Ten strategies to give your sex life a lift

Bored in the bedroom? Do you and your partner experience more excitement from watching reality TV than from enjoying each other’s company? Candlelight and romantic music are nice but did you know that your diet and lifestyle might have a more lasting impact on your love life?

Think about it. When you are in good shape, you feel better about yourself and you’ve got more stamina. It all fits together. Short-term performance solutions may sound inviting, but to put the spark back into your love life day in/day out, there are other simple strategies to consider.

Here are my first five strategies for living a “better sex” lifestyle. Get together with your partner and have fun turning these simple ideas into lifelong habits. Check back next week for “Part Two”.

• Honey, call the doctor! As soon as you notice an issue in your love life, get over any embarrassment and talk with your doctor. Low libido and/or sexual performance issues can be early warning signs of everything from cardiovascular disease and hypertension to thyroid disease or other hormonal disorders. So the first thing you must do is have a medical professional rule out an underlying health condition.
• Laugh and chill out. Mother Nature was smart. She didn’t want us having babies during stressful times. Stress lowers testosterone, an important hormone for our libido and performance. Find activities that help relieve stress on a regular basis, and stick with them.
• Kick the smoking habit. Smoking can damage the blood vessels that affect performance.
• Think ‘better sex through nutrition’. Processed foods and high fat diets have been linked to poor sexual performance and libido. So instead of a burger or pizza, choose foods that may help boost libido and arouse passion such as avocados, almonds, basil, dark chocolate and garlic. Who knew that guacamole was an aphrodisiac?
• Schedule romance before dinner. If you’re going to unzip your pants, make sure it’s for reasons of romance—and not because you’re so bloated that it’s either unbutton or risk cutting off circulation. There’s nothing like a big, heavy meal to crush your performance and desire, especially if it includes alcohol.

JJ Virgin is one of the nation’s foremost fitness and nutrition experts, an accomplished public speaker and media personality. Her 25 years in the health and fitness industry, the past 10 in holistic nutrition and functional medicine, have earned JJ recognition as the go-to weight loss expert who can unlock the door to lifelong weight management through her sensible, no-fail approach to nutrition and fitness. JJ is the author of Six Weeks to Sleeveless and Sexy published by Simon & Schuster Gallery and the co-star of the TLC reality series, Freaky Eaters.

Give your performance a boost the all-natural way

Who says you need a prescription to spice up your private life? Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) is an herb native to the Malaysian jungles used to promote overall energy and increase sexual vitality. Malaysian men have been using this natural aphrodisiac to boost their sexual desire for centuries, and its popularity is growing rapidly in the United States. This special herb helps the body maintain healthy levels of testosterone, thus increasing sexual energy and vigor while improving overall well-being.

Thankfully you don’t have to visit the Malaysian rainforests to get your hands on this natural way to address lackluster libido; it’s available in supplement form. Physta™ is a patented freeze-dried water extract form of Tongkat Ali. It was developed in collaboration with the MIT Research Center, and is the primary active ingredient in Tenaga. Having Physta™ in our formulation helps to ensure (among other things) purity and ingredient consistency.

Besides amplifying your desire in the bedroom, Physta™ may offer many other benefits as well:

• Increases energy and fights fatigue
• Helps burn fat and increases metabolism
• Increases muscle mass and  boosts athletic performance
• Lowers blood pressure and reduces other factors for heart disease

Study results support Tenaga’s effectiveness

Reduced sexual potency is a natural part of aging, and affects anywhere from 15 to 30 million men. Results of a new pilot study, conducted by Jay Udani, M.D. are further evidence that Tenaga safely delivers on its promises. Tenaga contains Physta, a patented form of Tongkat Ali.

In the 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 26 older men looking to improve their sexual performance were given either 200 mg/day of Tenaga or an identical placebo.

The men collected data on their sexual performance using a set of validated questionnaires including: Percentage of Successful Sexual Intercourse Attempts, Erection Hardness Scale, Sexual Health Inventory and Aging Male Symptom Score. Safety and tolerability were monitored by blood biochemistry and adverse event observation.

Dr. Udani says that the men who were given Tenaga reported significant improvements in  sexual performance and satisfaction across several clinically important parameters, when compared to the placebo. Tenaga was as well tolerated as the placebo. 

Dr. Udani presented his team’s findings on Tenaga during the January 2011 Scripps Natural Supplements: An Evidence-Based Update conference in San Diego. The conference is attended by physicians, naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and other healthcare professionals.

Tenaga is available online, and at GNC, Vitamin Shoppe and other independent retailers.

Biotropics Featured in Natural Products Marketplace

Biotropics' very own U.S. CEO Michael Moore was featured in the October 2010 issue of Natural Products Marketplace, in an article called "Fulfilling Consumers' Desires." The article covered the state of the natural sexual health products industry, and how these products can provide holistic support.


"It is likely not surprising the market for sexual enhancement products continues to grow. In fact, since the introduction of Viagra in the late 1990s, the issue of sexual dysfunction has started to come out of the closet and into mainstream debate," wrote Heather Granato. Moore agreed, stating in the article: "As a culture, we are more open to discussions about sexuality and enhancing sexual experiences than ever before. Surprisingly, this interest isn't just from older men or pre/post menopausal women, but cuts across all age groups, socio-economic strata and geographies."


Granato also writes that rising consumer interest "conjoins with the greater interest in natural products with fewer, if any, side effects." Author, botanical expert and "Medicine Hunter" Chris Kilham added: "The biggest thing that separates natural products from pharma products is the safety of the natural items."


Biotropics' sexual vitality products include TenagaXX for men and Asmara for women. You can purchase both products in the newly enhanced online store.

Many Women Have Low Libido, But Few Seek Help

Source: USA Today

She’s just not that into …doing it. Waning interest in sex is the most common sexual health issue among women, according to an article in USA Today over the weekend. The article cites a 2006 PRESIDE (Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems Associated with Distress and Determinants of Treatment Seeking) study, which found that low libido affects 38.7 percent of females. Yet surprisingly, few are actually reaching out to get help. While no FDA-approved medication can currently treat the condition, health experts say some promising drugs are on the horizon, and alternative therapies can prove effective. But to receive treatment, women need to be willing to take the first step and talk about it in the first place—something that the majority of them aren’t really doing. USA Today delves deeper into the issue. [Read full article]