By Drs. Brian and Anna Maria Clement
Lifelong sexual vitality is something everyone wants, but it’s not a sure thing for many people as they age. Desire can decline given many different factors, including diet and environment and there can be physical impediments, as well.
But my wife, Anna Maria, and I have devised several ways to help people enjoy maximum health – and great sex lives indefinitely. The two go hand in hand. For this blog, we figured that we would want to highlight a few of the top questions we receive and our answers, to cover a lot of ground quickly. We hope you find this information both interesting and inspirational.
1. Why is sex healthy?
Anna Maria: Sex is healthy for a number of reasons. We have seen first-hand at Hippocrates Health Institute that people in committed relationships who maintain sexual intimacy have three times the chance of achieving their health recovery goals.
Brian: The physical benefits of sex include higher levels of hormonal activity, allowing the body to grow healthier and stronger. The hormonal symphony that arises from the sexual act, particularly in a committed relationship, instills an unsurpassed vitality. As you and an intimate partner age together, the continued biochemical exchange of sexual union will fortify your health and extend your life.
2. How does your diet affect your sex life?
Anna Maria: There has always been a close relationship between food and sex. A poor diet, consumption of highly processed foods and lack of exercise can lead to sexual problems. Unfortunately, many young couples experience fertility issues and many young men experience impotence. In addition to one’s diet, chemicals and radioactivity in our environment can also negatively affect one’s sexual ability.
3. What are some nourishing aphrodisiac foods?
Brian: Shiitake mushrooms, black raspberries, dill, figs and plums are among the foods that contain key nutrients that promote sexual vitality.
4. So these recipes can help spur your sex life. What are some libido killers that we should avoid?
Anna Maria: The Top 10 libido killers are stress, depression, poor body image, excessive alcohol, medication effects, oral contraceptives, medical conditions, childbirth and mothering, bedroom boredom and a toxic diet. Any of these can contribute to a poor libido, so it’s important to determine which of these is playing a role in your bedroom. Or perhaps a combination of factors are affecting you.
5. What are some sexual incompatibility warning signs? How do you screen for sexual incompatibility early in a relationship?
Anna Maria: Some warning signs of sexual incompatibility include a marriage that has become sexless — one or both of you are rarely in the mood for sex, one of you is sexually dysfunctional or one of you has sexual compulsions that cannot be controlled.
Brian: Early in the relationship, the couple should look for mutual disinterest or lopsided libidos. If the couple isn’t interested in having sex or one of you is emotionally withdrawn, this should be a warning sign to seek professional sex therapy.
6. What is the biggest factor for decreased libido as we age and how can it be prevented?
Anna Maria: One of the biggest factors of decreased libidos is stress. If you are thinking of unpaid bills, deadlines or other worries, you can’t enjoy sex. While sex is a stress-reliever, you must first be able to summon the desire to perform. Pelvic floor exercises are a great way to help a man regain full and normal erectile function.
7. What are the best nutrients/supplements for maximizing sexual vitality?
Anna Maria: Some of the best nutrients for maximizing sexual vitality are natural aphrodisiacs like nutmeg, clove, apricots, zucchini, tomato seeds, lettuce and lentil sprouts. If you consume these nutrients before being sexually intimate, you will most likely experience greater arousal.
8. Why is it more socially acceptable for a woman to try and change a man’s behavior than vice versa?
Anna Maria: It’s more socially acceptable for a woman to try and change a man’s behavior, because societal norms have positioned the woman as the caretaker, the nurturer and to always have her spouse’s best interests mind. The idea that a man needs to be changed also comes from general upbringing differences between a man and a woman. It’s more socially acceptable for a young man to act promiscuously and be praised for his encounters, whereas a young woman is looked down upon if she has many sexual partners. The idea that when a man settles down, he needs to be tamed or changed stems from this fact. Women want the security and assurance that their man is fully committed to them and ready to fit into their lifestyle.
10. What do you wish was common knowledge about sex?
Anna Maria: I want people to know that sex is a natural experience that is essential to health. Sexual activity reduces depression, anxiety, anger and stress. It’s a positive part of life that can benefit you both emotionally and physically.
11. Describe a sexually active mind. How can you keep your mind sexually active?
Anna Maria: Your imagination and dreams can keep your mind active, no matter your age. A sexually active mind experiences sexual arousal and even orgasms during sleep. Both men and women can use sexual imagery to benefit their mind, body and soul. Beyond “wet dreams” during the night, people can become physically aroused by a sexual fantasy at any time of the day. By using the powerful placebo effect, people can use visualization and guided imagery to bring about cellular and chemical changes in the body. Over time, everyone can train their mind to do this and it’s a great way to promote one’s sexual well-being.
12. Can you tell us about the brain’s love chemical and how to train it?
Brian: The hormone oxytocin allows us to bond with other people and fall in love. We release large amounts of this hormone when we have an orgasm; mothers release it when breastfeeding and some women are given a small amount of it to promote contractions during childbirth. Ways to train and release the chemical on a regular basis, include: making love, receiving massages and participating in mind/body exercises likes yoga.
Thanks for reading! The questions and answers that we list here just skim the surface of the sexual vitality topic. You can find more information and many interesting anecdotes in our new book, 7 Keys To Lifelong Sexual Vitality: The Hippocrates Institute Guide to Sex, Health and Happiness, available on Amazon.com or at your local bookstore. For more information on our health institute, go to: https://www.hippocrateshealthinstitute.com/.
