Men looking to spice off their love lives warned to keep off hot curries – which could dampen their flame

Men who want to spice up their love life should avoid hot curries.

New research shows that eating spicy foods reduces men’s sexual arousal.

New research shows that men who eat spicy food three or more times a week are almost three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction.

Urologists from the University of South China say: ‘Our research suggests that regularly eating spicy food may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction, especially in non-smokers.

“The more often they eat spicy food, the more severe the erectile dysfunction. Diets of men with ED may need to be adjusted to account for the impact of spicy food.”

It is estimated that more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. Risk factors include advanced age, smoking, nerve damage, and conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.

Men who eat spicy food three or more times a week are almost three times more likely to have erectile dysfunction (stock photo)

How spicy food can have such an effect is unclear, although results show that the spicier the food eaten, the lower the testosterone levels (stock image)

In a new study, published in Translational Andrology and Urology, researchers looked at the role of diet and smoking habits in about 400 men with and without ED.

The men completed detailed questionnaires about their diet and lifestyle, and their ED status was assessed. They also completed assessments that looked at the effects of ED on relationships, health, and psychological problems.

Results showed that eating spicy foods more than three times per week was associated with a 2.58-fold increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Results were limited to nonsmokers. No increased risk was found in smokers who ate spicy foods, possibly because smoking itself is a risk factor for ED, which may mask any dietary effects.

How spicy food can have such an effect is unclear, although the results show that the spicier the food, the lower the testosterone levels. People who ate seven days a week had testosterone levels that were about 12 percent lower than people who didn’t eat.

The results also showed that the spicier the men’s food, the greater their chance of marital problems.

The men had filled out a questionnaire designed to reveal relationship problems. People who regularly ate spicy food had significantly higher scores, indicating probable problems.

According to the researchers, this could be because men who regularly eat very hot peppers are more prone to irritability. “They often tend to develop an irritable character, which is prone to quarrels and disharmonious family relationships,” they said.

Professor Raj Persad, consultant urologist at Bristol Urology, said of the research: ‘This is an interesting observational study. There are a number of possible explanations for these observations. One is that people who eat more spicy food are more likely to have diabetes or a high BMI – both of which can contribute to erectile dysfunction.

“The study may illustrate an important principle in the management of erectile dysfunction. Not only should doctors look at using medications to improve erectile function, they should also look at eliminating toxic influences such as cigarette smoking, and perhaps now high levels of spicy toxins in the bloodstream.”