Want to get in the mood? We've got some tips to keep the fire burning and your sexual health in top form. Bring your A-game. 

By: Julie Daniluk, RHN

Sex is what movies, myths and songs are created around, yet in the real world, it seems that fewer of us are really getting it on. Ball State University’s Center in Indiana for Media Design recently released a study that showed the average person in North America is watching a TV, computer or phone screen eight and a half hours a day! Between the stress of work demands and the detached social scene, it makes sense that few of us have the energy left for “the best free entertainment of all time.” Let’s explore ways to give our bodies what they need to pump up the volume.

What’s up next? 

We may be given a pass to play by our doctor but do we really feel like getting in the game? The biggest cause for the loss of interest
is disrupted hormones.

Dr. E.O. Laumann and fellow researchers report that sexual dysfunction (disturbances in sexual desire) affects 43 per cent of women and 31 per cent of men. 

In one study, 24 per cent of women report a loss of sexual desire when using oral contraceptives. The reason could be that the pill can lower the level of testosterone in the body, causing the libido
to plummet.

Sexual arousal disorders are more common as we age and the havoc of hormones begins. Like menopause in women, andropause in men occurs when there is a marked change in a man’s production
of testosterone. These changes happen over time and gradually affect physical performance and sex drive.

Decreased blood flow to the genitals can also play a role as women age but it is important to note that Viagra and similar drugs are neither approved nor recommended for use by women. The latest research from Dr. Meredith Chivers at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., suggests women can be physically aroused without feeling any desire for sex. It would seem that the vagina and brain don’t always connect. This helps explain why the drugs work for men, but why no one has come up with one that is effective for women. The answer is not in a miracle cure as much as addressing some deep emotional and physical issues that limit being in the mood. There are important nutrients for hormone balance that are difficult to get in a standard diet. If you find yourself taxed to eat the suggested seven servings of veggies and three fruits every day, you may find supplements helpful. Remember that a healthy diet leads to a healthy sex life. Filling your plate up with fresh fruits and vegetables will satisfy both in and out of the bedroom. Now, go peel your partner a grape!