I’ve read somewhere that people with no clear career goals become yoga or Pilates instructors. Not only is that not fair to all those devoted yogis who teach inspirational classes, but it’s also not fair to us teaching yoga part-time while holding a 9-5 desk job.Come to think of it, maybe they just don’t understand the power of having rock-hard abs and a tight tush that turns heads on the street even when dressed in baggy sweatpants and a wrinkled t-shirt. But I do, and so do you. If you’re looking for a step-by-step yoga dating manual, you’ve come to the right place.Today, I’d like to discuss my top 3 ways to use the fact that your body is out of this world thanks to...
I think it’s safe to say that for the vast majority of adults, having a healthy libido is vital to a happy life.
How about for those not in an active sexual relationship, you may ask? A robust libido is not just great for sex; it plays an important role in our mental health, fuels creativity and passion, and can make us feel younger and more alive, even in our later years.
There are a number of lifestyle factors that affect the libido, and many of the choices you make on a daily basis can either stoke the fire or douse the flames.
Diet
What we eat plays a huge roll in our lust for life (and for each other)!
Eating clean
Cutting out refined sugars and processed foods, loading up on veggies and whole foods, sourcing quality protein sources, and choosing heart-healthy fats – will benefit your health, mood and sex drive in innumerable ways. Even when, how much, and how often we eat can affect our libido.
Clean eating = improved cardiovascular health = better blood flow to the various parts of our bodies involved in sexual arousal. Enough said.
There are also a number of foods that affect the balance of sex hormones in men and women, directly impact our energy levels, and that therefore play an important part in healthy sexual energy and performance:
Stoke the Fire:
Good-quality grass-fed beef in moderation;
Wild salmon & tuna
Oysters
Nuts and seeds, especially walnuts, pumpkin & chia seeds
Watermelon
Organic apples
Garlic
Avocados
Warming spices like ginger, chili peppers
Oats
Dark chocolate
Douse the Flames:
Sugar & refined carbohydrates
Heavily processed foods
Diet Sodas
Bottled water
Soy products
Licorice
Mint
Flaxseeds
Certain medications, particularly anti-depressants & birth control
Exercise & Body Weight
Getting regular exercise will help boost your libido in a number of ways.
For starters, exercise improves our overall heart and cardiovascular health, which is directly linked to improved stamina and blood flow for bedroom activities. Along with a clean and healthy diet, it can also help to reduce excess body fat, which physically frees us up to enjoy other physical activities with more ease. And because excess fat disrupts the healthy balance of hormones, including those involved in sexual health, anything that maintains a healthy body weight will go a long way towards helping you maintain a healthy libido.
But there’s also the positive benefits of exercise on our mood and our overall self-confidence, both of which can significantly impact our sexual desire. It also improves our mental health, making us feel happier and more confident both in and outside the bedroom.
Douse the Flames
A sedentary lifestyle
Stoke the Fire
Frequent physical activity
Bonus Fire-Starter
Try exercising with your partner!
Sleep & Stress
Reducing stress and getting a good night’s sleep is not just important for our mental and physical health – turns out it may also weight heavily on our ability to feel sexual desire, particularly for women.
According to author and Psychology Professor Laurie Mintz, a lack of sleep coupled with increased stress has the effect of decreasing testosterone, a hormone which plays a major role in the libido of both men and women. Since men have naturally higher levels of the hormone, women will feel the effects of the decrease more than their male counterparts.
Douse the Flames: poor sleep habits
Stoke the Fire: regular, good quality sleep
Smoking
We all know by now that smoking negatively impacts cardiovascular health, which in turn wreak havoc with our blood flow and sexual stamina.
But nicotine also messes with hormonal balance and can decrease levels of testosterone in the body. Lower levels of testosterone = lower levels of sexual desire in both men and women.
For men, smoking cigarettes is a double whammy – decreased sexual desire and an increased risk of impotence.
