Erectile Dysfunction

3 Lifestyle Tips to Increase Your Sex Drive

Low sex drive is a common problem among men and women in the United States. Perhaps you feel like your libido isn’t as high as it used to be. What can you do about it?

In some cases, lack of sexual desire can be caused by a medical problem. But many people can increase their sex drive naturally with simple lifestyle changes. Use these 3 tips to help put the spark back into your sex life.

Start a regular exercise program
If you want to rev up your sex drive, physical activity can help start your engine. For men and women, sexual pleasure involves blood flow and circulation to the genitals. Exercise is a great way to increase circulation and enhance sexual pleasure. If sex is more enjoyable, you’ll want to do it more often. This effect can help increase your libido.

Exercise can also benefit your mood. When you engage in physical activity, your brain releases endorphins. These feel-good chemicals can improve your mood and give you more energy. People who exercise also feel more confident about their appearance. When you feel sexy, it can increase your sexual desire.

Follow a healthy diet
Saturated fat can clog your arteries and decrease blood flow to the genitals, even when you’re sexually aroused. Studies have shown that there’s a link between erection problems and heart disease. You can increase your sex drive naturally by limiting saturated fat and improving your cardiovascular health.

Nutrition is also important because it helps you maintain a healthy weight. Dr. Michael Krychman works at the Center for Sexual Health in Southern California. He says that obesity can have a negative effect on your hormones by altering your estrogen and testosterone levels. When your testosterone levels get too low, it can lower your sex drive.

Healthy food choices also contain vital nutrients such as iron. People with iron deficiency may suffer from low sexual desire and lack of energy. To keep your sex drive at an optimal level, eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and lean meats.

Manage your stress
Most people lead busy lives and it generally stresses them out. But you may not know that chronic stress can lower your sex drive. It’s hard to feel sexy when you have so many things on your mind. Fortunately, you can improve your libido by taking steps to reduce your stress levels and manage stressful situations.

Dr. Irwin Goldstein works at San Diego Sexual Medicine and The Journal of Sexual Medicine. If your feeling stressed, Dr. Goldstein recommends taking a brief vacation. Getting away for a while can lower your stress levels significantly and boost your sex drive. A romantic vacation can also help couples reconnect.

Many people feel overworked and frazzled. Stressful situations can lead to trouble in the bedroom. Talk to your partner about the stressors in your life. Together you can make a plan that will help you manage stress effectively.