Politics
Your favourite foods could be lowering your sex drive – and it’s bad news if you’re a chocoholic
IF you or your partner feel like skipping sex tonight it could be down to something you ate.
Researchers reckon women who regularly scoff a bar or two of chocolate are less inclined to get steamy between the sheets because chocolate gives the brain a similar boost to nookie.
Researchers reckon women who regularly scoff a bar or two of chocolate are less inclined to get steamy between the sheets[/caption]
And choccies are not the only food to affect your mood.
Claire Dunwell looks at the libido drainers while Amanda Ursell explains how to feed your sex drive.
Fizzy drinks
LOST your pop in the bedroom? Then put a cap on the fizz.
Artificial sweeteners, such as aspartame, that are found in fizzy drinks directly affect the happy, sex-inducing hormone serotonin in men and women – and can cause other problems down below too.
Artificial sweeteners found in fizzy drinks have been linked to erectile dysfunction[/caption]
Scientists from Nicolaus Copernicus University and the Prof Franciszek Lukaszczyk Memorial Hospital in Poland have found that excessive cola consumption is linked to erectile dysfunction.
Soy milk or tofu
EXCESS amounts of these can reduce the levels of testosterone in the blood and decrease sex drive, according to a study in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Researchers found that men who consumed 120mg of soy a day suffered a decrease in testosterone.
Excess amounts of soy milk or tofu can reduce testosterone[/caption]
Guys trying to conceive might want to cut down or ditch it entirely from their diet, after a 2008 study in the journal Human Reproduction found that soy can lower a man’s sperm count.
Bottled water
BOTTLED is not best when it comes to a flagging sex drive. To spice things up, drink from the tap.
Plastic bottles, and most plastic food containers, contain Bisphenol A (BPA) – the same chemical component found in most cans.
To spice things up, avoid drinking bottled water[/caption]
It is associated with negative impacts on fertility in men and women.
A Slovenian study in the journal Fertility & Sterility found a significant link between urinary BPA concentration in men and lower sperm count.
Women with the highest BPA levels in the body saw a reduction in the number of eggs that matured, according to a study from Harvard School of Public Health.
Popcorn
DINNER and a movie can often be a precursor to getting rampant – but only if you skip the popcorn.
The microwaved variety has chemicals such as perfluorooctanoic acid, which is found in the bag’s lining and can kill your sex drive.
Perfluorooctanoic acid, found in popcorn, can lead to a decrease in testosterone[/caption]
Long term, it can even cause prostate problems. According to US journal Environmental Health Perspective, perfluorooctanoic acid leads to a decrease in testosterone.
Liquorice
TELL your man that this could be dampening his desire. Those who eat too much liquorice could risk damaging their sex lives, according to a study.
Researchers from the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran found that liquorice – used in sweets, chewing gum, toothpaste and herbal remedies – can lower testosterone.
Those who eat too much liquorice could risk damaging their sex lives[/caption]
Twenty healthy men were each given 1.3g of dried liquorice root extract every day for ten days. The extract contained about 400mg of glycyrrhizic acid, which gives liquorice its distinctive taste.
They found that the men all had significantly lower levels of testosterone than they would normally expect.
Low levels of testosterone can affect libido and mood and increase the risk of sexual problems.
Nibbles to keep your pecker up
NUTRITIONIST Amanda Ursell says:
OYSTERS are top of the list for boosting your sex drive. They are packed full of zinc, a mineral which, when low in men, can lead to impotence.
Iron-rich foods such as steak can also kick-start your libido. A diet lacking in iron can leave you feeling worn out and stressed, two well-known lust dampeners.
Cashew nuts, eggs and broccoli are also great sources of iron.
Low levels of vitamin D can cause tiredness which in turn impacts on desire, so try to include oily fish like salmon and mackerel in your diet at least once a week along with a 10mcg vitamin D supplement daily.
Walnuts and oily fish provide Omega-3 essential fats, which are vital for good circulation, and beetroot juice appears to help lower raised blood pressure, which in men can lead to erection issues.
