Libido fluctuates over the years, as the Mayo Clinic points out. Aging is a major factor in diminishing sex drive, but a variety of physical and mental health conditions, the state of your relationship, surgical or medication side effects, drug or alcohol use and other factors can decrease the libido. In some cases, remedying low libido may require medical treatment, particularly when underlying health conditions are to blame. However, there are many ways to naturally increase libido.
Step 1
Exercise regularly, including aerobic exercise and strength training, to lose excess weight, maintain a healthy weight and enhance physique. As 4 Mens Health explains, better physical fitness leads to better sexual performance, and that in itself increases interest in sex. It also helps remedy some causes of low sex drive, including boosting energy and promoting restful sleep to combat fatigue, as well as reducing stress. The Mayo Clinic adds that better fitness improves body image and mood, both of which can naturally increase libido.
Step 2
Eat a well-balanced diet to control weight and provide your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly and stay energized. This means eating fruits and vegetables, whole grains, calcium-rich foods and lean proteins while limiting sugar, white flour, trans and saturated fats, processed foods and preservatives.
Step 3
Eat specific foods that have demonstrated the ability to naturally increase libido. AskMen.com offers the following food suggestions for this purpose: celery, oysters, bananas, avocados, nuts (and particularly almonds), strawberries, peaches, mangoes, figs, eggs, liver, garlic and dark chocolate.
Step 4
Get more sunlight. The sun's rays suppress the body's production of melatonin, a hormone that has a natural dampening effect on energy levels and sex drive, according to 4 Mens Health.
Step 5
Drink in moderation and quit smoking. Discovery Health explains that smoking constricts blood vessels, impairing blood flow, thus decreasing energy levels and libido. They also point out that alcohol is a depressant, which has negative effects on libido as well.
Step 6
Take steps to manage stress. The Mayo Clinic identifies reducing stress as a key measure of naturally enhancing sex drive. Deep breathing exercises, meditation, relaxing music, exercise, enjoyable activities, massage therapy and mental health counseling can all help you keep stress levels down.
Step 7
Evaluate where you can make improvements in the relationship with your sex partner. Typically, the stronger a relationship, the stronger the libido of the partners. Examples of major areas in which improvements can help, according to the Mayo Clinic, include striving for better communication, making more time for intimacy, seeking couples counseling and altering sexual routines.
Tips and Warnings
- If you're a healthy adult under 65, The American College of Sports Medicine recommends your fitness program include either half an hour of moderately intense aerobic exercise five days a week or 20 minutes of vigorously intense aerobic exercise three days a week. Eight to ten different strength-training exercises of eight to 12 repetitions, done twice a week, should be added to one of these aerobic regimens.
- Being overweight can drastically reduce libido. It affects self-esteem, mood and energy levels and can cause health problems that have a negative effect on sex drive. Additionally, as Discovery Health points out, excess weight reduces blood flow, including to the genitals.
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