Five ways you might be killing your sex drive

While you may be tempted to blame faltering libido on advancing age or low testosterone, have you considered that you may actually be killing your own sex drive? If your libido feels like someone threw a bucket of cold water on it, it may be due to some controllable factors. Tenaga may give you an all-natural boost in the bedroom by supporting your vitality, but you should also check out these five ways you could be hindering your libido:

1. Constantly feeling tense or anxious. Not much can kill your libido faster than stress! Use stress-busting techniques to keep worries stemming from work, home and finances under control. Deep breathing, getting enough sleep, yoga and regular exercise may all help reduce stress. You could also keep a “stress journal” to chronicle what situations cause you the most anxiety: Research has shown that simply acknowledging that you’re stressed may help calm you.
2. Use of some prescription or over-the-counter medications. Certain drugs may impede your libido, such as certain antidepressants, antihistamines and blood pressure medications. If you’ve started a new drug and you’ve noticed your libido has gone from high-charged to ho-hum, talk to your doctor.
3. Having a negative body image. This is a libido crusher. It’s difficult to have a strong desire for sex if you don’t feel sexy yourself.  Getting regular exercise will help you feel healthier and sexier from the inside-out, and simple grooming can really boost your confidence—check out our post for some great tips for feeling spiffed-up and suave.
4. Forgetting about intimacy. This one is more for your lady! It’s difficult for women to get in the mood if they feel emotionally detached from you. Make time for intimacy before sex by doing something special for her, such as enjoying a sexy, candlelight dinner together, trading massages, taking a sensuous bubble bath together, or writing her a love letter and reading it out loud.
5. Overindulging on alcohol. While you may think that a few drinks will get your engines revved, alcohol actually has a numbing effect on your sex drive. Keep in mind that you being tipsy isn’t exactly a turn-on for most women, either.

10 surprising reasons to have an active sex life; part two

I talked to you last week about why you should be concerned if your libido has gone from overdrive to stuck in neutral. Here’s another reason why you should take action and address performance issues with your doctor: resuming an active sex life may give you some rather unexpected but welcome health benefits. 

1. It reduces pain. Sex triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin and endorphins, which may help improve your pain tolerance.
2. It may improve your sense of small. Sex causes a surge of the hormone prolactin, responsible for your ability to enjoy scents, which is important because our sense of smell tends to diminish as we age.
3. You may have fewer sniffles. Having sex a few times a week has been linked with a healthier immune system.
4. You could feel happier. Studies have associated sexual activity with an improved state of mind.
5. You might lower your blood pressure. Sex is a natural stress-reliever.
6. It burns calories. One estimate is that sex burns about five calories per minute, depending on your weight.
7. It has been linked to better cardiovascular health. An active sex life may contribute to fewer heart attacks and strokes. This is because it triggers the release of DHEA, a hormone that supports healthy circulation.
8. It makes you feel better about yourself. Loving sex raises your self esteem.
9. It can strengthen your emotional connection with your partner. High levels of oxytocin, released during sex, are believed responsible for building trust and helping us to bond.
10. Men, it reduces your risk for prostate cancer. Frequent sexual activity has been linked to lower prostate cancer risk in older men.

Dr. Decker Weiss, NMD, FASA and naturopathic cardiologist, travels around the world training physicians and pharmacists on safer ways to use fewer prescriptions and provide more vitality to their patients with natural medicines. A pioneer in the application of effective natural alternatives to bypass and angioplasty, Dr. Weiss has helped over 10,000 patients with his definitive holistic approach to cardiovascular disease management. His background in preventative and integrative cardiology runs hand-in-hand with early sexual performance issues.

Ten strategies to give your sex life a lift—part two

Just like I promised last week, here are my last five strategies for living a “better sex” lifestyle. Remember, none of these will cause dramatic overnight changes, so practice, practice, practice!