Foods that are rich in vitamin C, such as kiwi fruit, berries, and leafy green vegetables, strengthen the small blood vessels, which leads to better blood flow around the body, including to the genitals.
Oranges provide folate, a type of vitamin. Low levels of this are linked to low moods, so adding oranges to your diet should improve libido.
Wholegrain foods contain fibre, which feeds beneficial bacteria in the gut and these in turn increase the release of feelgood hormones dopamine and serotonin which we need to help get us in the mood.
Dehydration can lead to stress and fatigue, which are well-known sex busters. So, you must always remember to drink 7 plenty of water.
Chocolate
CHOCOLATE is thought to have a similar effect on the brain’s feel-good chemicals, dopamine and serotonin, as sex does. It satisfies the same primal cravings.
In a study by the University of California, San Diego, researchers asked 723 people how often they ate chocolate – with women averaging 2.5 times a week and men 1.8 times. Women had a significantly lower interest in sex.
Chocolate satisfies our primal cravings…maybe too much[/caption]
Dr Beatrice Golomb said: “Women who ate chocolate more frequently reported significantly less interest in sex. By replicating the satisfactions and pleasures of sex, chocolate may obviate the need for it.
“In short, chocolate might stimulate sex – or simulate it.”
Cornflakes
BREAKFAST is said to be the most important meal of the day. But steer clear of cornflakes if you want to ramp things up between the sheets.
The cereal’s creator Dr John Harvey Kellogg was a big believer in abstinence as he thought that sex and masturbation were unhealthy for the mind, body and soul.
Steer clear of cornflakes and other cereals if you want to ramp things up between the sheets[/caption]
He thought rich foods such as meat increased sexual desire while plain foods could help purify a person. His cereals were part of a bland diet to lower sex drives.
If you can’t give up your morning flakes, spice them up with a dash of cinnamon or honey, which increases testosterone and oestrogen – both linked to a healthy sex drive.
Tinned food
COULD that harmless can of spaghetti hoops be getting in the way of your Big O?
Tinned soups and meals are high in sodium which can lead to elevated blood pressure and decreased blood flow to parts of the body, including sex organs, say scientists.
Tinned soups and meals are high in sodium which can decrease blood flow to parts of the body, including sex organs[/caption]
By eating foods from cans, you could be taking in large amounts of Bisphenol A (see above), which interferes with your body’s natural hormones. Excessive amounts of BPA can cause problems such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, infertility and sexual problems.
A study from the University of California San Francisco found that BPA may also affect the quality of a woman’s eggs.
White flour
BEFORE you buy your next white loaf, spare a thought for your love life.
Compared to wholegrain or wholewheat, all-purpose white flour has about three quarters less zinc and lowers the testosterone level in men, which is vital for sexual health.
All-purpose white flour contains less zinc and lowers testosterone levels in men[/caption]
Eating large amounts of white flour without high enough levels of protein and fats can lead to insulin resistance, and eventually diabetes, which can narrow arteries and increase the risk of heart disease and erectile dysfunction.
So if you want to keep your sex life perky, stick to wholemeal.
Cow’s cheese
BAD news for cheese lovers – it plays havoc with sex-inducing hormones.
Cheese made from cow’s milk lowers testosterone levels because the chemicals and synthetic hormones added during the processing throw production of sex hormones testosterone and oestrogen out of whack in both men and women.
Cheese made from cow’s milk plays havoc with sex-inducing hormones[/caption]
Low levels of testosterone in men can lead to reduced libido, as well as stress and depression.
Women who have low oestrogen levels can experience vaginal dryness and a reduced sex drive.
Mint herb
THIS is great at combatting bad breath but not so good for getting in the mood for sex.
Mint contains a significant amount of menthol, which reduces the testosterone level, resulting in low libido.
Mint contains a significant amount of menthol, which is known to lower libido[/caption]
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The herb also allows more air to enter our system causing frequent burps, which could also be a big turn-off.
According to a study in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal, spearmint lowered androgens and testosterone in male rats.
Another study found spearmint tea reduced women’s testosterone by 30 per cent.
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