Veganism is not a new thing, but what is new is more and more men embracing what was once considered a fad and what now is a popular eating choice. In addition to reducing a man’s footprint and improving his overall health, there is a surprising, not-so-new claim that a vegan diet can result in a better sex life. So, wait. Cutting out all animal products, from steak to cheese to eggs can manifest a bigger, better intimate life? According to PETA (who may be a bit biased on this front), male celebrities like James Cameron, and a new Netflix documentary, it may be the case. Let’s see if it’s all a bunch of malarkey or if you should make a late-night trip to Whole Foods for some vegan penis superfoods.

What Is Vegan, Exactly?

Let’s start by establishing what a vegan diet restricts - all animal products and by-products. That means more than just animal flesh, which is commonly the only restriction for vegetarians. Say adios to milk, cheese, yogurt, gelatin, eggs, and any other product made by or consisting of an animal. Honey is the only thing up for debate; hard-core vegans believe it counts, while others think that’s being maybe a little too picky.

The Diet-Dick Connection

Okay, so there may be some truth to the claim, strictly from an erectile standpoint. A crap diet will oftentimes yield a crap D. Any kind of diet that constricts blood flow, like eating highly processed, inflammation-causing foods or foods that increase cholesterol, and yes, that does include animal products, can have a negative impact on the penis. However, a vegan diet is not the only way to eat healthily; in fact, some vegan diets are full of processed substitute meats, milks, and cheeses that actually increase inflammation. Add too many processed carbohydrates and sugar and insulin skyrockets and weight gain and Type 2 diabetes may not be far behind, both of which can lead to erectile dysfunction.

So sorry, veganism in and of itself isn’t a magic solution for overall health and penis health. The right kind of vegan diet can be, but so can a properly constructed omnivore-centric diet, too.

Penis Superfoods: What to Eat

So just going vegan is not the answer. However, by adding certain foods to your diet (and limiting some of the not-so-great ones), you can get a bigger bang for your nutritional buck in the downstairs department. Here’s a list of penis superfoods to be sure are fully stocked in your kitchen:

- Spinach and other leafy greens: Just ask Olive Oyl, spinach didn’t just make Popeye’s visible muscles big! Spinach has tons of magnesium, which helps dilate the blood vessels. It also contains high amounts of folate, which lowers homocysteine levels, a nasty substance that aggravates artery linings and promotes plaque buildup. It also boosts testosterone. There’s a reason why you need several servings each day!

- Natural sources of vitamin C: Add oranges, grapefruit, and peaches to your diet to boost sperm count and motility. Try to get 1000 mg or more daily.

- Avocados: Not only is it a good fat, but it also boosts libido thanks to its high zinc content (so much so that the Aztecs called avocado trees "testicle trees"). The vitamin E in them also improve sperm quality.

- Oatmeal (and other whole grains): You’ll never look at Wilford Brimley the same again after this. Oatmeal has a one-two punch below the belt: first, it boosts testosterone, which ups libido; and second, it’s packed with L-arginine, an amino acid that works with nitric oxide to relax the blood vessels around the penile muscles, letting blood flow free and easy, resulting in a rock-solid erection.

In addition to getting your penis-promoting nutrients via diet, also infuse some more of that good natural supplementation with a specially formulated penis health oil ( health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) daily. It includes vitamin C and L-arginine, as listed above, as well as vitamins A, B, D, and E and antioxidants all rolled up in a nurturing shea butter base. It’s a key step every man should integrate into his daily self-care regimen.