Good news gentlemen! A recent study of 1,770 men found that people who have one or two alcoholic drinks daily are most likely to excel between the sheets.

Kew-Kim Chew, an epidemiologist at the University of West Australia’s Keogh Institute for Medical Research, and his team found that moderate drinkers experienced rates of impotence 25% to 30% lower than those of teetotallers. The findings were published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Older international studies have also shown that moderate drinkers have lower cholesterol and better blood flow, the latter being an essential ingredient for a satisfactory sexual performance. These studies revealed that abstainers and heavy drinkers are most likely to become impotent, while those who enjoy the odd tipple are the least likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction problems.
“These findings are consistent with other studies, which have found that alcohol helps lower cholesterol levels and, therefore, assists in the prevention of narrowing of the arteries,” said Dr Pearse Phelan, a specialist physician at the Dublin Medical Centre.

Keeping the blood flowing
“An erection requires healthy blood flow. The blood vessels expand in response to arousal and the more blood that flows into the genital area the harder the erection. Alcohol of any kind has a beneficial effect because it dissolves cholesterol but red wine is widely recognised as being the best form of alcohol because of it possesses antioxidants. It has been established without doubt that two glasses of red wine per day is best for you,” says Phelan.

The studies supporting the health benefits of red wine suggest that antioxidants called polyphenols help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Resveratrol is another ingredient in red wine that prevents damage to blood vessels, reduces cholesterol levels and lowers the risk of blood clots.

Don’t over-indulge
Before you rush out to the off-licence, however, doctors warn that consuming too much alcohol will cause harm to your body and increase the risk of impotence. Most men are familiar with the term ‘brewer’s droop’ – a temporary form of alcohol impotence that occurs when a man drinks too much alcohol.

According to Dr Andrew Rynne, medical director of the Sexual Health Clinic in Kildare, a person who enjoys one or two drinks a day will tend to be more relaxed and open to romantic acts that someone who abstains from alcohol all of the time.

Erectile dysfunction
“I would have to ask does a person who practices abstinence suffer from anxiety. I also warn men who drink too much that all it can take is one poor performance for erectile dysfunction to creep in. This problem almost always begins when a person is drunk. Then, the memory stays with the individual and they begin to over-think. This can cause an ongoing problem,” warns Rynne.

Apart from being an aid to combat erectile dysfunction, a small amount of alcohol can also help prevent premature ejaculation. One or two drinks extend the time a nervous man takes before he climaxes, thereby combating any slight tendency to ejaculate too soon.

Food for thought
Thankfully, it’s not just alcohol that can lead to a better sex life; there are some delicious foods that will also help get you in the mood: Oysters, which contain a lot of zinc, are linked to male fertility, sex drive and the production of sperm; pistachios provide protein to help increase stamina; chillies stimulate nerve endings, which release chemicals that kick start endorphins; and chocolate causes the release of mood-boosting serotonin and phenylethylamine, which affects blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

“The secret is to enjoy everything in moderation,” says Phelan.