Douse the Flames
Smoking cigarettes / Tobacco use
Alcohol
While a small quantity of alcohol can help us in the bedroom – by lowering our inhibitions and making us feel more relaxed and in the moment – in larger amounts it does the exact opposite.
When we drink too much, really anything more than one or two servings, alcohol can cause poor erectile functioning, and also dehydrates a woman’s vagina, making sex uncomfortable or even painful. Being drunk also prevents us from really understanding or responding to our partner’s sexual & emotional signals.
Stoke the Fire
A glass of red wine
Douse the Flames
Two or more servings of alcohol, especially beer.
Herbs & Supplements
Sometimes, life factors outside of our immediate control can dampen our ability to feel aroused, and suppress our libido.
Menopause (and Manopause!), hormonal imbalances, and chronic illness can all wreak havoc with our libido, leaving us feeling less than lusty and passionate.
There are a number of safe, natural options for herbs and supplements that help to balance hormones, improve circulation to the sexual organs, and increase libido and sexual desire. Some that might be worth investigating if your libido needs a little outside help include:
Stoke the Fire:
Ashwagandha (men and women)
Shatavari (women)
Horny Goat Weed (men)
Maca (men & women)
Red Clover (women)
Iron (for women low in this important micronutrient)
Tribulus terrestris or puncture vine (women)
L-arginine (men and women)
Damiana (men and women)
Media
Spending too much time on social media, and watching too much television can have an injurious effect on our sexual energy and our relationships.
Aside from the time wasted on either as a form of passive entertainment, which could be put to better use exercising or connecting with your partner, media also has a profound influence on the ways in which we view sexuality, our bodies, and our partners.
If the quality of your sources is poor, or even outright damaging (such as porn, stereotypical sitcoms, judgemental talk shows etc.), you may want to rethink your entertainment choices.
Stoke the Fire
Unplug and spend more time with yourself and your partner
Douse the Flames
Poor quality media sources such as porn, social media, television
Intimacy and Communication
Where there is fear of judgement or criticism, or when we feel closed and disconnected from ourselves, our passions and our partners, our sexual desire can shut down almost entirely. When we feel comfortable with ourselves, and with being vulnerable and open in our relationships, we naturally desire greater physical and emotional intimacy.
Intimacy is something that can be practiced and exercised, just like our muscles. Learning to accept and appreciate yourself and your partner, practising open and non-violent communication, letting go of judgement and criticism, and being vulnerable within your relationship are all ways to build intimacy, and increase your feelings of sexual desire.
There are also physical practises that help to build intimacy and increase desire, such as breathing exercises, tantra, sensual massage and eye-gazing. Even something as simple as setting the stage by lighting candles, scenting the air, or choosing a sexy soundtrack can make your libido sing.
Stoke the Fire
Set the stage; build intimacy with communication, sensual touch and vulnerability
Of all the holidays to celebrate throughout the year, Valentine’s Day is the one that can make or break a relationship. After all, even if lovers joke about the commerciality of the day, how superficial it all is, and how one day doesn’t represent love for each other, ignoring the holiday will leave the one who didn’t acknowledge it sleeping on the sofa! Unless the love interest is truly uninterested in all things Valentines, a person could end up finding themselves singing the blues if they don’t step up.But there is some truth to the complaints of superficiality:Restaurants are packed and expensive
Roses are hard to get also expensive
Even the price of a box of chocolates will suddenly skyrocket when it’s themed...
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Libido or sex drive, a person’s urge to seek sexual satisfaction, depends on various physical, mental, and environmental factors. Sex drive fluctuates due to numerous factors including disease, stress, hormonal imbalances, problems in the relationship, and many others. When your libido goes down, you can do numerous things to boost it. In fact, a multitude of libido boosters are plants, herbs, spices, and other things known for their medicinal properties. That’s why it comes as no wonder that dietary supplements for sex drive include natural components a.k.a ginseng sex drive. Speaking of these natural ingredients, Ginseng and Saffron emerged as powerful solutions for low sex drive. Is it true? Can they help? You’ll get your answers below.
