The sun is shining, England is in full bloom and I think it’s time to talk about sex! This months article will cover ways to improve your libido, drugs that affect your sex drive and why kissing can boost your immune system.

Low libido is a very comment complaint among both sexes and it’s an everyday symptom of many people I see in my clinics, but not one that is openly talked about without embarrassment! Often difficult to discuss… I’ll outline why it can happen and what to do about it. Sex is a wonderful way to stay happy healthy and fit with a better functioning immune system. Overall, It’s a win, win situation!

GREAT BENEFITS OF SEX

In our 21st century consumer society life, we seem to be surrounded by sex, on TV, the internet, and in advertising and it seems to be getting worse. Sex sells, it always has and it undoubtedly always will. However looking at sex within a relationship we have to acknowledge how beneficial it can be not only to our relationship but our physical and mental health. Sex could and in my opinion should be included as part of a healthy lifestyle. Research has shown that couples who have sex weekly have a 30 percent increase in immunoglobulin A, an antibody that fights infection. Sex can also reduce stress, for physiological and emotional reasons, reduce blood pressure and can even reduce low density lipoprotein (“bad”) cholesterol.

Here are some other potential benefits of regular sex.

• Can increase feelings of motivation due to endorphin release.
• Can improve memory due to increased blood flow to brain.
• A natural increase in oestrogen can improve the appearance of our hair, skin and nails.
• Can help tone your abs, gluts and any other muscle in your body you are using!
• May help lower blood pressure which may in turn lower your risk of heart disease.
• Give you a better physical response to stress.
• Potentially raise your immune system with an increase in IgA.
• Better sleep patterns.
• Women may have more predictable, regular and less painful periods.
• Sex can burn off 100 calories every half hour!
• May boost self confidence and self esteem
• Can improve intimacy in a relationship – more oxytocin is released which helps you feel bonded to your partner.
• Strengthens pelvic floor muscles.

WHAT CAUSES A LOW LIBIDO?

• Some medications (see below)
• Depression. Libido and depression share a complicated link. Depression can change the body’s biochemistry and therefore reduce libido. It’s also harder to feel sexual when you’re depressed. Some medications commonly used to treat depression may also lower libido as a side effect.
• Stress. The body reacts to stress by releasing adrenaline and cortisol. Chronic stress, in particular, can interfere with your body’s hormone levels, and result in a low libido. The arteries can also narrow and restrict blood flow in response to stress, which can also lead to erectile dysfunction. Stress can also reduce your libido by distracting you and taking your mind off sexual desire.
• Low self esteem/confidence. It’s hard to feel sexy when your self-confidence is down or when you have an unhealthy body image. Someone who feels unattractive is less likely to want to engage in sex. Fears of rejection may also come in to play.
• Erectile dysfunction. Low libido is a common emotional side effect of ED. Once a man experiences ED, he may get anxious. His confidence is shaken, and he might be afraid it will happen again. His libido shuts down to preserve his ego.
• Illness. From a streaming cold or flu to more serious illness, when you are not feeling well, sex is often the last thing on your mind.
• Menopause. Women may experience a low libido during menopause for a number of reasons. Oestrogen levels drop suddenly during these years, causing vaginal tissue to become dry. That, in turn, can lead to discomfort and pain during intercourse and discourage a woman’s sexual desire. Menopause can also lower testosterone, the hormone that boosts libido in women as well as men.
• Fatigue and lack of sleep can hinder sexual activity. Let’s face it, the last thing you feel like is sex if you are knackered all the time. Try and get some good quality sleep and see how you feel after some good zzzz’s.
• Alcohol or drug use. While a little alcohol can help lower inhibitions, too much can impair your nervous system and lead to fatigue, making it difficult to become aroused. Other drugs can decrease your sex drive as well. For example, marijuana suppresses the pituitary gland, which regulates the production of testosterone.
• Lack of time. Have you ever been too busy for sex? The hectic schedules of daily life can put your sex life on the back burner. Some people assume there will be time for sex at the end of the day when there is nothing else going on but often you have left it too late or are too tired. But unless you make time for each other and for intimacy, it may not happen. Eventually lack of sex can lead to low libido.
• Libido can be directly influenced by low testosterone levels. Therefore, low libido is often caused by low testosterone levels – a hormone imbalance. Low testosterone can be caused by injury, inflammation, or tumors in the testicles.

Medications that can reduce libido

Often lowered libido can be directly due to medication. These medications you may have to be on long term so it is a good idea to discuss this with your GP. Not all people will get these side effects, but it is worth reviewing with your GP if you think you have lowered libido being on a certain medication.

• Anti-depressants
• Birth control pills
• Prostate drugs
• Baldness drugs
• Antihistamines
• Anti seizure medication
• Beta blockers

HOW TO BOOST YOUR SEX DRIVE

Diet affects the libido in numerous ways. Some of the effects are simple to understand. Getting enough to eat provides the energy to function sexually. Too much to eat can kill the desire! Diet also affects sexual response in several lesser known ways, involving hormone production, blood flow, lubrication and other symptoms of arousal. Just by watching what you eat you can notice a difference in sexual response. So how do we increase our sex drive?

• Get enough exercise – this can increase some sex hormones.
• Try anti stress techniques if you feel that excess stress is hindering your sex life.
• Try and get enough sleep.
• Diet is also important: Choose a wholegrain diet with specific emphasis on Vitamin B6. This vitamin and mineral work for every part of the female sexual cycle, helping produce adequate levels of sex hormones. Zinc is found in oysters, lamb, nuts, egg yolks, rye and Vitamin B6 is found in cauliflower, watercress, broccoli, mueseli, sunflower seeds, and lentils. You need approximately 15mg zinc daily and 60 mg of Vitamin B6.
• Omega 3 is also important for healthy hormone functioning so try and eat 2-3 portions of oily fish per week, and you can include hemp, flax, soybeans, walnuts, almonds and organic eggs.
• For good quality sperm, men need to stop smoking, reduce excess alcohol, avoid stress and coffee.
• Oxidative stress (an imbalance between free radicals and our ability to detoxify them) has now been shown to have an affect on our hormones.

Try and include antioxidants in the diet, these include:

• Vitamin A – carrots, sweet potatoes, dried apricots, squash and watercress
• Vitamin C – green vegetables, peppers, kiwi fruit, tomatoes, citrus fruits and berries
• Vitamin E – nuts, seeds, oily fish avocados, beans, and sweet potatoes
• Selenium – Brazil nuts, sesame seeds, tuna, cabbage, and whole grains

THE BENEFITS OF KISSING

In a 2011 Kinsey Institute Study in Illinois, it was found that kissing was an important predictor for relationships satisfaction.

Not only does it use thirty facial muscles but reduces cortisol and stress hormones and raises oxytocin.
Holding hands and kissing reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol, thereby lowering blood pressure and optimizing immune response.

• A passionate kiss has the same effect as belladonna in making our pupils dilate.
• Two-thirds of all people turn their head to the right when kissing. Evolutionary psychologists have discovered that men are far more likely to prefer sloppy tongue kisses than women.
• The exchange of saliva could provide a reproductive advantage for males. During an open-mouthed kiss, a man passes a bit of testosterone to his partner. Over weeks and months, repeated kissing could enhance a female’s libido, making her more receptive to sex.

Headaches? Tired All the Time? IBS? Fuzzy thinking? Aches and Pains? Not feeling your best? I offer a two hour 1-1 MOT service. Call 01323 737814 or visit www.katearnoldnutrition.co.uk