By: Chad Burnham, DPT, FAFS, CSCS

Supplement Spotlight  

Cialis

In today’s supplement spotlight I am going to be talking about Cialis.

Cialis, also known as Tadalafil is a prescription medication and is commonly used at higher dosages assist men with Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Now…I know what you are thinking. Chad has ED! HAHA. Before the rumors start the answer to this is no I don’t, but I have been taking a low dose Cialis over the last 2-3 years as there are many benefits that go far beyond treating ED.

I want to first say that you should not get Cialis confused with viagra. Although they may be in the same family, Cialis has a longer half life and at a lower dosage this means that it can be taken daily unlike other ED drugs that you might be more familiar with.

Cialis is a Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor and works by blocking the enzyme PDE5 from functioning properly. PDE5 is found in the walls of your blood vessels. By inhibiting the PDE5 enzyme, this will cause your blood vessels to relax, which can increase blood flow to certain areas of the body.

Like I mentioned earlier, I am not using it as a prescription for its intended use. Instead, I use it as a supplement at a low dose for daily wellness and preventative maintenance. In fact, some have been categorizing Cialis as the Aspirin of the future for it’s benefits to our cardiovascular system as mentioned above.

At a daily low dose, Cialis works by increasing blood flow to the entire body including the brain. This is why it can be helpful for men with ED, but can also aid in giving you those extra pumps in the gym as well as improve cognition. Cialis has been shown to improve mood and is a potent antioxidant.

Additionally, Cialis can reduce aromatase expression, which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. This means that Cialis can improve your body’s Testosterone:Estrogen ratio allowing you to maximize the effect of your testosterone.
If that was not enough, then you should also know that Cialis can also prevent and reverse benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH or in other words…Enlarged prostate.


So, how much do I take?

I take a low dose 5mg/day at the same time everyday, which for me is first thing in the morning with breakfast. If you are looking for that extra edge then you can take it as a pre-workout supplement to get that extra “pump” in the gym. And don’t worry…You will not be walking around with an erection all day lol.

Not only will Cialis make you a champ in the bedroom, but you will be a champ at life.

This information is presented in summary form and is based off of my personal experience. The content provided in this blog article are for informational purposes and is not intended nor recommended to substitute for professional medical advice. For personal medical advice, always consult your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional.