Have things cooled off in the bedroom lately? If so don’t simply write it off to age. And don’t rush out to fill that prescription for dangerous prescription pills just yet.
Because it turns out your dropping sex drive could have some surprising—and easily reversible—causes. Pinpoint the one that’s behind your lackluster love life and before you know it you’ll be back in the saddle again.
1. Stop eating canned foods:
Guys, the estrogen mimicking chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) could be standing between you and a good roll in the hay. Some studies link this endocrine disrupting chemical, which is found in the lining of many canned foods, to erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems in men.
In a study published in the Journal of Andrology, men with higher levels of BPA had far more trouble getting into the mood for sex then those with lower blood levels of the chemical. To make matters worse the guys also had trouble getting erections in the first place, and ejaculation problems when they did. And to no one’s surprise, the guys reported that overall they were dissatisfied with their sex lives.1
And while the men in the study were exposed to larger amounts of the chemical than the average Joe, there’s no telling what effects long-term, low dose exposure may be having on your love life.
In one study BPA was found in over 90 percent of canned foods that researchers tested.2 And research has shown that eating canned foods is one of main sources of BPA exposure.3 To reduce your own exposure kick canned foods to the curb, or look for ones clearly labeled BPA-free.
2. Give up the low fat diet:
If you’ve been sticking to a strict low-fat diet in an effort to lose a few pounds, it turns out you could have accidently lost your love life in the bargain too.
Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. But ladies keep paying attention, because your body makes this important hormone too. And in both sexes testosterone plays an important role in your romantic life.
But it turns out one of the side effects of a low-fat diet is plummeting testosterone levels, and the lackluster libido to go with it.4 In fact, your testosterone levels could drop by as much as 12 percent after eight weeks on a low-fat diet, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.5
Stop denying your body the fat it needs to function, along with the cholesterol it needs to produce testosterone, and your love life could soon come roaring back.
3. Slash chronic stress:
Chronic stress doesn’t just put you in a bad mood, it can also put a real damper on your sex life. According to researchers stress can rob you of sexual satisfaction.
One study found stress was a big mood killer. The higher volunteer’s stress levels rose the less sex they had. And when they did give it a go the results weren’t exactly what you would call bedroom bliss. The stressed out volunteers reported feeling less satisfied both with the sex and with their relationship with their partner.6
When you’re chronically stressed your cortisol levels start to climb and this can do a real number on your testosterone levels. According to experts, when cortisol levels head north testosterone levels tend to go in the opposite direction, taking your sex drive with them.7,8,9
The solution is to actively work on reducing your stress levels. Because while you can’t always remove the things that are causing you stress from your life, you can use stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing, meditation and yoga to relieve the stress they cause. And before long you’ll find yourself in the mood for love again.
4. Ditch the soda:
Do you find you’d prefer a nap to a bedroom romp these days? Or guys, do you find even when you are interested your body doesn’t seem to get the memo? Well it turns out your soda habit might be to blame.
You see, eating a diet filled with added sugars is one of the worst things you can do for your sex life. All that extra unused glucose gets stored as libido-destroying fat, which can convert some of your testosterone stores into estrogen.10
Plus insulin resistance, brought on by all that extra sugar could cause your testosterone levels to tank.11,12,13,14,15 Lack of interest in sex and erectile dysfunction may soon follow.
Drop the soda and look for other ways to slash added sugars from your diet, and before you know it you’ll find you are the king or queen of your bedroom once again.
References:
1. “Relationship Between Urine Bisphenol-A Level and Declining Male Sexual Function,” Journal of Andrology, Volume 31, Issue 5, September-October 2010, Pages 500–506
2. “Concentration of bisphenol A in highly consumed canned foods on the U.S. market,” J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Jul 13;59(13):7178-85
3. “Exposure assessment of adult intake of bisphenol A (BPA) with emphasis on canned food dietary exposures,” Environ Int. 2015 Apr;77:55-62
4. “Decrease of serum total and free testosterone during a low-fat high-fibre diet,” J Steroid Biochem. 1983 Mar;18(3):369-70
5. “Low-fat high-fiber diet decreased serum and urine androgens in men,” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 Jun;90(6):3550-9
6. “The association between daily stress and sexual activity,” J Fam Psychol. 2010 Jun;24(3):271-9
7. “Relationship between circulating cortisol and testosterone: influence of physical exercise,” J Sports Sci Med. 2005 Mar 1;4(1):76-83. eCollection 2005
8. “Relationships between testosterone, cortisol and performance in professional cyclists,”Int J Sports Med. 1996 Aug;17(6):423-8
9. “Acute suppression of circulating testosterone levels by cortisol in men,” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1983 Sep;57(3):671-3
10. “Androgens and Adipose Tissue in Males: A Complex and Reciprocal Interplay,” International Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 789653, 8 pages
11. “Abrupt decrease in serum testosterone levels after an oral glucose load in men: implications for screening for hypogonadism,” Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2013 Feb;78(2):291-6
12. “Relationship between testosterone levels, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial function in men,” Diabetes Care. 2005 Jul;28(7):1636-42
13. “Endogenous sex hormones and metabolic syndrome in aging men,” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May;90(5):2618-23
14. “Increasing insulin resistance is associated with a decrease in Leydig cell testosterone secretion in men,” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2005 May;90(5):2636-41
15. “Low testosterone levels are common and associated with insulin resistance in men with diabetes,” J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008 May;93(5):1834-40
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