Your diet has a profound effect on your sex life. No, we’re not talking about weight or body confidence (although those things are important, too).
The foods you eat can either help or hinder your sexual performance.
In this article, we will explore some of the ways your diet is destroying your sex life and what you can do about it.
From libido-killing foods to libido-boosting foods, we’ll cover it all. So, if you’re looking to improve your sex life, read on.
Ways Your Diet Is Destroying Your Sex Life
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Unhealthy Diets Lower Libido
Numerous factors make a healthy diet crucial. It can help improve your overall health, make you feel better, and even boost your libido.
However, unhealthy diets can have the opposite effect on your libido. Certain foods and nutrients are essential for sexual health.
For example, zinc is necessary[1] to produce testosterone, a key hormone for sexual health.
Eating a diet high in processed foods and low in nutrients could decrease your testosterone levels and lower your libido.
The study[2] suggests that dietary patterns could directly affect testosterone production in men.
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Unhealthy Diets Can Make You Self-Conscious
Unhealthy diets can have a significant impact on your self-confidence.
If you’re not eating enough[3] healthy foods, your body may start to feel weaker, and you may not have the energy you need to get through the day.
Millions of people struggle with their diets every day, and a study[4] performed on obese men has proven that a low-energy diet could lower sexual function in men.
Low sexual performance may lead to feelings of self-doubt and depression.
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Unhealthy Foods Lead To Inflammation
The foods like processed foods, refined sugars, and unhealthy fats could lead to inflammation.
The body’s natural defense mechanism against injury is inflammation. But when it becomes chronic, it can contribute to malfunctioning in the heart, metabolism, neuro system, etc.
Not only this, but it could also hinder your sexual life. A study[5] showed that chronic inflammation in women could impact their sexual desire and arousal.
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Unhealthy Foods can Impact Your Blood Flow
A diet rich in unhealthy foods can hurt your blood flow. Foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol can buildup up your arteries and cause them to narrow.
This narrowing of the arteries is called atherosclerosis[6] and can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
An insufficient blood supply in the genitals could be a problem as it might reduce the sensitivity, arousal, and erection time.
Unhealthy food habits could impact your overall health and sexual life. A study[7] concluded, that atherosclerosis could also lead to erectile dysfunction in men.
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Makes You Overweight & Destroys Your Sex Life
Being overweight can hurt your sex life in several ways. It can lead to low self-esteem and body image issues, which can impact your sexual confidence and performance.
Being overweight can also cause physical problems such as erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, and trouble getting pleasure, per the study[8].
If you are overweight and struggling with your sexual life, there are several things you can do to improve the situation.
You can start by working on your self-esteem and body image issues by changing your lifestyle and eating habits.
You can also talk to your doctor about your physical problems and plan the right course of action.
If you are struggling with your sexual life, remember that you are not alone and help is available.
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Diet And Hormones
Hormones are directly influenced[9] by your diet. The foods you eat contain nutrients that promote or inhibit hormone production.
For example, a diet high in sugar can cause an increase in the stress hormone cortisol.
On the other hand, a diet rich in healthy fats and protein can help to balance hormones and reduce inflammation.
So, if you want to maintain a healthy hormone balance, eating a nutritious diet with a variety of whole foods is essential.
You should also avoid processed foods, which can disrupt hormone levels and lead to health problems.
Tips To Improve Your Sex Life
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Consuming Right Nutrients
To have a healthy sexual life, it is important to have the right nutrients in your diet.
Omega-3 fatty acids are important[10] for sexual health because they help to keep the lining of the arteries healthy.
This is important because the arteries need to be able to carry blood to the genitals for sexual arousal.
Vitamins E and C are important for sexual health because they help to protect the cells from damage and balance the semen parameters, as per the study[11].
Selenium is important for sexual health because it helps[12] produce enzymes necessary for sexual function.
Zinc is important[1] for sexual health because it helps to produce testosterone, which is necessary for sexual desire.
Ensure you get enough of these nutrients to maintain a healthy sexual life. One way to ensure you get enough of these nutrients is to take a daily multivitamin.
You can also get these nutrients from food sources, such as seafood, nuts, and seeds.
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The Link Between Diet and Sexual Life
The link between diet and sexual life is not fully understood, but a few possible explanations exist.
For example, certain nutrients may be necessary for optimal sexual function. Additionally, unhealthy diets may lead to chronic diseases that could interfere[13] with sexual function.
If you are interested in improving your sexual life, you may want to consider changing your diet.
Eating a healthy diet rich in nutrients may help improve your sexual function.
Additionally, avoiding unhealthy foods may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases that can interfere with sexual function.
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Foods That Boost Your Libido
It’s well-known that certain foods can positively affect your libido. People have been using food for centuries to increase their sexual desire and performance.
Some of the most common libido-boosting foods include[14] oysters, bananas, avocados, dark chocolate, and chili peppers.
If you’re looking to boost your libido, you may want to try incorporating some of these foods into your diet.
Of course, many other factors can affect your libidos, such as stress, sleep, and overall health.
But eating these libido-boosting foods may give you the extra boost you need to enjoy healthy and active sex life.