• Men, add a daily supplement to your regimen. Malaysian men have used Tongkat Ali for centuries. Research indicates that a standardized form of Tongkat Ali called PhysTA supports male performance and satisfaction. It was developed by MIT in conjunction with the Malaysian government to ensure you get a standardized potency. It’s one of the first products of this type to be backed by clinical research. Available as Tenaga, it is safe to take just as you would a multi-vitamin or antioxidant.
• Dress to impress. Wearing clothes that make you feel attractive will boost your confidence.
• Get fit and maintain a healthy weight. When you’re in better shape, you feel better about yourself and your stamina increases.
• Get plenty of rest. It makes no sense to make all of these other changes if you’re just going to fall asleep when your head hits the pillow.
• Schedule cuddle time. Too little intimacy can kill your sex drive. Plan out “alone” time together that is non-sexual such as back massages or simply having a quiet talk. Build up your intimacy to build your sex drive.

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.

“Living pharmacies” are a natural source of nutrition and health

When most people hear the word “pharmacy” they don’t envision beautiful, lush gardens.

Malaysian villages are home to medicinal gardens that act as natural living pharmacies full of plants they use as a source of nutrition and health.

One of the components of these living pharmacies is the mangosteen fruit, which is valued for more than its exotic flavor, which mimics a fusion of a passion fruit and a peach. Malays believe mangosteens to contain powerful antioxidants known as xanthones, which may provide an immune boost while also standing up to bacterial and viral infections.

In the Malay world, male sexual prowess and stamina are closely related to man’s spirit.

The herb tongkat ali has traditionally been consumed by Malay men to increase overall energy, support sexual potency, boost metabolism and improve fertility. Luckily, tongkat ali is available to us 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.

Could you be experiencing male menopause?

If you thought menopause was something only women had to worry about, think again! While testosterone levels naturally decrease with aging, this dip in hormone levels may indicate an onset of “male menopause.” Male menopause, or andropause, represents a change in testosterone levels and its associated symptoms.

While menopause in women marks a complete hormone plunge and loss of fertility, male menopause tends to be much more gradual. If you’re healthy, you may still be able to produce sperm well into your seventies or even eighties, although subtle changes in testosterone levels can begin occurring in your forties or fifties.

You may experience less-intense versions of the typical symptoms of female menopause (think hot flashes, night sweats and lack of energy), but other symptoms that may indicate a decrease in testosterone include:

• Sexual problems, such as fewer erections, dip in desire or smaller testes
• Sleep disturbances
• Emotional changes, such as depression, poor concentration, nervousness or anxiety.
• Physical changes, such as decreased muscle mass and bone density, an increase in body fat, hair loss and swollen or tender breasts.

 You are more at risk to experience male menopause if you are obese or suffer from certain conditions, such as diabetes or cancer, or if your overall health is in tough shape. If you think you may be going through male menopause, talk to your doctor! Together you can discuss treatment options available to you.

Five ancient energy boosters revealed

Are you throwing back highly-caffeinated energy drinks or spending a huge portion of your paycheck on the Starbucks drive-through every morning just to get through the Monday-to-Friday work week grind? If so, you may want to consider a more natural approach to boosting your energy.

Malaysians have been practicing health and beauty traditions for centuries. These traditions are known as ramuan and are all about synergy, balance and moderation, a holistic approach for attuning the body’s energies with nature’s rhythms. Here are five natural ramuan secrets for boosting energy:

Exercise—Regular exercise may play a significant role in a number of different health aspects, such as increasing energy, decreasing fatigue and even boosting sexual desire. Malays have long practiced senaman asak badan, a traditional form of exercise that consists of a combination of body movements and breathing techniques. Many of the movements include yoga-like postures (think bending tree, tiger, snake, warrior and blowing-flute poses). Benefits of senaman asak badan include improved flexibility, agility, endurance and strength.

Detox—Part of the ramuan regimen includes herbal cleansing to help purify and rejuvenate the body, promote a youthful complexion, improve digestion and optimize liver health.

Massage—Even though it’s ultra-relaxing, massage has been known to improve energy levels as well. Malays practice a traditional form of massage known as urut melayu, a deep-tissue massage with long, kneading strokes that focuses on blood flow in the urat, or veins and arteries. This traditional massage stimulates energy points while loosening and warming up muscles. 

