You already know the benefits of a healthy diet: From reducing your risk of depression and cancer to boosting brain health and supporting longevity, the foods you eat can do so much more. They can even rev up your sex drive!
Yes, you read that right: According to new research from Germany and China, one particular way of eating could actually help enhance libido—especially when age-related decline is in play. Ooh, baby!
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Published in Cell Metabolism, the study explored whether a specific diet could help prevent age-related declines in male libido and fertility, since low sex drive is common in older menand can potentially lead to conditions like hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).
To test this theory, the researchers studied groups of male mice—some young, some older—and split them into two groups. The first, which we'll call group A, ate normally whenever they wanted, while the second (group B) followed a strict diet regimen.
Some mice stayed on this plan for months, starting when they were young, while others did it for just six weeks. Throughout the process, the researchers tracked how often the mice tried to mate, how healthy their sperm was, their testosterone levels and how much tryptophan and serotonin (brain chemicals) they each had in their blood and brain.
Related: How Much Sex Per Month To Have if You Want To Live Until 100
Group B's diet regimen? Intermittent fasting, which is only eating during specific hours of the day or on certain days.
After having Group B eat regularly one day and fast the next (repeating the pattern throughout the experiment), the researchers found that doing so consistently improved sexual behavior in male mice. Older mice who intermittent fasted also were also much more likely to reproduce than those who ate freely.
It's important to note that the boost wasn't in fertility or the result of better sperm or hormone levels, however: Fasting did not improve those measures and sometimes even made them worse.
Related: 'My Experience Intermittent Fasting: Here's What Happened'
Why Might Intermittent Fasting Increase Sex Drive?
As for why intermittent fasting seems to boost sex drive (at least in mice)? According to the study, intermittent fasting lowered levels of tryptophan and serotonin levels in the brain. It may seem random, but tryptophan is an amino acid that helps make serotonin—a brain chemical that can actually inhibit sexual desire.
What's more, intermittent fasting seemed to redirect tryptophan to muscles for energy during fasting, leaving less available for the brain. That led to lower serotonin levels, which essentially lifted the “brakes” on sexual behavior.
The researchers confirmed this by giving the mice 5-HTP injections, a supplement that helps the brain make more serotonin. Once the mice's serotonin levels were raised again, their sex drive began to fade.
Related: 16/8 Intermittent Fasting: How-To, Times, Risks, Benefits
This study serves as an important reminder that what and how we eat can affect not just our bariatric health, but our libido, behavior, mood and energy levels, too. It also makes a compelling case forintermittent fasting as a natural, non-drug option for boosting sex drive—especially for anyone experiencing age-related drops in sexual desire.
That said, intermittent fasting isn't for everyone. For one, despite it potentially boost libido, fasting has been shown to impact fertility and reduce testoserone in some men. Recent research has also linked it with 91% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
As with all diet plans, there are pros and cons. Always talk to your doctor before trying a new one.
Up Next:
Related: What Are the Benefits of Intermittent Fasting, Exactly, and How Long Does It Take to See Results? We Broke It Down
Sources
"Intermittent fasting boosts sexual behavior by limiting the central availability of tryptophan and serotonin." Cell Metabolism."How Intermittent Fasting Affects Women." Cleveland Clinic."Effect of Intermittent Fasting on Reproductive Hormone Levels in Females and Males: A Review of Human Trials." Nutrients. Read More Details
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