Halloween treat that ‘works like Viagra’ could boost sex life, pharmacists claim

Eating pumpkin could give you a boost in bed, pharmacists claim.

Instead of throwing away the pulp when making jack-o-lanterns this Halloween, men should eat it to prevent erectile dysfunction.

1

The fall fruit is packed with nutrients that help prevent high blood pressure – a leading cause of ED.

Abbas Kanani, from online pharmacy Chemist Click, said: “Pumpkins are high in potassium, which helps counteract the negative effects of sodium on blood pressure.”

More than half of men ages 40 to 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction, which makes it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection

Stress, too much alcohol and fatigue can occasionally cause this.

However, if it occurs regularly, it could be a sign of more serious medical conditions, including high blood pressure.

Men with high blood pressure are almost twice as likely to develop ED because it results in poorer blood flow to their sexual organs.

Potassium helps lower blood pressure because it reduces the effects of sodium – which comes from salt – in the blood.

Sodium increases blood pressure, but the more potassium you eat, the more sodium you excrete in your urine.

However, consuming too much potassium can be dangerous for people with kidney disease.

Mr Kanani said: “Too much potassium can be harmful for people with kidney disease.

“Because the kidneys are less able to remove potassium from your blood, too much potassium can build up.”

The NHS recommends consuming no more than 3,500 mg of potassium per day.

A standard serving of one cup of diced pumpkin contains about 394 mg of the nutrient.

Pumpkin also boosts your immune system because it contains beta-carotene, which your body converts into vitamins A and C.

These help improve white blood cell production and protect you from illness and infection during the winter months.

Previous research published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry also showed that consuming pumpkin seeds helps improve levels of chemicals in the body that are linked to erections.

Researchers tested rats to find out how eating raw and roasted seeds affected their blood levels of nitric oxide.

The chemical helps dilate your blood vessels so more blood can reach the penis.

It’s a crucial part of how Viagra works – the drug helps stimulate enzymes that increase nitric oxide production.

Rats given pumpkin seeds had higher levels of nitric oxide than rats not given the seeds, with a greater effect seen in rats given the roasted variety.

Dr. Seun Akomolafe from Ekiti State University in Nigeria said: “This study found that roasting could improve the antioxidant activity of pumpkin seeds and key enzymes related to erectile function.”

“Therefore, consuming roasted pumpkin seeds may be more beneficial compared to raw pumpkin seeds.”