Sexual health is an integral part of health, well-being and quality of life as a whole. To preserve an active and satisfying sex life, here are some little tips.
1. Eat healthy
Sexuality is a reflection of one’s general state of health. To have an active sex life, take care of your nutrition. Healthy food nourishes your body and allows it to be at its best in many situations, including sex. Plus, a healthy nutrition (low in sodium and bad fats, for example) will help you fight certain illnesses like arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, which can be associated with erectile dysfunction, affecting one out of every two men after 40 years old.
2. Avoid smoking
Smoking reduces your vitality, including on a sexual level. Plus, tobacco leads to a phenomenon causing blood vessels to constrict everywhere in the body, including in the genitals. In men, this reduction in the blood flow can lead to difficulty in having or maintaining an erection. In women, this phenomenon also occurs in the genitals, which leads to a variety of problems, including a lubrication reduction.
3. Maintain a healthy weight
Overweight or obese people are at a greater risk of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes, medical conditions that may be detrimental to a good sexual health. Maintaining a healthy weight contributes to prevent diseases associated with erectile dysfunction and other sexual problems. Plus, feeling good in your own body can help you fully enjoy your own sexuality.
4. Limit your alcohol consumption
It would be easy to think that alcohol consumption facilitates sexual encounters, but the truth of the matter is quite different. Research has revealed that consuming large quantities of alcohol can have a negative impact on men and women’s sexual capacities. It can, for example, reduce a man’s capacity to have and maintain an erection. High doses of alcohol can also reduce a woman’s capacity to become sexually aroused and have an orgasm.
5. Communicate with your partner
To enjoy a healthy sexuality, it is important to feel comfortable. Choose the proper place, talk to your partner about his or her tastes and preferences in love, as well as yours. In all cases, you should feel free to try new things and you should feel respected. Don’t do something just to please your partner if it makes you feel uncomfortable.
6. Protect yourself
If you are not ready to deal with a potential unplanned pregnancy, make sure to use a contraceptive of your choice. Put safety first. Using a condom offers double protection: it reduces both the risks of pregnancy and contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI). Having a blood test done is also a good way for you and your partner to avoid the risks of suffering from an STI.
