Luckily, there are plenty of natural methods that can help. In this blog post, we'll discuss some of the best tips for boosting libido and increasing sexual wellness for men. We'll also take a look at our brand-new libido-boosting gummies!
How the Pandemic Negatively Affected Libido
We have all had to adapt to a new way of living since the COVID-19 outbreak, but one of the most unknown after-effects of the pandemic is how it has impacted our sex lives, especially due to social distancing, periods of isolation or lockdowns, and the symptoms that come with long-COVID such as fatigue [i].
This is really important especially as studies suggest that sexual activity "has a positive impact on the immune response, psychological health, cognitive function and could mitigate psychosocial stressors" [i].
Another study suggests that the pandemic has caused increased rates of sexual dysfunction, and many people cited that a lack of sexual desire could stem from the fear of COVID-19 transmission [ii].
One of the major areas of concern relates to the link between COVID-19 and the rates of erectile dysfunction, with some reports suggesting men are six times more likely to develop issues after contracting COVID-19 in the short and long-term [v].
It is also reported that stress levels have reached a two-year high and in one of our other blog posts exploring the effects stress has on your body, we touched upon how this could potentially cause havoc with your libido. Stress can activate our body's fight or flight system which prepares the body for danger, and in doing so it can cause a person's sex drive to take less of a priority [iii].
Stress can also trigger the release of cortisol and epinephrine in the body which could result in a decreased sex drive [iv].
Ways to Naturally Improve Sexual Health
The pandemic and a variety of other factors have caused an increase in issues surrounding sexual health, but what can we do to change this and support healthier sexual wellness?
Well, reducing your stress levels is a fantastic way to start in bettering your sexual health given the negative consequences it can have. If you would like to read more about the ways to tackle stress then read more on our blog post here.
There is also a lot you can do in terms of incorporating natural ingredients into your diet to make a positive change.
The National Institutes of Health document how testosterone can regulate sex drive, body mass, fat distribution and help with red blood cell and sperm production [vi]. Testosterone is an important factor in male libido and some studies suggest that vitamin D could help by increasing this hormone [vii], and reducing rates of erectile dysfunction [viii].
With the rise in fatigue-related cases as a result of long-COVID symptoms (which could also negatively affect sexual activity), vitamin B12 could be of use due to how this ingredient has been linked to a reduction in fatigue and tiredness [xii] [xiii].
Clinical trials have also suggested that the supplementation of beetroot can aid this issue as well as improve blood circulation, increasing stamina and endurance [ix]. This powerful ingredient can improve aerobic and anaerobic performance too [x] [xi].
Keeping on the topic of reducing fatigue, it's also worth noting that a study from 2010 showed that vitamin C can play a role in reducing signs of tiredness too [xvi].
Another potential issue facing our sexual wellness revolves around how increased levels of serotonin can result in erectile disfunction (with this also having alternate negative effects on women). There are studies that have looked into how the natural ingredient 5-HTP can plan a role in acting as a precursor to serotonin and combat these potential negative ramifications [xiv] [xv].
If you would like to learn more about the additional benefits 5-HTP offers, such as being a powerful sleep saving aid, then you can read our in-depth blog post here.
Two more ingredients that could positively impact sexual health are zinc and iron, especially given that iron can aid blood flow [xvii], and zinc being linked to the maintenance of positive testosterone levels [xviii].
How to Add These to Your Diet
You can incorporate all of the above ingredients into your diet through our new His Sexual Health Stack, which combines seven scientifically-backed ingredients into one delicious gummy nutrient.
His Sexual Health Stack has been meticulously formulated, using a natural blend of scientifically backed nutrients to help improve testosterone levels and boost natural libido.
Packed with extraordinary nourishments and health benefits, ’His Sexual Health Stack’ includes a layer of power-packed beetroot and a double-layer of vegan vitamin D3, to help support your overall sexual wellness.
We have also published a blog focusing on sexual wellness for women and more information about our new Her Sexual Wellness Stack. You can read more about this on the link here.
Want to read another blog on a different topic? Click the link here.
Want to Learn More?
If you would like to read more of the studies, claims and references cited in this article then please visit the links below:
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7643626/
[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8794736/
[iii] https://www.verywellmind.com/how-stress-can-lead-to-low-libido-3145029
[iv] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3564490/pdf/nihms438698.pdf
[v] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/covid-19-may-impair-mens-sexual-performance
[vi] https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/understanding-how-testosterone-affects-men#:~:text=Testosterone%20is%20a%20sex%20hormone,estradiol%2C%20a%20form%20of%20estrogen.
[vii] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154195/#:~:text=By%20contrast%2C%20there%20was%20no%20significant%20change%20in,controlled%20trials%20are%20warranted%20to%20confirm%20this%20hypothesis.
[viii] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1698031X20300315?via%3Dihub
[ix] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5295087/
[x https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/7/439
[xi] https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12970-020-00388-z
[xii] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1756
[xiii] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1223
[xiv] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9296-sexual-problems-and-depression-#:~:text=Increased%20serotonin%20can%20help%20improve,woman%20from%20having%20an%20orgasm.
[xv] https://europepmc.org/article/med/9727088
[xvi] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1815
[xvii] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1215
[xviii] https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/1819
