Can you eat your way to better sex? Food to fire up your libido
Struggling with low libido? Health and wellness coach Kitty Blomfield says the secret to a more fulfilling sex life can be found in the kitchen. Here’s why.
When the numbers on the scale begin to climb, sex drive in both women and men can plummet.
In a bid to shed unwanted kilos, many people turn to fad diets and intense exercise programs.
But according to health and wellness coach Kitty Blomfield, these drastic measures are a leading cause of low libido among Australians.
“Going to extremes with restrictive diets and excessive workouts can disrupt hormonal balance, decrease your energy levels, and diminish sexual desire,” Kitty says.
Instead, Kitty recommends taking a holistic approach to reignite that spark between the sheets.
She says while some people try to find that one supplement that may help, there are no quick fixes.
“You can’t eat a dozen oysters a week, or take a tablet, or do a specific exercise to improve your libido – you need to look at the (endocrine) system as a whole,” Kitty says.
So, what can you do to help spice up your sex life?
Fuel your body
Drastic calorie restriction doesn’t do our desire any favours, Kitty says.
“When energy is scarce, and we’re undernourished and underfuelled, the body downgrades the production of sex hormones to focus on survival – and that means libido decreases,” she says.
“A lot of women go on super-restrictive diets that cut calories to 1200 a day but depending on age, activity level and gender, most women should be eating 2000-plus calories a day.”
Eat the right food
Kitty says it’s important to nourish your body with the right nutrients.
“When women diet, they often cut out whole food groups like dairy, saturated fats, or carbs, but these are vital for good hormonal function,” she says.
“If you’re not giving the body the nutrients it needs, it can’t perform properly.”
Kitty recommends incorporating bio-available animal proteins, quality dairy, fresh fruits and orange juice, shellfish and seafood, liver, eggs and root veggies in your diet.
Train smarter, not harder
Kitty says instead of gruelling workouts that sap energy – and sex drive – focus on building strength, flexibility and cardiovascular health.
“If you are overtraining, you won’t have the energy for sex,” she says.
And, she adds, no single type of exercise is the silver bullet to better sex.
“You can’t train in a specific way that will enhance your libido,” Kitty says.
“But doing some sort of physical activity you enjoy will lower stress and improve wellbeing, and that will make you feel more like having sex.”
This is supported by a 2018 study, which showed small bouts of exercise can significantly improve sexual function.
Get stress under control
Kitty says self-care is a vital component of a more fulfilling sex life.
“So many people are so busy with work, with kids, with life in general, and their stress levels soar – and when you’re stressed, sex is probably the last thing on your mind,” she says.
“Whatever you do to manage stress, remember to factor it in often.”
Read more on sexual health:
- What to do when sex is causing pain rather than pleasure
- Is it OK if married couples hardly ever have sex?
- Mindful masturbation: why solo sex is the latest in self-care
- 3 compelling reasons to do your kegel exercises
Written by Dimity Barber.
