Embed from Getty Images
—
You and your partner deserve to have a great, toe-curling, mind-blowing sexual relationship. Everyone wants this for their relationship, but unfortunately, not everyone gets to enjoy it.
There are a number of reasons why some couples struggle with the vibrancy of their sex life.
Your lifestyle decisions, whether you realize this or not, just might be a culprit. They can affect your sex drive positively as well as negatively. From your eating habits to sleep and work habits, every little and seemingly insignificant aspect of your life has a role to play in your sexual performance.
If you’ve been experiencing a slight lull or major breakdown in your sex life as a ‘Man’ maybe it’s time for a lifestyle revamp. These lifestyle tweaks just might do the trick.
1 – Cigarettes Are Just Bad For The Action
It is well known that smoking can severely affect your health, and ultimately death, but little is known about the damage it does to your sex life. Nicotine as well as other components of a cigarette have a negative effect on blood flow and hence on arousal. Studies show that are about twice as likely to develop erectile problems than men who don’t smoke.
In the words of Dr. Harry Fisch MD, a board certified urologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and one of America’s leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of Men’s health and sexuality and fertility problems:
“Smoking makes it harder to get and maintain an erection because it releases adrenaline and other stimulating compounds that clamp down on the flow of blood to the penis. Less blood means weaker erections and erections more likely to fail. In studies of erectile dysfunction, smoking consistently ranks as one of the biggest modifiable risk factors.”
If you quit smoking, circulation will improve and you can expect a rise in libido, enabling you to have great sex again without feeling like passing out or struggling to get it up.
2 -Cut Back on the Alcohol
This year the government introduced new alcohol guidelines. This means that men now have the same alcohol guideline as women. Before you wail in outcry, you may be thankful in the long run—as excessive alcohol doesn’t just affect your general health, it also affects your sexual health.
Persistent drinking of alcohol can reduce sexual response in both men and women. Alcohol is a suppressant, decreasing the body’s sensitivity. Erections are slower to rise and quicker to fall; orgasms are also delayed. Research shows that years of alcohol can lead to long-term impotence.
It’s not about totally abstaining, many people will find that difficult, so at least be moderate in the use of alcohol. Next time you go out with the boys for Happy Hour, skip that third drink if you’re hoping to get lucky later that night.
3 – A Lack Of Exercise
Maintaining a good cardiovascular system through regular exercise is vital for physical health. Working out can sometimes be boring when you do it alone. But it can be quite beneficial to work out with your spouse or partner. This way, you can both have fun, while staying healthy, and lets face it, have a more enduring sex life.
A lack of exercise will decrease the energy levels of your body, lowering your libido. The benefits of consistent exercise, on the other hand, are numerous. It promotes a faster erection with pleasure lasting longer.
You Are Getting Too Little Sleep
Maybe you get only fa ew hours of sleep because you stay up late at night, or suffer from insomnia. Either way, a lack of sleep can affect your sex life.
Sleep is vital for the body’s system to recuperate from stress and other conditions. Without sleep, the body will become weak, your energy will go down and your sex life will slowly die. You need to grab at least eight to 10 hours of shut-eye a day.
There are a number of methods such as avoiding caffeine and creating a relaxing environment, among others, which have proven to help you get a better sleep.
You Are Not Eating Healthy
Accrdoing to Corey B. Schuler, functional medicine nutritionist at the Metabolic Treatment Center, “Consumption of any food in excess leads to weight gain, which is the number-one sex drive killer for any man.”
Did you know that food has the ability to reduce testosterone, diminish sex drive, reduce sensitivity, and alter sperm production?
There are certain foods known to improve the quality of sex. Such foods are known as aphrodisiacs. They include shellfish, bananas, watermelon, celery, wine and chocolate. Eating them excessively may not be wise, but garnishing your meals with these foods may go a long way.
You Are Stressed
When it comes to sex, stress makes your sex life suffer; strangely the stress can be tackled with by having great sex. Touché!
Stress can be self-induced or brought about by your surroundings, affecting both yours and your partner’s level of satisfaction. It also ages the whole body system, making it work inefficiently. Stress affects your sex life more than you know. When you lack the strength to even get involved in sexual activity, you are avoiding a very great cure for stress.
Leave all of your work in the office and your worries outside the bedroom door. If having your Smartphone and laptop will create a busy environment then turn them off and put them off and away.
Don’t work in bed, if you can help it, dedicate your bed to companionship, talk, and pleasure and it will turn into a haven.
These tips are not only for people who are struggling with their sex life. Couples with a great sex life already can benefit from these tips too.
With a few lifestyle tweaks, you can enjoy new sparks in the bedroom.
◊♦◊
Photo: GettyImages
The post 5 Ways Your Lifestyle Might Be Affecting Your Sex Drive appeared first on The Good Men Project.