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Flavonoid-rich foods and drinks may prevent erectile dysfunction

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Men who consume just three or four weekly portions of foods and drinks containing flavonoids—which include berries, citrus fruits, and red wine—may reduce their risk of erectile dysfunction, according to a new study from researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of East Anglia. They also found that men who were physically active in addition to consuming high amounts of flavonoids had the lowest risk of erectile dysfunction.

The study was published online January 13, 2016 in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Making lifestyle choices to improve their erectile function may have the added benefit of improving men’s heart health, said senior author Eric Rimm, professor in the departments of epidemiology and nutrition at Harvard Chan. “Erectile dysfunction is often an early barometer of poor vascular function and offers a critical opportunity to intervene and prevent cardiovascular disease, heart attack, and even death,” he told The Telegraph in a January 13, 2016 article. “Men with erectile dysfunction are likely to be highly motivated to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising more and eating the right foods—which would greatly benefit their long-term cardiovascular health as well.”