Could there be any underlying health concerns with a low libido?
Having a body mass index (BMI) that is either too high or too low can seriously sabotage your sex life. If the number on the scale gets a little too high (or too low) the chemical known as sex-hormone-binding globulin increases, which causes your sexual desire stimulating testosterone levels to plummet.
Weight gain can also contribute to high cholesterol and insulin resistance (an early indicator of type 2 diabetes), which can cause plaque buildup in your blood vessels, slowing blood flow and stopping sexual arousal in its tracks.
Is there anything I can do to boost libido?
Yes! There are foods that boost your energy, help you sleep, and fight flab. Why wouldn’t there be foods that increase sex drive? Mix these libido boosters into your diet:
- Avocado: These superfruits are an excellent source of monounsaturated fats, key for a healthy heart and good circulation. Avocado are also loaded with antioxidant rich vitamin E, potassium, which helps to regulate a woman’s thyroid gland, and vitamin B6, a nutrient that boosts male hormone production.
- Asparagus: Considered an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years, asparagus is rich in folic acid and potassium, which aid in the production of sex drive enhancing chemicals. It also has high levels of vitamin E, which stimulates the production of testosterone. The higher the testosterone, the higher the libido!
- Maca: Maca stimulates and nourishes the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, which are integral to regulating the rest of the glands in the body. When in balance, they help bring balance to the adrenal, thyroid, pancreas, and in women, the ovarian glands.
What about libido killers?
- Alcohol: While some might consider our sex drives to be increased by alcohol because of the liquid courage it gives many, too much can be a major inhibitor. A dampened sexual desire, decreased arousal and sensitivity are a few of the negative effects of too much alcohol on libido.
- Beans: Feeling bloated and gassy isn’t super sexy. Beans contain indigestible sugars that act as prebiotics that feed our good bacteria, but before they reach our colons, these sugars hit our stomachs, resulting in trapped gasses that can cause flatulence. Worrying about what’s going on in your stomach is a sure fire way to kill the mood.
- Soy: If you’re eating small amounts of soy derived products like soymilk, tofu, and edamame there’s no need to be concerned. But studies have shown that in excess, the phytoestrogens in soy products can drastically reduce testosterone levels, a hormone essential to libido.
Skip that extra glass of wine, throw a few of those libido boosting foods into your grocery cart, and shed a few pounds while boosting your sex drive.