A herbal solution to flagging desire
With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's a time when we start thinking about fanning the flames of passion in the bedroom.
But some of us might have to work harder to set that spark alight. A low libido can affect men and women and there are a host of reasons why.
Here are some au naturale ways to enhance your libido.
CUT DOWN ON THE VINO
Considering it's responsible for so much canoodling, it's ironic that alcohol can also have a negative effect on your sex drive when it's not consumed in moderation. Drinking more than four glasses of alcohol a week can suppress a woman's libido.
TAKE THE TV OUT
Thinking of buying a TV for the bedroom? Think again - it could hamper your sex life.
A study by an Italian sexologist has found couples who have a TV in their bedroom have sex half as often as those who don't.
EAT HEALTHILY
Healthier bodies result in healthier sex drives. Refined, junk, sugary and processed foods negatively affect your hormones and organs and deprive your body of libido-friendly nutrients.
Some of the best foods to enhance your sex drive include chillies, avocados, dates, liquorice, mangos, Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, cardamom, chives, oats, nutmeg, pomegranates, strawberries, sauerkraut and wild salmon.
EXERCISE REGULARLY
Exercise causes the release of endorphins to the brain. The increased level of endorphins may also influence the build-up of hormones that power your libido.
Endorphins also reduce stress, which is a major sex drive inhibitor. Don't forget exercise also helps with flexibility and stamina.
FEEL SEXY
Doing something that makes you feel sexy can boost your libido. This could be as simple as wearing sexy lingerie, lighting candles or a massage with some essential oils - anything that might spark a desire to head to the bedroom.
OH, BABY
New mums, even those who've previously had a healthy sex drive, will often want to give lovemaking a miss after having a baby. Women need up to eight weeks to heal after giving birth, and then you've got the demands of looking after the little one that follow. Breast-feeding also leads to hormonal changes. Here, it's simply a matter of being patient.
HOUSEWORK
Studies show women who receive little help around the house have lower sex drives. Try asking for help around the house.
Splitting up the work will also help you have more energy later.
NATURAL AID
Although healthy eating, regular exercise and reducing your alcohol intake can all boost desire, sometimes an additional helping hand from nature might be all that's required.
Set your senses in motion, fuel your libido and turn up the heat with Me2, a new product which offers a natural way to revive a night of passion with your special someone. Me2 is made from a special blend of 100 per cent natural herbal extracts designed to support a healthy sex drive in men and women.
An important ingredient in an all-natural libido booster is Safed Musali (Asparagus adsendeans).
Renowned for its aphrodisiac ability, Safed Musali has been used for centuries in India as a treatment for boosting libido.
It's also an adaptogen, simply meaning it can help the body deal with and respond to stress more efficiently.
Safed Musali's properties are continuing to amaze researchers and scientists, and the plant has recently been listed as the sixth most important herb by India's Medicinal Plants Board, to be preserved and protected.
Me2, $69.99, can be ordered online. Visit www.justme2.com. Me2 is ISO-accredited and all ingredients have been tested to World Health Organisation standards.
Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements.
We have two packets of Me2 Lifestyle to give away. Send your name and contact details to competitions@apn.co.nz by February 7.