Red grape juice could be a drug-free alternative to Viagra when it comes to boosting men’s libido.
Scientists found the refreshing beverage – sold in UK supermarkets for around £2.25 per litre – can slash the risk of erectile dysfunction by up to 80 per cent.
Now researchers behind the findings are urging all men over 40 to down a glass of red grape juice at least five times a week to bolster their sexual desires.
The study – which was not funded by any commercial drink companies – also found most other popular beverages had little or no major benefit.
Regular consumption of apple, orange, pineapple or tomato juice did not seem to protect men against flagging libido. Neither did fizzy drinks, according to findings published in the journal The Ageing Male.
Erectile dysfunction is thought to affect half of all men over 40 in the UK to some degree.
The NHS issues more than four million prescriptions a year for libido-boosting drugs such as Viagra, at a cost of more than £13 million.
Millions more tablets are bought online or over-the-counter.
Red grape juice – sold in UK supermarkets for around £2.25 per litre – can slash the risk of erectile dysfunction by up to 80 per cent, according to new research
Erectile dysfunction is thought to affect at least half of all men over 40 in the UK to some degree
Now researchers behind the findings are urging all men over 40 to down a glass of red grape juice at least five times a week to bolster their sexual desires
The causes include a narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the penis, which can be associated with heart disease and high cholesterol.
Men with diabetes are more at risk as their bodies are unable to control blood sugar levels effectively – raised blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels and nerves that help produce an erection.
Numerous studies have found a healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the dangers.
But it’s not been clear until now precisely which drinks can help.
Scientists at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital in Tianjin, China, studied the drinking habits of 1,500 middle-aged men and compared the data with how many reported problems with arousal.
The results showed that out of nine different drinks, only grape juice seemed to have a very significant effect.
And the effects were strongest with red, rather than white.
Researchers said this is probably because red varieties have higher levels of plant chemicals, called phenols, which can keep arteries healthy and ward off any narrowing that might restrict blood flow to the genitals.
The results showed that out of nine different drinks, only grape juice seemed to have a very significant effect on male libido
In a report on their findings they said: ‘Grape juice has many phenolic compounds with health benefits and red grape juice has more of these than white.
‘Based on these results, we suggest men – especially those over 40 – may benefit from consuming grape juice more than five times a week to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction.’
