysfunction?

As it stands, there’s no evidence that drinking hot water has any particular benefit for erectile dysfunction. But drinking warm water (whether plain or in the form of herbal tea) does count toward your daily water goals.

3. Milk

Nitric oxide plays a vital role in allowing the blood vessels in your penis to relax to achieve an erection. Your body can make nitric oxide from an amino acid called L-arginine. (An amino acid is a small molecule and one of the building blocks of protein.)

L-arginine is found in most foods that contain protein, including milk. Not getting enough protein could potentially impact erectile function and general health.

Milk products are also often fortified with vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that plays a role in erectile function, and many people are deficient in it.

Those who are lactose intolerant or have milk allergies may benefit from drinking fortified milk alternatives such as soy milk.

4. Pomegranate and Grape Juice

What’s the best juice for erectile dysfunction? Pomegranate and grape juice are high in compounds called polyphenols that act as antioxidants in the body and help protect against molecules that steal electrons from healthy cells. Red grape juice has more of these compounds than white juice.

Many people on the internet say these juices are miracle cures for ED, but these claims are inflated. There’s some (albeit mixed) evidence that regular consumption of these drinks may offer some benefit for cardiovascular and sexual health.

For example, in a study published near the end of 2024, researchers found that regularly drinking grape juice (more than five times per week) was associated with a lower prevalence of erectile dysfunction, especially in men over 40. The potential benefits may come from a particular type of polyphenol called resveratrol that might support blood vessel function.

Larger studies with more participants are needed to back these findings.

Pomegranate juice may have similar benefits since it also contains high levels of polyphenols and resveratrol.

There’s been less research on the potential benefits of pomegranate juice for erectile health, though. Evidence remains weak and calls for larger and better-designed studies to back the claims.

5. Watermelon Juice

Watermelon and related foods like squash and cucumbers are high sources of another amino acid produced by the body called L-citrulline.

Your body metabolizes L-citrulline into another amino acid called L-arginine. As mentioned, this amino acid plays an important role in maintaining blood flow and vascular function.

Some evidence suggests that consuming watermelon might have some benefits, such as lowering blood pressure. But most of the research to date has been low-quality, and more research is needed to understand its potential benefits. 

It’s unclear if watermelon juice will aid your sexual health, but if you like watermelon, eating more of it likely won’t have a negative effect.

6. Beetroot Juice

Beetroot juice is popular among athletes for its potential to improve athletic performance. It contains high amounts of nitrates, which the body can convert to nitric oxide to help relax blood vessels.

A possible benefit of beetroot juice specifically for erectile function hasn’t been established, but some research has found potential benefits for cardiovascular health.

Athletes may be interested in the blood-vessel-relaxing effect to increase their ability to pump blood during endurance exercise. In a 2024 study, researchers found that nitrate-rich beetroot juice combined with aerobic exercise was more effective than a placebo for improving cardiovascular function in healthy men.

It’s a bit of a stretch, but for men who aren’t high-level athletes, drinking beet juice could (theoretically) inadvertently increase erection quality by boosting cardiovascular functioning.

7. Orange Juice

One very small study found that orange juice can increase the bioavailability of sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra®. However, in a more recent study, researchers found no benefit.

Orange juice may not be the cure-all for ED or a booster for ED medication, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass once in a while.

Achieving an erection is a complex process. Problems with erections can develop for many reasons.

Here are some potential causes of ED and risk factors:

• Conditions that can cause nerve damage. This includes diabetes, surgery for bladder cancer, surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer, and multiple sclerosis.

• Conditions that can cause blood vessel dysfunction. Health issues affecting blood vessels might contribute to ED, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and Peyronie’s disease.

• Psychological or psychiatric factors. ED causes can also be psychological, as with performance anxiety, high stress levels, and mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

• Medication. ED can be a side effect of certain medications, including blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and stimulants.

As long as you’re staying hydrated and consuming no more than moderate amounts of alcohol or caffeine, your beverage choice isn’t likely to have as large an effect on your erectile function as other lifestyle factors.

Potential ways to treat erectile dysfunction include:

• Taking oral medications called PDE5 inhibitors

• Making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, exercising more, and eating a healthy diet

• Trying talk therapy for psychological causes

• Ceasing certain medications, but only under a healthcare provider’s supervision

Finding out what’s causing erectile dysfunction often starts by visiting your primary care provider. They can run tests to assess your overall health and may send you to a healthcare professional specializing in urology. 

Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Erectile dysfunction medications called PDE5 inhibitors are often effective at treating ED by increasing blood flow to the penis.

FDA-approved PDE5 medications include:

• Viagra® (sildenafil)

• Cialis® (tadalafil)

• Stendra® (avanafil)

• Levitra® (vardenafil)

Many herbal supplements claim to be able to treat erectile dysfunction, but these haven’t been found to be safe or effective. It’s not uncommon for these products to either be mislabeled or contain substances known to be damaging to human health.

Read more about the most common erectile dysfunction treatments in our comprehensive guide.

Quick Warning About Grapefruit Juice and ED Meds

Studies show that grapefruits and grapefruit juice may increase the potency and side effects of ED medications like Cialis and Viagra by interfering with specific liver enzymes. To avoid potential interactions, it’s best to steer clear of grapefruit products while taking these medications.

Natural ED Drinks: Not Very Promising

If you’re looking for a potent erectile tonic or ED drink recipe for a “natural Viagra drink,” you may be disappointed. There’s no particular drink that’s been proven to instantly give you an erection or improve sexual desire.

Even medications FDA-approved for erectile dysfunction only help you achieve an erection before sexual activity when sexually aroused.

What’s the best drink for erectile dysfunction? There’s no magic drink to improve penile function, and many of the touted health benefits of certain juices or drinks have been overblown.

With that in mind, here are some changes you can make to support your overall sexual function:

• If you drink an excessive amount of caffeine, you may benefit from lowering your intake to a more moderate level. According to the FDA, consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine per day — roughly two to three 12-ounce cups of coffee — is generally considered safe for most adults.

• Cutting down on alcohol could prevent alcohol-induced ED from taking hold.

• Minimizing sugary drinks can help reduce your risk of diabetes or obesity.

• If all else fails, talk to a healthcare provider about prescription ED treatments approved by the FDA for a healthier sex life.

• If the cause of your ED is psychological in nature and not related to physical health, it may be time to consult a mental health professional.

• You might benefit from drinking pomegranate or grape juice, but the evidence supporting these products is currently weak. If you choose to consume them, it should be at the same time as trying to improve other lifestyle habits. 

The best thing to do is to talk with a healthcare provider about your symptoms and learn more about the best ED treatments for you.

Our men’s health platform also has treatment for premature ejaculation (PE) for those having trouble finishing too early. Reach out today.