A study presented at the The Endocrine Society 94th Annual Meeting, found a decrease in calorie and fat consumption, and an increase in exercise, led to a nearly 50% increase in male testosterone production. Adequate testosterone levels, for both men and women, has been shown to regulate sexual desire. 1 Through my medical practice and training, I’ve come to understand that everything in health is multifactorial. To receive the greatest benefits, nutrition should be combined with exercise and mental health. None of these things can stand alone. To keep it simple, though, I recommend the Mediterranean diet and daily moderate exercise to support libido and overall health. Those who suffer from sexual dysfunction, or an especially low libido, may benefit from adding specific foods to their diet. These five foods have been shown to bolster hormonal and vascular systems associated with sexual functioning. Researchers found moderate red wine consumption was most conducive to high libido. In fact, the group who consumed one to two glasses of red wine scored higher on the sexual function index5, including arousal, orgasm, satisfaction, as well as desire and lubrication.