Herbal supplements—There are a couple great supplements that make it easy to reap the benefits of rare, potent Malaysian herbs. Tenaga may support energy, overall well-being and sexual vitality in men, and Asmara may support energy, vitality, and postpartum firming and toning as well as overall emotional well-being in women.

Foods—Greens already pack a potent punch, so how about turning it up a notch? For lunch or dinner Malays eat ulam, a fresh, leafy herbal salad that they believe to have anti-aging properties and significant antioxidant activity. If you’re feeling adventurous, try this traditional ulam recipe.

Maintain your manliness: Beware of low testosterone levels

Besides supporting muscle growth and bone development, testosterone is also responsible for maintaining the male sex organs and male characteristics, such as hair growth and deepening of the voice. It’s basically the core of what makes us “manly”. Although it’s normal for testosterone levels to begin gradually declining after we turn 40, too big of a drop may cause some problems.

Watch out for these warning signs of low testosterone levels:

• Diminished sex drive
• Feeling less optimistic than normal, irritability and other mood problems
• Fatigue and decreased energy; an overall lack of drive and initiative
• Sleep disturbances
• Difficulty reaching orgasm
• Decreased ejaculate volume
• Testicle shrinkage
• Increased body fat; particularly around the middle (spare tire) or on the chest (man boobs)
• Decreased sensation in the genitals
• Reduced muscle mass
• Erectile dysfunction

If these symptoms ring a bell, talk to your doctor! Low testosterone levels may increase your risk for some serious conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

You should also know that cancer treatments may contribute to decreased testosterone levels, so if you’re undergoing chemotherapy or radiation be sure to pay extra attention to the warning signs. The same goes for the obese: you’re also at an increased risk.

Sex offers more benefits than the obvious

We probably don’t need to spell out the reasons why getting between the sheets is an enjoyable activity. But, besides the obvious perks, sex may also offer a number of health benefits:

• Boosts immune function
•  Burns calories (about 85 for every 30 minutes)
• Enhances cardiovascular health
• Relieves stress
•  Increases self-esteem
• Naturally kills pain! This is because the “sex” hormone oxytocin causes a release of endorphins, thus decreasing pain
•  Frequent ejaculations may reduce the risk of prostate cancer
• Promotes a good night’s sleep

It doesn't hurt to give your performance a boost. The herbal supplement Tenaga may support sexual vitality as well as overall energy and well-being.

   

February 14th-21st is Sexual Awareness Week

February 14^th represents more than just flowers and chocolates this year: it also kicks off Sexual Awareness Week, a period aimed to raise awareness about sexual health. Make being proactive about your sexual health another Valentine’s Day gift to your honey this year.

It’s important for men to get screened for a few different things:

• HIV/AIDS. You can remain symptomless for years, so the only way to be 100 percent sure you aren’t infected and passing it on is to get tested.  There’s no better way to say “I love you” than to look out for your partner’s health as well as your own!
• Prostate cancer. If you’re at average risk, you should begin regular screenings around your 50^th birthday. Your doctor can help you determine if other risk factors warrant earlier screenings, such as your ethnicity or family history.
• Testicular cancer. Although not as common as prostate cancer, the American Cancer Society still urges men to get a testicular exam during their routine physical. Self-exams are a good idea as well: look for hard lumps, smooth bumps or changes in the sex or shape of the testes.

You already know a ton of reasons why you shouldn’t smoke, use drugs or binge drink, but here’s one more: it’s detrimental to your sperm quality! Men, especially those with a partner actively trying to conceive, should cut out unhealthy vices such as smoking (cigarettes as well as marijuana), heavy drinking and illegal drug use to maximize sperm effectiveness.

It’s also important to stay on top of any health problems. Sexually transmitted diseases, diabetes, mumps and testicle injuries are just a few conditions that can lead to infertility in men.

Did you know you may also naturally enhance your sexual vitality? The herbal supplement Tenaga is specifically formulated to support sexual health, vigor and hormonal balance, without side effects!