6 lifestyle factors that affect your libido

We all know that sex changes as our relationship develops. We get that glorious honeymoon phase where we cannot get enough, before things settle into our own version of normal - whatever that might be. However, when our relationship is not going to plan, it can change how attracted we feel to our partners. If you have an ongoing argument or problem, trust issues or poor communication about your sexual needs, then it is far less likely that you are going to want to leap into bed with your other half. Dealing with these underlying issues will help to improve many aspects of your relationship, including a decreased libido.

You are what you eat, and your diet can be the cause of low libido in men and women.² We all know that oysters help you come on strong, but did you know that certain foods can we reference this please minerals are lost, and these can have a huge effect on your libido. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, which is typically found in diet drinks, can affect your serotonin levels, which be responsible for low libido in women and men.³ Zinc is thought to be a natural aphrodisiac and is found in crab, lobster, red meat, certain breakfast cereals and pine nuts so these can be a natural male and female libido booster.

We all know drugs are bad kids, but do you really know all the reasons why? Cannabis can decrease testosterone levels for up to 24 hours, which will in turn, reduce the sex drive.⁴ Regular use of the drug can therefore have a long-term impact on your libido.

Whilst many might use a cheeky drink to get them in the mood, overdoing it will work against you.⁵ Alcohol is a depressant and will dampen the male and female libido, as well as affecting a man’s ability to achieve and maintain an erection. Beer is actually one of the worst culprits for this due to the way it affects the liver’s ability to get rid of excess hormones.

Time is often citied as one of our worst enemies in the bedroom. We can easily fall into the trap of prioritising things like work, children and hobbies, leaving us with little time or energy for our partners when it matters most. You can combat this by making sure that you set aside time together through date nights or setting the alarm early in the morning to make sure you both still feel wanted.