5 Best Drinks for Erectile Dysfunction

Millions of people live with erectile dysfunction (ED), a medical condition that affects your ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

Erectile dysfunction isn’t always curable. But there are effective prescription medications that can treat erectile dysfunction. These medications are the safest and most reliable treatments for ED. 

But there are steps you can take to get the most out of your ED treatment. ED treatments work best when paired with the right diet, exercise, and smoking cessation. This is because these things can prevent ED from worsening. 

What you drink can help your ED. While drinks alone won’t reduce ED symptoms, they can help your ED treatment work better. They may also help if you have a medical condition that’s causing ED. 

Here are the five best drinks to try if you have erectile dysfunction. 

1. Beet juice

Beets are naturally rich in nitrates, compounds that your body breaks down into nitric oxide. Nitric oxide helps lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and improving circulation. 

Prescription medications for ED work this way too. Adding beet juice to your ED treatment may help your medication work better. This may improve your ED symptoms. 

2. Cucumber water

Cucumbers contain an amino acid called L-citrulline, which your body converts into L-arginine. Your body uses L-arginine to create nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessels. ED medications also work by increasing nitric oxide levels in your body. 

Small studies have also shown that L-citrulline supplements and L-arginine supplements may help treat mild to moderate erectile dysfunction. 

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While cucumbers have much less L-citrulline than supplements, adding cucumbers to your water can give a small boost to your L-citrulline levels. This may add to the effects of ED supplements or medications you’re already taking.

Cucumber water is also sugar-free, making it a great drink option if you’re living with diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range will help prevent damage to your blood vessels. Blood vessel damage makes erectile dysfunction worse. So, consider substituting soda, iced tea, and other sugary drinks with cucumber water. This swap may benefit both diabetes and erectile dysfunction.

3. Watermelon water

Watermelons are another natural source of L-citrulline. Adding watermelon water to your regular beverages may give a small boost to your body’s L-citrulline levels. This can have an additive effect to your other erectile dysfunction treatments. 

Plus, watermelon water helps keep you hydrated. Proper hydration supports overall circulation, which is important for managing erectile dysfunction. 

Unlike cucumber water, watermelon water contains natural sugars. Make sure to talk with your healthcare team if you’re trying to limit your sugar intake. 

4. Seville orange juice

If your go-to morning beverage is a glass of orange juice, it may be time to upgrade to Seville orange juice.

A small study showed that people who took Viagra with a glass of Seville orange juice absorbed the medication better than those who took it with water. Viagra works better when your body absorbs more of it. 

More research is needed to know for sure whether Seville orange juice consistently improves Viagra absorption. But in the meantime, consider taking your dose with about 8.5 oz of Seville orange juice. 

5. Soda and bitters

It’s a good idea to limit or avoid alcohol completely if you’re living with erectile dysfunction. Over time, alcohol can damage nerves and blood vessels, including those in your penis, which can worsen ED. It’s also harder to achieve and maintain an erection after drinking alcohol. Alcohol can also interfere with ED medications like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil).

Avoiding alcohol may feel awkward in social situations — especially if everyone around you is drinking. That’s where soda and bitters can help. This drink combines soda water with cocktail bitters, offering a sophisticated alternative. 

While cocktail bitters contain alcohol, bartenders usually only add a small amount. So, the overall alcohol content is very low. Try this low-alcohol cocktail on your next night out. Or, you can opt for a completely alcohol-free mocktail instead.

When should you seek medical care for erectile dysfunction? 

It’s always a good idea to seek care for erectile dysfunction. 

ED can be the first sign of a new medical condition, like diabetes or peripheral artery disease. Your healthcare team can determine if you’ve developed a medical condition and start treatment if you need it.

ED can also impact your mental and emotional well-being. Getting treatment for ED can help lessen the impact of ED on your overall well-being. It can also help ease any social strains you may be experiencing due to erectile dysfunction. 

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Written by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

Reviewed by:

Christine Giordano, MD

Christine Giordano, MD, is board-certified in general internal medicine. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed residency at Thomas Jefferson University.

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