Men who fail to eat well risk developing erectile problems, according to Chief Executive Officer of Chartma Herbal Health Centre and Korean hand therapist, T. Dr Charity Twumasi Ankrah.

She made the assertion on Wednesday’s episode of Let’s Talk on Joy Prime, during a discussion on whether high blood pressure medication causes erectile dysfunction in men. The topic was prompted by a viewer who shared concerns about his sexual intimacy challenges while on medication.

“Most men, when they’re on the BP medications, go through erectile dysfunctions. BP medications, diabetes medications, go through some form of erectile dysfunctions. If you are not eating well, your erection will have a problem.

So, there’s a clear line between your diet and your sexual life as a man. It’s your diet that helps you to produce good sperm,” she stated.

Dr Twumasi Ankrah explained that several factors beyond medication influence a man’s sexual health, particularly diet and stress levels. She noted that stress is a known cause of erectile dysfunction and can worsen sexual problems in men already managing conditions such as high blood pressure.

According to her, even men who are not on blood pressure medication may experience erectile difficulties if they are stressed or eating poorly. She added that there is a direct link between nutrition, sperm production, fertility and sexual performance.

The health practitioner also shared food items and exercises she said support prostate and sexual health in men. She advised that exercises such as jumping jacks and squats, when done naked, help the brain supply more blood to the penis, which in turn improves erections.

“Some simple exercises you can do to help with erectile issues are jumping jacks as many as you can do, naked. After jumping jacks, do squats also naked. Let it be your routine exercise, it will trigger the nerves and by three days your sexual performance will improve,” she said.

She further encouraged men to include foods such as mangoes, cloves, oats, tiger nuts, coconuts, dates, ginger and bitter cola in their diets, noting that these items are helpful in addressing erectile problems.