A good sex life will not only help you feel and look younger — it will also help you live longer. That’s the claim being made in Younger (Sexier) You, a new book written by U.S. anti-ageing expert, Dr Eric Braverman. He says sex not only raises your hormone levels (so keeping you young), but can also boost your metabolism, brain function, heart health and immunity. And if your sex life is tepid rather than torrid? Don’t despair, says Dr Braverman. Whether you’re 30 or 100, a combination of good diet, nutritional supplements and some ‘natural’ hormones will restore your drive and ensure you enjoy the health benefits, too. Good for you: Sex not only raises your hormone levels (so keeping you young), but can also boost your metabolism, brain function, heart health and immunityMany sexual problems, says Dr Braverman, can be addressed by eating particular foods. Drinking coffee can help boost a flagging libido, while snacking on peanuts can enhance arousal. Eating brown rice can help combat sexual coldness, while avocadoes might increase your capacity for pleasure.
Dr Braverman is based at the PATH Medical Center in New York, which he founded and which has been dubbed ‘Manhattan’s latest fountain of youth’ by Vogue magazine.
It’s the kind of place the rich flock to from all over the world. The doctor himself is a good advertisement for his work; at 49, he is slim and fit, exuding the energy and unlined looks of a man years younger.
But if this all sounds a bit glitzy and too good to be true, Dr Braverman has genuine credentials: he is currently an assistant professor of integrative medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College (part of Cornell University).
So, what of his claims about the health benefits of sex? Among those he cites are stronger muscles and bones — it seems a healthy sex drive helps the skin manufacture vitamin D (our main source of vitamin D is the sun). Sex also boosts our production of the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin — this helps brain function and memory.
Dr Braverman also points to a study by Queen’s University in Belfast that suggested having sex three or more times a week reduced the risk of heart attack or stroke in men by half.
And orgasms are thought to fight infection — increasing the number of infection-fighting cells by up to 20 per cent. Having regular sex could boost the levels of an antibody that fights colds and flu, suggested a U.S. study.
It’s also recently been found that greater sexual activity in older men might protect them against prostate cancer.
But this might all sound academic to many people for whom the real problem is a poor sex life.
Get closer: You can boost your sex drive by eating certain foods or taking supplements
Usually this is blamed on a tired relationship and other psychological issues. But Dr Braverman argues that the real issue is biological ageing.
Partly it’s down to disease: problems such as heart disease and kidney failure can cause erectile dysfunction, for instance, while diabetes can reduce desire and arousal because it kills sensitive nerves.
THE BEST APHRODISIACS
* Asparagus: Rich in vitamin E, which stimulates the hormone production needed for a more active sex life.
* Bananas: Contain bromelain enzyme, which is thought to improve male libido. They’re also a good source of potassium and riboflavin, which increase overall energy levels.
* Cabbage: Helps increase circulation.
* Celery: Contains andosterone, a male hormone said to turn on women.
* Damiana (wild yam): Contains chemicals that increase sensitivity in the genitals.
* Figs: Thought to increase libido and improve sexual stamina because they are high in amino acids, the building blocks of protein which is needed for the brain chemical dopamine.
* Oysters: Are high in zinc, necessary for the production of testosterone. Oysters also contain dopamine.
* Sea vegetables: Those such as kelp, dulse and nori — they contain calcium, iodine and iron, said to boost libido.
Medication — from antidepressants to blood pressure pills — can also have an effect.
Dr Braverman says the other great physical enemy of a healthy sex life is the menopause — and the male version, the andropause (both of which entail the loss of sex hormones which affect sex drive and function).
But it’s not just about the mechanics of sex. Healthy sexual function is also about how your brain reacts to the messages it’s receiving from your body, he adds.
When your brain is working at its peak, brain chemicals are produced and dispersed at the correct levels. A reduced sexual desire can apparently be the first sign there’s a problem with one of the four key brain chemicals.
These are dopamine, acetylcholine, GABA and serotonin. A deficiency in each will produce specific types of sexual problem, as outlined below.
Often, an inbalance is down to illness or simply normal ageing, says Dr Braverman.
Depending on which brain chemical you lack, there is a specific diet and supplement regimen.
Dr Braverman also prescribes his patients medications and so–called bioidentical hormones. These ‘natural’ hormones are often plant-based, manufactured in a pharmaceutical lab. The claim is they have the exact same molecular structures as hormones produced by the body and are, therefore, more effective and safer than synthetic alternatives.
Sunday Island