Ginseng and saffron for sex drive
Although low sex drive...
If you suffer from any variation of the herpes virus, you may already know the nasty bug cannot be totally eradicated from one’s body. However, herpes is a manageable viral disease. Conventional antiviral medicines used to prevent or treat HSV-1, HSV-2, and H. zoster outbreaks may help, but it may be necessary to take these prescription drugs indefinitely when drug suppression therapy is recommended by your doctor.According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), patients using acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir antiviral medicines may experience diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, headache, visual changes, muscle/joint aches and pains, and fatigue. So, let’s review recent research about supplements and treatments used to manage herpes.
Natural Herbs and Supplements to Control Herpes
L-Lysine Supplements
According to Mayo Clinic, L-lysine amino acid supplements may prevent HSV...
Eating the right foods can enhance passion and sexual stamina for both men and women. These 15 vegetarian foods will help increase sexual stamina and keep your love life going. They are Banana, Beetroot juice, Peanut butter, Red grapes, Oatmeal, Coffee, Beans, Citrus fruits, Coffee, Brown rice, Apples, Soya bean, Maca, Dry fruits, Pumpkin, and Corn.Eating the right foods can enhance passion and increase sexual stamina for both men and women. There are many medications that can get you through a good night in the bedroom and increase your stamina in bed, but it takes the right diet to get you through the rest of your life, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
15 Veg Foods To Increase Sexual Stamina
Let’s look at popular veg foods that increase...
Poor performance in bed is not something you would wish for or want to live with. It can damage your self-esteem and could be an indication of underlying health problems. There are many ways you can boost your sexual stamina, some of which are natural, and others that include medical treatment. If you are looking to boost your sexual performance, here are some helpful suggestions that could help you get back the vitality and aggressiveness in bed.
Get a Physician to know the Underlying Problem
In many cases, sexual shortcomings are caused by health problems that can be diagnosed and treated. The first step when you notice that your sexual performance has dipped is to get a physician, which should reveal any health issues that could be...
Sexual health is important to both men and women and everyone desires a healthy sex life. Sexual health issues are personal and sensitive and many men choose not to talk about them. Men prefer to purchase over-the-counter supplements to boost sexual performance. Boner-boosting supplements enhance your sex life as well as increase your overall wellness. They improve sexual function, reduce erectile dysfunction, and increase libido.Below are the best supplements to increase your sexual performance.
1. FenugreekThe best selling men’s health supplements contain fenugreek. Fenugreek is used to increase sexual arousal and orgasm and reduce recovery time. It boosts libido, promotes muscle strength, increases sexual performance and enhances overall well-being.
2. Omega-3 fatty acidsOmega-3 fatty acids are common in persons with heart issues. Nevertheless, they can help you...
In relationships, it’s natural to want to feel needed. When someone wants to be around us, we feel a sense of importance or value. This is a great feeling, but there’s a balance between being “needing” someone and “wanting them. You are capable of doing things for yourself. You can take care of you, and do positive things to make you feel good. You don’t need another person to validate the fact that you have wonderful qualities and things that you are good at.Sure it helps to have people in your life who acknowledge your worth. Being with someone in a romantic partnership helps you to build up your confidence. Your partner finds you attractive, both physically and emotionally. You relate to them and they...
Sexually transmitted diseases or STDs come in various forms. Some STDs can be treated easily, while others that are very complicated may take more time to heal. It is very crucial to consult with a medical professional first before taking any specific remedy for an STD.STDs affect a person’s sexual organs in both genders. Typically, STDs are transferred from one person to another by a method of penetrative sexual intercourse. It comes in various types and can either cause viral or bacterial infections.
Herbal Solutions That Can Alleviate STD symptoms
STDs lead to severe itching and burning sensation in the groin for men and abnormal vaginal discharge for women. Your doctor can guide you through the appropriate remedies after an in-depth diagnosis. Generally, there is common natural...
