Did you hear that the FDA recently passed a pink pill for women (like a female Viagra) to help them get “in the mood”?
I have to admit, it kind of irked me when I saw that, hence this blog post to provide alternatives.
My issue with this new pill is that it comes with many side effects and doesn’t address the root cause of low sex drive, which is physical, mental, and emotional.
Sex is an important part of life and has a myriad of health benefits, yet we are often reticent to talk about it.
Today’s Food as Medicine show celebrates the health benefits of sex and gives you five natural ways to get and stay “in the mood” (some unconventional!).
Here are the top 4 health benefits of having sex:
1: Sex is proven to elevate mood and reduce depression with endorphin release.
2: Boosted immunity. A UPenn study indicated people having sex one to two times per week had more immunoglobulin A (a major antibody to fight foreign invaders and prevent leaky gut) than those who didn’t.
3: Glowing skin! Sex triggers a release of DHEA and human growth hormone. This rush of hormones can release cortisol build-up (chronic stress) and even help reverse damage caused by the sun!
4: Lower blood pressure! By focusing the mind away from stress, our blood is better oxygenated and our blood pressure normalizes.
Studies also show that self-esteem is higher, sleep is deeper, relationships are more satisfying, inflammation reduces, and our brain functions better.
So, we know it’s good for our body, mind, and soul, but what if we just don’t feel like it?
That’s where we incorporate these five libido-boosting tools to get our mojo back.
1: Relax and Connect
Our society is so programmed to DO all the time, leaving us little time for receptivity.
When we (women especially) are chronically stressed and depleted, it’s hard to have an interest in sex. It can sometimes feel like just another thing on the to-do list.
To improve our sex life, we must create some space in life to slow down and recharge so we can get into a receptive space.
This could be as simple as taking a short bath, a walk in nature, a few minutes to stretch and breath, getting a massage or taking a yoga class – whatever it is that gets you into that expansive state. There is reason why so many babies are made on vacation.
I love to use magnesium oil for relaxation. Add 4oz to a bath or 2 oz to a foot soak to float away from the day’s stressors. Magnesium oil is easily absorbed through the skin, relaxing the nervous system almost instantly.
This relaxation ritual can also take place with your partner. Sex for women is so much about the emotional connection they have and feel with their partner that consistently spending a few minutes synching up and unwinding together can be invaluable to improving your sex life.
For the chronically stressed, rhodiola rosea is a wonderful adaptogenic herb to balance cortisol levels that can wreak havoc on your sex drive.
2: Eat Oysters and Shellfish!
Thanks to the Greek goddess of sexuality and love, Aphrodite, we know that an aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire. Throughout history, many foods, drinks, and behaviors have had a reputation for making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable.
It’s not a myth that oysters are an aphrodisiac, but do you know WHY?
Oysters are an amazing food for replenishing the pituitary gland. This is one of the two master glands in your brain that tells the rest of the hormones what to do and how many hormones to make.
Also, oysters especially, but all shellfish is high in zinc, an essential mineral to help make testosterone, which enhances libido.
3: Load Up on Avocados
One of the richest sources of Vitamin E, avocados can be a helpful food to assist the body in making testosterone. Avocados' nutrition content can also aid in the production of cervical fluid.
4: Get Spicy!
Spices like cayenne, jalepeno, and serano chiles improve blood flow to the reproductive organs in both men and women and stimulates nerve endings to make them more sensitive.
5: Hormone Boosters
The near-magical Peruvian root known as maca is known to boost libido and fertility and the precursor hormone that will let your body make the amount of testosterone it wants to make.
Now I want to hear from you. What are your challenges to low sex drive and what works for you to improve it? Let me know in the comments below.
Great article. I’m struggling with sex drive since my double mastectomy last June . I eat a healthy diet and exercise as well as meditate. The mastectomy has eliminated a lot of the stimulation that’s connected to the sensation derived from the connection of breast to vaginal stimulation. I eat lots of avocados and shellfish especially oysters living on the coast. You are so right about all of the senses that come into play for women and sex. It’s so much more than physical. I feel now that I need even more help because many of my sex organs have been removed. No ovaries, uterus or breasts. If there are any other things you think might help I’d greatly welcome them. I’m 67 Thanks Christa love your site and blogs
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That makes me happy as I’ve eaten an avocado almost everyday in my diet in the last year and I have thoughts on that, along with maybe other things that may be helping me to get my period back on track including my cervical fluid being more evident and consistently changing throughout my cycle. Prior to I had no clue when I would ovulate. My body is figuring it out with nutrition. As I haven’t had a consistent monthly cycle yet (been off the pill for 2.5 years) but think I’m finally getting closer which makes me happy!! Even at 37!! Appreciating this temple i call my body, just have to feed it what it needs in all aspects of my life!! Thanks for all the great info!!
Is this a current clip?? Is she pregnant or is this an older clip?!?!
Also, good stuff!! ?
Yes current clip. She is pregnant with baby #2 :))
Awesome Christa! As always 🙂 I SO LOVE and TRUST your information. Finished your Candida Cleanse and now in the midst of Gut Thrive. Feeeeeling Ahhhmazing! You are such a GIFT! ((hugs))
Ah Laura – this is music to my “ears”. Loved reading this comment and so happy you are doing your digestive due diligence to feel amazing. Thank you for your trust, it means so much!!! Big hug. xoxo
I just recently started taking PS 100 by Jarrow. It is Sunflower lecithin base but it looks to do the same thing as the rhodiola rosea you mention in the information above. Do you know if works the same or if I can/should combine the two?
I suggest combining the two – just using lower dose of rhodiola. While PS binds to high cortisol to bring it down and also protects the brain, it is not an adaptogen like rhodiola to bring it up when need be for the circadian reset.
Thanks! This couldn’t come at a better time for me!! As much as I love to eat seafood and shellfish, I have issue with how polluted our waters have become. I choose to stay away at all cost from seafood from southeast Asia due to the farming practices. Also I have heard that seafood from the West coast is laced with nuclear waste gone unchecked from Fukushima. And then there is the Gulf-still recovering from the massive oil spill. I watched a documentary featuring shrimp farmers and how they are tossing 1/2 of their catch due to tumors. As far as I know salmon in the pacific northwest is still okay, and the US has one of the best seafood practices in the world. But how about those shellfish? Do you have a recommendation to the best place to source them? Thanks for all you do! I have passed your blog on to many friends 🙂
Michelle – I agree that Alaska and the Pac Northwest are great places – Norway as well. Let me reach out to my friends at Vital Choice Seafood and see what advice they give for the cleanest shellfish locations… Thank you for sharing the blog! :))
Would love to know what your friends said Christa!!
Christa,
For the guys…
What can help us men with sex drive. And, what about low testosterone?
Is it a problem?
And, is there something that can help raise it, safely?