The researchers studied the habits and potency of 4,000 men, and found that those who consumed two cups of the dark stuff a day were 42 per cent less likely than non-drinkers to report erectile dysfunction.
Three cups was a little less beneficial - although it still brought about a 39pc decrease in risk of suffering problems in the bedroom department.
While it may be taboo to talk about erectile dysfunction, a large proportion of men will suffer it at some point in their lives. Here are 14 things that you might not know about the condition.
'No one told me I would be used for stories like this when I signed up as a stock image model' (Photo: Alamy)
- It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction to some degree. This includes 5pc of 40-year-old men and 15pc-25pc of 65-year-old men who suffer the condition on a long term basis.
- Although not exactly defined, failure to achieve an erection more than 50pc of the time is generally considered by medical professionals to constitute erectile dysfunction.
- Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a number of issues, including: hormonal imbalance, a restriction in the flow of blood to your penis, conditions affecting your nervous system, and psychological causes such as depression and anxiety.
- The condition is also seen as a regular early warning sign of underlying medical issues, such as high blood pressure and heart disease.
- A traditional test to see whether erectile dysfunction is caused by physical or psychological issues is to attach a ring of postage stampsaround the base of your penis when going to bed. If the ring is broken in the morning, it suggestions your penis is functioning during the night (men get a number of erections while asleep), pointing to psychological issues.
However, the test is not fail safe and any man experiencing problems should speak to a medical professional.
- Taking certain medicines can cause erectile dysfunction. These include: diuretics (used to treat high blood pressure), antidepressants (used to treat depression), corticosteroids (an anti-inflammatory medication that contains steroids), and antihistamines (used to treat allergies such as hay fever).
- Japan has the highest incidence of self-reported erectile dysfunction in the world, followed by China and the US.
- Men with diabetes are particularly susceptible to suffering from erectile dysfunction. They tend to suffer from problems 10 to 15 years earlier than other men, and have an increased likelihood of encountering the condition later in life.
- Men with bad teeth are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Several studies have linked periodontal disease or chronic gum disease with the condition. It is thought that bacteria from poor dental hygiene can enter the blood flow and damage blood vessels, potentially impairing blood flow to the penis.
- The global erectile dysfunction drugs market was worth $4.3 billion in 2012. Viagra, a brand of the compound sildenafil, accounted for 45pc of that market. However, the company who manufacture Viagra lost the patent for its European distribution in 2013, which means more competitors are expected to enter the market, potentially putting an end to Viagra's dominance.
- 48pc of men who take Viagra report suffering at least one side effect. These include: visual disturbances (experienced by 3pc of men), headaches (23pc), and an upset stomach (12pc). However, only 1pc of men in initial medical trials dropped out – the same proportion as those who took placebos.
- Recreational use of erectile dysfunction drugs to achieve and maintain better erections than normal is believed to lead to dependency issues and raise the risk of suffering from psychogenic erectile dysfunction.
- Male porn actors often use erectile dysfunction drugs to perform on set. According to Danny Wylde, who retired from porn after being warned that the drugs were doing potentially incurable damage to his penis, "most people take them every scene.
“I’m aware of two male performers who I actually believe don't take them," Wyde told TheFix.com.
- Despite the old wives's tales, there is no medical link between erectile dysfunction and excessive masturbation. However, high frequency porn use has been shown to have a psychological effect, potentially decreasingly a man's ability to achieve erections when with a real-life partner.
