SEX is a taboo topic in our country, which is the key reason why most people fail to talk about it. This in turn often causes us to sideline our sexual health and wellness. But this is not the right thing because numerous studies[1] have shown that our sex-drive is a reflection of our overall well-being due to its link with the other hormones in the body. All the hormones in our body collectively affect our mood, consciousness and mental health, which in turn can boost our sexual health. So in this topic, we will be shedding light on some simple and interesting ways to boost your sexual health and overall health.
How To Improve Sex Life
Good sex life is all you need to maintain a healthy relationship with your partner. And this might require you to make simple changes in your lifestyle and work on factors that are harming your sex life. Yes! Making these simple but effective tweaks in your life can go a long way to improve your overall sex life and lead a happy sexual life. Here are some effective tips that can help you to get started!
1. Talk/Communicate More
The first and foremost thing that forms the basis of any relationship is the verbal connection and not just physical intimacy. It is extremely important to talk to your partner about their likes, dislikes, fantasies, etc so as to know the person in a better way. This will not only help you to cater to their needs in bed but also help in building a strong relationship with your partner.
Moreover, good communication can also act as foreplay helping you to avoid feeling awkward or dealing with performance anxiety during the act. Also, complementing each other in bed can boost sex drive and improve the overall experience. Remember that communicating with your partner in bed and sharing your needs can not only make the act pleasurable for both but can also help you to maintain a healthy connection both on and off the bed.
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2. Kick Off Stress
Stress is an integral part of our life. There is no second thought about it. However, it is important to stave away stress, especially when it comes to sexual health. Research[2] suggests that stress has been found to be detrimental to sex drive and relationships. Stress directly affects our hormones and mood and takes away a person’s libido thereby affecting the quality time of the couple. It can also cause you to pick vices such as smoking or alcohol consumption which in turn adversely affects your sexual performance.
Stress causes the release of the hormone cortisol which not only affects overall health but can also lead to weight gain and increase the risk of infertility in both the partners. Body image issues can affect a relationship and in the worst case scenario can break a relationship.
So it is important to come up with simple tips and tricks to stay away from stress. This can include enjoying time with your partner by chit-chatting after coming from office or going in for a relaxing bubble bath to rejuvenate your senses. As a couple, you can spend your weekends at a yoga class, reading class or music class to help relieve stress and enjoy quality time together.
3. Eat Well
You cannot underestimate the power of a healthy, balanced diet in shaping up your sexual life. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fats can aid in boosting your sexual performance. For example, zinc which is a potent antioxidant can improve your sex drive and help you stay active in bed. Arginine, an amino acid, helps in improving the blood circulation, which is the key to boost your sex drive. Hence, it is important to ensure that your diet is loaded with all the essential nutrients which play a crucial role in keeping your sexual health to the best.
Include foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, broccoli, kidney beans, spinach and cauliflower and amino acids like arginine such as cashews, peanuts, green veggies, garlic, and chickpea. Foods that are rich in zinc include pumpkin seeds, oysters, watermelon, pumpkin seeds, etc.
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4. Stay Active
Exercise is the key to stay healthy physically, mentally and sexually. Studies[3] suggest that sexual wellness is directly related to the physical fitness of both men and women. Post a workout, with high blood circulation, it is recommended to have sex after exercise. Moreover, it also helps you to fight stress, improve your mood and boost your sex drive.
Opt for an exercise regimen for at least 5 days a week. During work hours, choose stairs over the elevator to ensure you stay active physically. You can even opt for a couple gym after your work hours so as to hit the gym together and get back home for a pleasurable experience.
5. Keep It Simple
There are times when you feel like having rough sex and times when you want to simply lie next to each other and talk. There is no hard and fast rule that you need to have sex every day for a happy sexual life. It is the quality of the night that you spend together which counts rather than the number of times you had sex in a day or a week. Although the ideal time for sex varies from individual to individual, it has been observed that 7-13 minutes of lovemaking is desirable by both men and women.
Choose for ways that are simple, as it happens to provide you with better results than complicated ones. You can make simple changes in your sexual routine such as having sex at different places in the house such as a couch or trying different types of sex such as shower sex or opting different sex position to satisfy your partner in bed and keep the zeal alive.
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6. Bask In The Sun
The amount of time you spend in the sun can affect the quality of your sex. Wondering how? Well, sunlight helps in the synthesis of Vitamin D which improves male sexual function[4]. Moreover, it also inhibits the melatonin production which has also been found to suppress sexual urges. Hence, the more time you spend under the sun and grasp the sun rays, the better is your sex drive and sexual health.
Sunlight can help in waking up your sexual desires, especially during winters. So make sure you bask in the sun and reap the benefits of Vitamin D, which is the key to keep you physically healthy.
7. Try Natural Herbs
There are numerous natural herbs that can help boost sexual activity and improve overall sexual health. Instead of opting for chemical preparations, opt for natural herbs and medicinal plants such as Ashwagandha, Maca root, and ginseng that support a healthy sex drive.
Ashwagandha improves libido in men[5]. Moreover, regular consumption of this herb is also known to improve the quality of sperm. Ginseng is also a popular herb used to boost sex drive. However, it is advised to consult a doctor or an Ayurvedic expert before taking these herbs to be on safer side.
(The article is reviewed by Dr. Lalit Kanodia, General Physician)
Recommended Reads:
Men’s Health: Specialists Who Treat Male Sexual And Reproductive Problems
Sex During Pregnancy: Safe Or Not?
References:
1. Van Lunsen RH, Laan E. Sex, hormones and the brain. Eur J Contracept Reprod Health Care. 1997 Dec;2(4):247-51. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9678081
2. Sangi-Haghpeykar H, Ambani DS, Carson SA. Stress, workload, sexual well-being and quality of life among physician residents in training. Int J Clin Pract. 2009;63(3):462-7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1922263
3. Jiannine LM. An investigation of the relationship between physical fitness,self-concept, and sexual functioning. J Educ Health Promot. 2018 May 3;7:57. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5963213/
4. Tirabassi G, Sudano M, Salvio G, et al.Vitamin D and Male Sexual Function: A Transversal and Longitudinal Study. Int J Endocrinol. 2018 Jan 8;2018:3720813. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5817208/
5. Singh N, Bhalla M, de Jager P, Gilca M. An overview on ashwagandha: a Rasayana (rejuvenator) of Ayurveda. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2011;8(5 Suppl):208-13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3252722/