4 ways being healthy will make your sex life hotter
Many of us are thankfully past the point where we need to be convinced that health is, well, worth it. It’s hard to live in the (let’s face it) toxic world that we do without some inkling that eating vegetables and going for walks or runs might stave off wretchedness. But let me ask you: have you given any thought to how eating and living well affects your sex life specifically? I mean, the arm bone is connected to the wrist bone, is it not?
The fact is, good nerve function, healthy hormone levels and unimpeded blood flow to the pelvic area are integral to sexual performance, my dears. If you’ve ever had a surprise charley horse interrupt your graceful thrusting in the throes of passion, you have some idea what I’m talking about. Or if feeling too tired for sex is a thing for you. Or if you get cranky really easily and pick fights for nothing when hate sex is not even your thing. Or if you’ve ever turned down sex because you feel gross or unattractive. You get the idea.
Not convinced? Consider the following 4 ways that being healthy will most definitely crank up the heat on your sex life. Hint: a lot of it has to do with how you eat.
1. Eating healthy
It’s simple: eat like you have a lust for life. First off, nourishment is key to all undertakings. To keep your body’s systems in working order, and your libido in tip-top shape, your diet should be rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. Eating several smallish meals throughout the day rather than one or two massive ones will give you more stamina—so that endurance you need to exert yourself is likelier to last. There’s also evidence to suggest that certain healthy foods are powerful aphrodisiacs. Not to mention, when you start eating healthier, you tend to automatically shed excess fat, and your skin and hair look better, which can help put a spring in your step, give you added charisma, and act as a confidence boost. They say nothing’s sexier than confidence, and they say it for a reason.
2. Eating healthy as a couple
This point is not actually the same as the previous one. Have you ever had a relationship you were in drastically alter your eating habits? For the worse? Personally, this seems to be my relationship default mode, and I’m working hard to counteract it. For whatever reason, I seem to be hopelessly drawn to men who worship sugar, carbs and coffee (and weed), and who aren’t so into breakfast or cooking. They sound great, I know. The man I’m currently seeing actually said to me recently: “the person with the worse eating habits in a couple always has more influence on the other.” I tend to agree with him, but am working to counteract my tendency to be overwritten, which I think many of us women are prone to do. When I don’t eat enough or on time I get upset, and it disrupts my relationship and my sex life by extension. I become resentful. It’s much easier to be in a pairing where both parties are into healthy eating; it just is. So if you can swing that, you should. Then you can get down in style, with both of you feeling nourished and energized. Nothing kinkier.
3. Taking vitamin & mineral supplements…or better yet, eating the right food
Iron is needed to get oxygen to your cells. If your levels are low, and your sex drive is also low, the two might be related. Eating iron-rich foods like liver, beef, leafy greens, and beets is a great way to go. Vitamin B5 helps in the production of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Some studies say B5 may even enhance physical endurance. Vitamin B6 supports a healthy metabolism which basically helps with everything. A diet rich in fortified cereals, grains, quality produce, eggs, and nuts is a good bet for a reliable dose of all of the above. And according to sexologist Yvonne K. Fulbright, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish help bring up dopamine levels in the brain, which trigger arousal. It might be safe to say that we are what we eat, and that the old adage most definitely extends to sex too.
4. Exercising
And then there are the endorphins released by exercise: these “feel good” chemicals interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain, and they also trigger a positive feeling throughout the body—similar what morphine does, but naturally. According to Discovery Health, the “runner's high” we get from vigorous activity has an unsurprisingly aphrodisiac effect—stimulating blood flow, and increasing sexual agility and desire. Important takeaway: sex is the vigorous exercise, ergo, having sex leads to having more sex.
The moral of the story here, geese and gals, is that paying attention to your health can go a long way toward countering the ill effects of the world as we know it…never forget that stellar sex can connect you to your health and vice versa.
Cover Image Source: Elena Koycheva