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]]>Those who eat a Mediterranean style diet with plenty of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, oily fish and seafood, nuts, seeds and pulses tend to have healthier hearts.
This results in low blood glucose levels, which in turn leaves you feeling tired, hungry, irritable and perhaps not in the mood for some lovin’ tonight.
We are increasingly relying on processed convenience foods, rather than fresh, whole foods – lots of fruit and vegetables, lean meat, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, nuts and seeds – which can affect your nutrient intakes. Processed foods often contain trans fats, refined sugars and high amounts of calories, which, over time can make you overweight and affect your confidence. The better your diet, the better you’ll feel about yourself.
Obesity can cause hormonal imbalances in both men and women, which can interfere with your libido. The more overweight you are, the more likely your libido is going to be affected and obesity is also a risk factor for erectile dysfunction.
Make sure you get your 5-a-day. Fruit and veggies are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. No single fruit or vegetable contains all the nutrients you need for health and sexual health, so it’s important to eat a wide variety rather than sticking to the same ones.
Libido is easily affected by stress and anxiety. Stress and other unhealthy lifestyle habits, like smoking and too much alcohol can deplete nutrients in our bodies – all of which can potentially have an effect on our libido. Try to have a positive mental attitude and keep calm. Stress can also cause cortisol to be pumped into the body and high levels have been shown to promote the storage of fat and weight gain over time (particularly around the midriff)
A little tipple can help sometimes get you in the mood and make you relax, but relying on it to improve your libido is counterproductive, as it’s a depressant, is highly calorific and can cause ‘brewer’s droop’ – a temporary form of impotence that occurs when the drinker consumes one too many.
Make an Appointment with Dr. Sharmila Majumdar at the Sexual & Mental Health Clinic, Avis Hospital, Hyderabad.
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]]>Natural Aphrodisiacs — Figs, bananas and avocados are natural aphrodisiacs loaded with vitamins and minerals that can encourage more blood flow to the genitals and naturally increase sex drive.
Vitamin C foods — Vitamin C improves blood circulation to the organs so it’s important to make sure you consume foods rich in vitamin C on a daily basis. Vitamin C has also specifically been linked with a healthier female libido. Some great choices include broccoli, oranges, red peppers and guava.
Iron-rich foods — For women in particular, low iron levels can have a negative affect on sexual desire, arousal, lubrication and ability to have an orgasm. Great sources of iron include dark leafy greens like kale and spinach, along with grass-fed beef.
Collagen-rich foods — Collagen production naturally declines with age. This has a direct negative effect on skin health and makes it harder to keep skin firm. This phenomenon can make it harder for men to maintain an erection, and it can lead to a looser vaginal wall in women. To increase your collagen levels, you can consume more bone broths and opt for a collagen supplement powder. Vitamin C also helps to increase collagen production.
Sweet potatoes — Sweet potatoes or yams are loaded with potassium and vitamin A. The potassium can help with high blood pressure, which makes a man more likely to have erectile dysfunction.
Watermelon — In 2008, research conducted at Texas A&M demonstrated that watermelon may have a Viagra effect. The phytonutrients known as lycopene, beta-carotene and citrulline found in watermelon help relax blood vessels. While watermelon might not be as organ-specific as Viagra, it can be helpful in the bedroom without any negative side effects when you naturally want to improve libido.
Spices like nutmeg and clove — Spices are loaded with antioxidants, which is great for overall health, including libido. Research published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine specifically found that extracts of nutmeg and clove enhanced the sexual behavior of male animal subjects. Clove is also great at improving bad breath.
Dark chocolate — Research has shown that chocolate consumption leads to the release of phenylethylamine and serotonin, leading to some aphrodisiac and mood-lifting effects. Just make sure you choose a low-sugar, high-quality dark chocolate.
Brazil nuts — These nuts are high in selenium, which plays a role in maintaining healthy testosterone levels.
Almonds — Rich in zinc, selenium and vitamin E, almonds contain vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that can improve sexual health and reproduction.
Water — Making sure you’re not dehydrated is helpful when it comes to your libido since dehydration can cause a number of negative side effects that can easily dull sexual desire. If you want to avoid possible fatigue, headaches and vaginal dryness, then drink up.
