The Mediterranean diet can benefit your sex life in addition to your health
The Mediterranean diet offers a long list of health benefits and it turns out it can benefit you in the bedroom too.
The much-touted Mediterranean diet is defined by its lack of processed foods in favor of fresh vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats like olive oil, while emphasizing the consumption of lean proteins like fish and chicken.
The Mediterranean diet, which was named the best overall diet for six consecutive years by US News and World Report — emphasizes the importance of sourcing quality and filling your plate with whole foods and nutrient-dense grains.
It’s previously been shown to improve physical and mental health, and now a sex therapist and registered dietitian says the diet can improve your sex life, too.
Dr. Janis Roszler said Business Insider that lifestyle choice could be the best dietary option to improve sexual health problems.
“To have a healthy erection, you need good blood flow and good nerve conduction,” he explained.
High cholesterol can cause a “buildup of fat in the blood vessels that could slow blood flow,” and the Mediterranean diet is a great way to lower cholesterol.
The diet aims to reduce the consumption of foods rich in cholesterol such as red meat, processed meats, dairy products, fried foods and saturated fats.
TO study 2020 found that following this diet was associated with a lower risk of erectile dysfunction, “suggesting that a healthy dietary pattern may play a role in maintaining erectile health.”
The diet involves eating plant-based foods, grains and lean poultry along with healthy doses of extra virgin olive oil, which are anti-inflammatory foods, and reducing inflammation “means that the blood vessels are healthier, the body functions more effective”. , that everything works better,” said Roszler.
Anti-inflammatory diets could potentially improve a woman’s sexual arousal and desire, study says preliminary study made in 2019.
The Med Diet also promotes moderate consumption of red wine with meals, reducing excessive alcohol intake that can “slow down everything in your system.”
Roszler also highlighted the importance of a Mediterranean lifestyle along with diet.
A Harvard study found that living a Mediterranean lifestyle can decrease the odds of premature death by 29%. In addition to “good food,” the study suggests that you can live longer if you have “good friends” and get enough rest.
Roszler explained that lack of sleep and stress are “real libido killers.”
“To really connect with someone and enjoy the sexual experience, you have to be present,” she said, adding that the Mediterranean lifestyle prioritizes social life, rest and physical movement, which can increase sexual desire.
Meanwhile, a recent study has found that the Mediterranean diet may help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder through gut microbiome.
Other recent studies have found that those who follow the diet can reduce their chances of premature death by 29%, while women alone have shown a nearly 25% lower chance of heart disease and premature death.
