The Fountain of Youth #3: Improving libido

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]In recent weeks we’ve been drinking deeply at the fountain of youth.

On our first visit, we slaked our thirst with the potential for rewinding the DNA clock. The second time around we sipped at reversing skin age and maintaining our youthful appearance for longer. This time around though we’re going to take a long draught of libido loss – something that affects both women and men.

After all, once you’re feeling vital on in the inside and looking dew fresh on the outside you’ll be wanting to channel your renewed vigour somewhere right?

But before looking at what causes us to lose our libido – what is it?

What is libido?

The literal meaning of the word libido is desire or lust. What that means to us as humans is our desire to be sexually active. It’s a fundamental part of our life instinct.

Low libido levels in both men and women share some roots. There are though some gender specific reasons why libido levels plummet.

Why does libido drop?

For the male of the species at least, a gradual age-related decrease in libido is considered normal.

No two men are the same but while interest in sex declines with age, most men will maintain a level of sex drive into their 60s and 70s.

Aging aside, factors that influence a lowering of libido levels include [1]:

Depression
Stress
Side-effects of medication
A decrease in the male sex hormones due to endocrine disorders
Sleep apnoea*

*It’s not common knowledge that sleep apnoea can lead to a low testosterone level. That in turn can be a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) – the term used to describe the condition in which a man can’t get or maintain an erection.

Note too that one doesn’t equate to the other. Men ED tend to have a normal or even a high, sex drive [2].

And in women?

A woman’s sex drive is a complex thing. So it’s no surprise that there are a host of causes [3]. They include:

Relationship difficulties with their partner
Medical conditions such as endometriosis and fibroids. Also thyroid issues.
Socio-cultural influences – work place stress, media portrayals of ‘ideal’ womanhood etc.
Low testosterone. Yes, women can experience this too. The female testosterone level is at its peak in the mid-20s. It then undergoes a steady drop until the menopause. The post-menopause period sees a dramatic testosterone level drop with the sex-drive dropping too [4].
Contraceptive pills and other forms of hormonal pregnancy prevention can be detrimental to the sex drive [5].

Common factors for both sexes

Universal root causes of low libido include such things as:

Relationship issues
Depression
Some prescription medications
Alcoholism
Drug abuse
Chronic diseases such as diabetes.

Obesity too is an issue. Obese men can struggle to maintain an erection. Yet studies show that a small weight loss can improve desire in both men and women [6].

Lifting levels with your diet

As with lots of things, there are dietary adjustments you can make to help increase your libido.

Foods beneficial to your libido
Some foods are natural aphrodisiacs.

Counted in their number are figs and bananas. Loaded with minerals and vitamins both these foods are great at encouraging blood to flow to the genitals and so increase your sex drive.

Foods containing vitamin C: There’s a specific link between vitamin C and the female libido so be sure to eat lots of vitamin C rich foods. Oranges, guava, broccoli and red peppers fit the bill here.

Iron rich foods: low iron levels have a notable negative effect on women. A lack of iron can have an adverse effect on a woman’s ability to become aroused, lubricated and to achieve orgasm. Tackle this with lots of dark, leafy greens such as spinach and kales and eat grass-fed beef.

Go nuts for nuts: Brazil nuts are high in selenium, which plays a role in maintaining testosterone levels. Almonds, are rich in zinc and vitamin E, and contain vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that can improve your sexual health.

Dark chocolate: research suggests that chocolate consumption leads to your body releasing serotonin and phenylethylamine. This in turn can have a mood-lifting and aphrodisiac effect. But it has to be the good stuff. The low-sugar, high percentage cocoa solids type.

Water: It won’t help if you’re dehydrated so drink up.

What else can you do?

Aside from eating lots of the foods mentioned here and drinking lots of water there are useful supplements out there to support your libido.

Korean Ginseng (Panax): might raise sexual desire in women going through the menopause [7]. It may help to improve erectile function in men, too. A dose of 600 mg taken three times a day has brought improvement [8].

L-arginine: is a precursor of nitric oxide (NO) in the human body. NO is an essential compound that helps blood circulation and it’s important to normal sexual function in both men and women. L-Arginine may improve blood flow to the genital area by dilating blood vessels. This is essential for the penis to enlarge to its full capacity. In addition, increased blood flow makes clitoral and vaginal tissues more sensitive and responsive to sexual stimulation. Studies have given confirmation of the positive effects of Arginine supplementation in both men [9] and women [10].

Ginkgo Biloba: a well-known memory enhancer, it has a positive effect on all four phases of the sexual response cycle: desire, excitement (erection or lubrication), orgasm, and resolution (afterglow). A number of studies show that Ginkgo extract can be helpful for both men and women [11].

Maca: has aphrodisiac effects and an ability to increase libido in both men [12] and women [13] – an effect not associated with systemic hormones (testosterone, oestrogen, luteinizing hormone, etc.).

Tribulus Terrestris: in male studies, Tribulus root increased rigidity of erections and improved sexual performance (reduced anxiety while delaying ejaculation and improving orgasm). [14] Studies of women using this herb reported greater desire, increased arousal, lubrication, more intense orgasms, and satisfaction. [15]

Ashwagandha: this powerful adaptogen can be beneficial for both men and women due to its action on reducing cortisol levels and balancing hormones. Long praised by Ayurveda as an aphrodisiac, ashwagandha can improve male fertility (sperm quality and seminal motility [16]) as well as testosterone levels and overall stamina. [17] Ashwagandha’s benefits for women have more to do with the way it stimulates libido and increases satisfaction. [18]

Rhodiola Rosea: this herb can make a huge difference to men suffering from low libido or performance anxiety due to stress, fatigue or depression. [19]

Alpha Lipoic Acid: studies have shown that ALA’s antioxidant effect might be helpful with improvement of male vigour in case of problems related to diabetes or pre-diabetes. [20]

Dong Quai: known as a “female ginseng”, this natural Chinese herb is known to balance hormones and assist in regular blood flow. Although not used specifically to increase libido its effect on the overall body can help women feel more virile as again it has an effect on blood vessels, which carry blood to the sexual organs. [21]

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The Fountain of Youth #3: Improving libido