Blueberry thrill! Fruit is nature’s answer to Viagra
THEY are already hailed as a superfood that can help ward off a range of ailments from cancer to dementia. Now blueberries have been found to help men maintain their performance in the bedroom. Scientists say that eating the berries regularly could mean men avoid the need for Viagra in later life. They contain natural chemicals called flavonoids which reduce erectile dysfunction by 14 per cent, according to research which could boost sales of the fruit. The finding may explain why Sir Bruce Forsyth has kept a twinkle in his eye for so long – the 87-year-old entertainer insists on having 14 blueberries in his breakfast por- ridge every day. Tests found the most useful flavonoids for maintaining male sexual performance are anthycyanins. Blueberries are one of the richest sources of these antioxidants but anthycyanins are also found in strawberries, cherries, blackberries, radishes and blackcurrants. They occur in red wine, but in much lower quantities.
Citrus fruits, which contain chemicals called flavanones and flavones, have a similar effect. While it was already known that flavonoids have many health benefits, the research by the University of East Anglia and Harvard University found that a flavonoid-rich diet was as beneficial in maintaining male sexual performance as taking brisk walks for five hours a week. Combining both is even better, reducing erectile dysfunction – which affects up to half of all middleaged and older men – by 21 per cent.
The difference between eating blueberries and taking Viagra is that the fruit prevents sexual problems – often linked to poor circulation and potential heart disease – whereas the drug merely treats them.
The research, which studied more than 50,000 men and is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that the greatest benefit is to those under 70.