We’ve all seen the commercials…

That little blue pill certainly seems to put a smile back on men’s faces as it brings life back to the bedroom.

But did you know it wasn’t actually developed for erectile dysfunction (ED)?

It was meant to treat high blood pressure, thanks to its ability to dilate blood vessels — wide open — to allow optimal blood flow.

And it was only after patients started taking the drug that reports of an interesting side effect began to circulate: It was helping an “organ” much further south.

Now it’s going to their heads…

Believe me, the pharmaceutical companies will be dancing in the streets about this one too because they’ve found a connection to another problem people can buy their drugs to solve — avoiding Alzheimer’s.

What do ED and Alzheimer’s have in common?

Researchers at the University College London followed close to 270,000 men over a five-year timeframe, comparing the rates of Alzheimer’s between men taking prescriptions for ED to those without.

And after accounting for any other factors that could impact the results, they found the men taking the prescriptions were 18 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s. These results were strongest among men who were issued the most prescriptions over the study period. 

This means that the brains of men who used those little blue pills more often benefitted the most.

The active ingredient both men and women need

So how did treating the men’s ED problems benefit a condition of the brain? It had to be the head-to-toe blood flow.

The little blue pill works by increasing a molecule known as nitric oxide (NO) in the lining of the blood vessels. This causes the blood vessels to widen, increasing blood flow and boosting oxygen to all the body’s organs and tissues — including the brain.

And fortunately, NO does not discriminate…

Both men and women naturally produce NO in their bodies as part of the process of normal, healthy circulation!

But sometimes we need a little help because…

• We don’t eat enough of the foods that help our bodies produce NO, like a handful of specific vegetables. You may eat less red meat and dairy — at your doctor’s urging — which are great sources of an amino acid required for NO production.
• With age, the body’s healthy balance gets off-kilter. We often come up short on nutrients that support artery health and blood pressure. At the same time, we can experience an age-associated increase in fibrin — the protein used to form blood clots.

These problems may seem like a big deal, but you can work around all of them…

Let’s start with NO: Even if you’re not a veggie fan, you should focus on at least two: spinach and beets. When eating these foods, your body creates NO from them via the nitrate–nitrite–nitric oxide pathway.

But if that voice in your head is saying, “Virginia, I just can’t do that,” then no worries…

L-Arginine is the amino acid in red meat and dairy required for NO production. Now I’m not going to advise more red meat. But L-Arginine is readily available in supplement form.

Next, let’s talk about two ways nattokinase can help. First, it’s an enzyme that received scientific acclaim when discovered in a Japanese superfood called natto — for dissolving fibrin, the protein that makes blood clot.

And natto just happens to be the highest food source of vitamin K2 as MK-7. Just one tablespoon is enough, but if you don’t like vegetables, you probably won’t like it (slimy fermented soybeans). Again, look for supplements.

It works for me. But you know when given half the chance, I’m going to take the natural route to promote my healthy circulation and blood pressure — from my brain to my toes (and everywhere in between).

Sources:

Erectile dysfunction drugs may be linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease – EurekAlert!