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Low Sex Drive
 As with the health of your heart, lungs and many other functions in your body, when it comes to getting jiggy with it, the name of the game is antioxidants. These free-radical fighters, which include vitamins A, C and E, help protect and promote your sexual organs by reversing a low sex drive.
“Nearly half of the selenium in a man’s body can be found in his testicles and in a portion of the seminal ducts alongside the prostate gland,” says Gittleman, who advises taking 200 micrograms a day or foraging for such selenium-rich foods as wheat germ, garlic, whole grains, Brazil nuts, sesame seeds and tuna. Vitamin E, long thought of as the “sex vitamin,” is also an antioxidant. When erect, the penis is engorged with blood that carries vital oxygen. Vitamin E protects this oxygen-rich blood from becoming filled with free radicals, in addition to helping the heart during sex. Since it is almost impossible to get enough vitamin E from food, Gittleman advises supplementing at least 400 IU each day, as well as eating such foods as wheat germ, nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil. Oysters rank right next to Marvin Gaye as one of the most overhyped aphrodisiacs known to man, but for good reason; they’re rich in zinc. “Zinc is a precursor to testosterone and is lost under stress, a deficiency that can lead to impotence as well as a reduced sperm count,” says Gittleman. “Twenty-five to 50 milligrams a day is a good amount, and it can be found in pumpkin seeds, oysters, meats and eggs.” B vitamins also influence the production of testosterone, and niacin can improve blood flow to the penis. Mood FoodJust as the best sex can occur at the unlikeliest of moments, some of the best sex enhancers are common, everyday foods. For instance, Sinatra refers to the common peanut as “dietary Viagra.” “Peanuts are rich in L-arginine, which causes vasodilatation in blood vessels, stimulating sexual performance and increased erection firmness,” he says. He recommends four to eight grams, about two cups, in the evening. South Asian folklore claims black pepper as a potent sex enhancer. “It also helps to increase the absorption of nutrients and other foods, helping to reverse low sex drive,” explains Sinatra. Long touted as an aphrodisiac and reportedly devoured by Casanova, chocolate is given on Valentine’s Day for a very good reason. “It stimulates the hormone phenylethylamine, causing your body’s endorphine levels to rise, giving you a feeling similar to falling in love,” says Sinatra. While it can be easy to munch on your daily dose of sexual healing, it’s even easier to unknowingly down a large serving of mood muffler. “Grapefruits contain an enzyme that stimulates the breakdown of testosterone into estrogen, having a calming and nonproductive effect,” says Sinatra. He also doesn’t recommend eating too much soy, since it contains weak estrogens, producing a decreased sex drive in men. Gittleman cautions against excessive drinking: “Alcohol inhibits the pathway the body uses for pre-ejaculatory response.” She also recommends avoiding white-flour products (white bread, bagels, pasta) and sugar, since they slash your reserves of the B vitamins and zinc as well as make you feel sluggish. Foods containing artificial sweeteners, such as diet sodas, can affect your brain chemistry and spoil your mood, while margarine can act as a metabolic roadblock to the hormonal production of fatty acids. Like anything else in your life, your sex drive is subject to your mood, stress levels, diet and overall health. Levels of desire naturally cycle in peaks and troughs, so don’t contemplate the priesthood just because you’re having a tame week. However, if a problem persists, be sure to check with your doctor. Chronic difficulty can be a sign of greater health issues, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or mood disorders. For the most part, a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise, a clean diet and low stress will keep you bird-dogging everyone from the sorority girls at your college to the nurses in your retirement home. Drew Voight
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