06 Aug 2023
How to increase sex drive naturally
What can cause a decrease in sex drive?
Before examining how to increase sex drive, let’s talk about some of the explanations for why it might have decreased.
It’s natural for your libido to fluctuate over time, and there are many physical and psychological factors that affect it. As such, it’s important to take some time to understand the underlying reasons behind the drop in your libido. That way, you’ll be able to judge which suggestions for how to increase sex drive might work best for you.
Some of the most common causes of a low sex drive include:
- Chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, obesity, and diabetes
- Treatments for specific medical conditions, like radiation and chemotherapy for cancer
- Some kinds of medication, including certain antidepressants, steroids, and birth control pills
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Use of certain recreational drugs
- Menopause and the accompanying changes in hormones
- Low testosterone levels in men
- Ageing
- Pregnancy and the associated hormonal fluctuations
- Sexual problems such as erectile dysfunction and vaginal dryness
- Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and stress
- Relationship problems, for example a lack of trust, poor communication, and high levels of conflict
- Insomnia and other issues related to sleep
- Not getting enough exercise, or exercising too much
You might find that your lack of libido is due to just one of these factors. Alternatively, it could be a combination of several of them. Either way, identifying the issue will make it easier to determine the most appropriate methods to deal with it. To help you out, the rest of this article focuses on how to increase sex drive naturally and effectively.
How to increase your sex drive naturally
Although generally not a harmful symptom, a lack of sex drive may negatively affect your romantic relationships or self-esteem. If having a low libido is causing you concern, the good news is that there are several steps you can take to boost it naturally. Adjustments to your diet, straightforward lifestyle changes, plus adaptogens and other herbal remedies could all make a difference.
Here are some of the most effective tips for how to increase sex drive.
How to increase sex drive through your diet
You’re almost certainly already aware that what you eat has an impact on both your physical and mental health. What's interesting is that diet can also be a factor in how to increase sex drive.
Most of us have heard about certain foods being aphrodisiacs, and probably taken these rumours with a pinch of salt. It’s true that there’s not much evidence to suggest eating one particular ingredient will raise your libido overnight. However, following a healthy diet that’s rich in fresh fruit and vegetables and other whole foods can help.
There are several reasons for this. Eating well helps to keep your heart healthy and reduces your risk of developing chronic illnesses that can lower libido. It also improves circulation and increases blood flow to the genitals, which boosts arousal and supports a healthy sex life. Conversely, research has linked poor blood circulation to erectile dysfunction.
A nutritious diet is additionally vital for staving off obesity. This is important for the question of how to increase sex drive because being overweight disrupts your hormones and increases the risk of sexual dysfunction.(1) It could also cause issues with self-esteem and body confidence, which could further decrease your libido.
Thinking specifically of how to increase male sex drive, diet can be an effective way to counter low testosterone. Foods such as cashew nuts and hemp seeds are rich in magnesium and zinc, two minerals which may boost levels of this key hormone.(2)
On the other hand, for women in menopause, low oestrogen can be a cause of low libido and sexual dysfunction. Therefore, tucking into foods rich in phytoestrogens may be an effective option for how to increase sex drive in women. Soy products, sesame seeds, and flaxseeds are all great sources.
How to increase sex drive using adaptogens
There are a plethora of herbal remedies out there purporting to work as a way to increase sex drive. While these are not all reliable, there are some which have scientific evidence to back them up.
For example, traditional medicine practitioners have used ashwagandha as an aphrodisiac for centuries. And modern research supports this belief. Science indicates that this Ayurvedic herb could work to raise levels of testosterone.(3) The same is true of cordyceps, a medicinal mushroom that helps to boost energy and improve endurance.(4) This makes them both particularly useful as a way how to increase sex drive men might like to consider.
Ashwagandha could also be beneficial in raising a low sex drive that’s caused by chronic stress and anxiety. That’s because as an adaptogen, it helps our bodies to cope with physical and mental stress more effectively. Studies show that the herb can lower cortisol levels, improve sleep quality, and reduce perceived stress.(5) When thinking about how to increase sex drive from a psychological point of view, these effects can all be advantageous.
In addition, as an option of how to increase sex drive women can try, taking ginkgo and ginseng might help. Studies suggest these may both work to boost sexual function and arousal in menopausal women.(6) Research has also found maca root to increase libido in women experiencing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.(7) However, more studies are required to confirm this.
Other aphrodisiacs with science behind them include saffron and fenugreek, which could both increase sex drive in men and women. Finally, research indicates that pistachio nuts and red ginseng could be effective at tackling erectile dysfunction.(8) To find out more about natural ways to treat erectile dysfunction, check out our article on the best herbal viagra.