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Making some simple changes to your diet
While many things contribute to a healthy sexual life, diet is often overlooked. But the truth is, what you eat can have a big impact on your sexual health.
You can improve your sexual function and overall health by making simple diet changes.
Consider the following points:
- Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help improve sexual function.
- Foods that are high[15] in antioxidants, such as blueberries and dark chocolate, can also help improve sexual function.
- Getting enough zinc in your diet is important for healthy sexual function[1]. Good sources of zinc include oysters, nuts, and seeds.
- Avoiding processed foods, sugary foods, and unhealthy fats can also help improve sexual function.
- Drinking plenty of water is important for overall health and can also help improve sexual function.
- You can also keep your distance from one of the worst snacks to eat.
Final Remark
In conclusion, your diet can have a significant impact on your sex life. unhealthy foods can lead to erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and reduced sexual pleasure.
On the other hand, eating healthy foods can improve your sexual performance and make sex more enjoyable.
To make sure your diet isn’t affecting your sex life, be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
References/Sources
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
- A S Prasad, C S Mantzoros, F W Beck, et al. Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults Nutrition. 1996 May;12(5):344-8. doi: 10.1016/s0899-9007(96)80058-x. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8875519/
- Tzu-Yu Hu, Yi Chun Chen, Pei Lin, et al. Testosterone-Associated Dietary Pattern Predicts Low Testosterone Levels and Hypogonadism Nutrients. 2018 Nov; 10(11): 1786.Published online 2018 Nov 16. doi: 10.3390/nu10111786
- Leonard H. Epstein, Rocco A. Paluch, Meghan D. Beecher, et al. Increasing Healthy Eating vs. Reducing High Energy-dense Foods to Treat Pediatric Obesity Obesity (Silver Spring). 2008 Feb; 16(2): 318–326.doi: 10.1038/oby.2007.61
- J Khoo, C Piantadosi, S Worthley, et al. Effects of a low-energy diet on sexual function and lower urinary tract symptoms in obese men Int J Obes (Lond). 2010 Sep;34(9):1396-403. doi: 10.1038/ijo.2010.76. Epub 2010 Apr 20. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20404829/
- Tierney K. Lorenz Interactions between inflammation and female sexual desire and arousal function Curr Sex Health Rep. 2019 Dec; 11(4): 287–299.Published online 2019 Oct 28. doi: 10.1007/s11930-019-00218-7
- Roma Pahwa; Ishwarlal Jialal. Atherosclerosis Last Update: June 19, 2022. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507799/
- Akira Tsujimura, Ippei Hiramatsu, Yusuke Aoki, et al. Atherosclerosis is associated with erectile function and lower urinary tract symptoms, especially nocturia, in middle-aged men Prostate Int. 2017 Jun; 5(2): 65–69.Published online 2017 Feb 13. doi: 10.1016/j.prnil.2017.01.006
- Ki Hak Moon, So Young Park, and Yong Woon Kim Obesity and Erectile Dysfunction: From Bench to Clinical Implication World J Mens Health. 2019 May; 37(2): 138–147.Published online 2018 Jul 25. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.180026
- V Marks How our food affects our hormones Clin Biochem. 1985 Jun;18(3):149-53. doi: 10.1016/s0009-9120(85)80099-0. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3888442/
- James J. DiNicolantonio and James H. O’Keefe The Benefits of Omega-3 Fats for Stabilizing and Remodeling Atherosclerosis Mo Med. 2020 Jan-Feb; 117(1): 65–69.
- Sedigheh Ahmadi, Reihane Bashiri, Akram Ghadiri-Anari, et al. Antioxidant supplements and semen parameters: An evidence based review Int J Reprod Biomed. 2016 Dec; 14(12): 729–736.
- Lucia A. Seale, Ashley N. Ogawa-Wong, and Marla J. Berry SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN SELENIUM METABOLISM AND SELENOPROTEINS Free Radic Biol Med. 2018 Nov 1; 127: 198–205.Published online 2018 Mar 21. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2018.03.036
- Justin La, Natalie H Roberts, Faysal A Yafi Diet and Men’s Sexual Health Sex Med Rev. 2018 Jan;6(1):54-68. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Aug 1. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28778698/
- Sabna Kotta, Shahid H. Ansari, and Javed Ali Exploring scientifically proven herbal aphrodisiacs Pharmacogn Rev. 2013 Jan-Jun; 7(13): 1–10.doi: 10.4103/0973-7847.112832
- Barış Saylam and Selahittin Çayan Do antioxidants improve serum sex hormones and total motile sperm count in idiopathic infertile men? Turk J Urol. 2020 Nov; 46(6): 442–448.Published online 2020 Aug 20. doi: 10.5152/tud.2020.20296
- About the Author
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Otella has an experience of around eight years of writing about health and nutrition-related topics. She is a full-time mother and a housewife, and the time she has left after doing her mother and household duties is spent writing for Working for Health as a full-time writer. Her life goal is to raise both her boys into a gentleman, and at the same time, she wants to educate people on how to keep themselves fit by tweaking their daily diet.