Trans fats and fried foods — Foods items that are greasy and/or loaded with trans fats are not helpful in the bedroom by any stretch. The adverse effects of consuming trans fatty acids can include increases in abnormal sperm production for men and interference with gestation for women.
Processed foods — Chemicals in these foods may negatively affect sexual performance.
Poor-quality protein — Factory-farmed meat is known for containing added hormones and antibiotics, which can lead to hormonal imbalance in the body.
High-sodium foods — Foods that are very high in sodium, like canned foods and processed foods, can contribute to high blood pressure, which in turn decreases the flow of blood to the sex organs.
Conventional dairy — Milk, cheese and other dairy products from cow’s milk can have synthetic hormones that have a negative effect on estrogen and testosterone levels.
Sugar — Sugar in general negatively affects sex hormones. Studies have shown specific and scary affects on testosterone levels. In a 2013 study of male subjects, the consumption of glucose decreased blood levels of testosterone by an average of 25 percent, regardless of whether the men had diabetes, prediabetes or normal glucose tolerance. Testosterone levels also remained low hours after glucose consumption.
Caffeine — Overindulgence in caffeine can have unwanted affects on sexual performance.
Alcohol — Overdoing it on alcoholic beverages is known to decrease sexual desire, arousal and sensitivity. If you’re going to imbibe, opt for one glass (yes, just one) of polyphenol-rich red wine. The antioxidants in red wine can help widen blood vessels and increase blood flow to key arousal areas.
Microwaveable Popcorn — It may be convenient, but it’s certainly not healthy. The chemicals found in the lining of microwave popcorn bags (as well as nonstick pots and pans) have been linked to a lower sex drive for men. According to a 2009 study, these types of popcorn bags contain perfluoroalkyl acids, such as PFOA or PFOS, known to significantly lower sperm counts.
Dr. Sharmila Majumdar
Make an Appointment at the Sexual & Mental Health Clinic, Avis Hospital
The post How to Increase Libido Through Diet appeared first on Dr. Sharmila Majumdar - Sexologist Psychoanalyst in Hyderabad.
]]>The post Female Sex Drive – How To Revive It Post Delivery? appeared first on Dr. Sharmila Majumdar - Sexologist Psychoanalyst in Hyderabad.
]]>While both women and men expect changes in their sex life immediately after the birth of a child, but as time passes by, it is normal for both partners to wonder when things will ever return to normal.
It is a fairly common condition to have a decreased sex drive after giving birth and this feeling can last for months which can be attributed to many factors.
Refer to the following tips to get your drive back.
One should take a Sexologist into confidence to discuss how one’s libido has changed after child birth, who will in turn help to rule out any physical issues if any.
Nursing a new-born is no joke and it physical drains you out. In a post-delivery scenario, one’s libido has to fight with overwhelming emotional as well as physical fatigue that results from nursing of a new-born. One can share the night-time feeding with one’s partner and try to catch up on the sleep with day time nap. One simply cannot look forward to sex if one is deprived of sleep.
The body is still recovering and one may get a feel that one is not attractive as before which makes a dramatic impact on body image. Communicate honestly with partner about the lack of drive. It is likely that he will also be experiencing similar issues and conflicting emotions. Giving reassurance that one is working on increasing the libido can help ease the pressure on both the individuals.
Do anything to relax and get into the mood before hitting the bed. It can be as simple as a hot shower or a refreshing drink but it is important to help your body transition from mother to lover.
It is hard to look forward to something that is painful.. Breastfeeding plays a significant role in the decrease in libido. Estrogen is an important hormone that decreases with breastfeeding which affects vaginal tissues. The most common vaginal side effects of decreased estrogen is dryness hence it’s important to use lubricants to minimize the discomfort of vaginal dryness and make sex more enjoyable.
There will be times one has to do even if one is not in the mood. Sometimes it takes a little nudge to get the libido back into gear. Once one gets over the hurdle of not being in the mood, one may just realize that one is enjoying the act. The good news is that this decrease in libido is temporary. With time and patience, one can rebuild a satisfying sexual relationship with their partner.
Dr. Sharmila Majumdar
The post Female Sex Drive – How To Revive It Post Delivery? appeared first on Dr. Sharmila Majumdar - Sexologist Psychoanalyst in Hyderabad.
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