As the winter months rev up, our metabolism slows down and so does our sex drive, because we consume more calories, have comfort foods, get lazy and sleep all day. A study at University of Tasmania found that hibernation and therefore low libido levels during the winter can be blamed on the historically biological patterns followed by our ancestors. "Hibernation caused their metabolisms to slow and sex drives to wane, as they increased their calorie load and slept more," says the study's co-author, Dr Margaret Austen.
Well yes, ok, we’ long heard that the season of winter means to honor the principle of slow down-ing, calming down, conserving energy allowing your body to prepare for renewal in the spring, but it doesn’t mean you let your libido weather down and go into a deep slumber!
Fight these five enemies of low libido:
Depression - Winter depression or Seasonal Affective disorder (SAD) is not unusual during those grey and gloomy days of winter. And if you are depressed, sex will not be at the top of your agenda. Everyone experiences a bad day or two, but if those weeks turn into months, your depressed state will put your sexual interests on hold. While SAD affects just a few percent of the population, many researchers believe that most of us are still susceptible to it. One of the main culprits for the inception of SAD could be a decrease in vitamin D. Go absorb the winter sun and bring up your libido levels!
Foods - With the festive season on, you tend to binge too much and your sex drive gets bumped to the bottom of the list. Raw foods, canned and heavy foods can deplete your precious energy. This winter focus on eating root vegetables, whole grains, dark leafy green vegetables, kidney & black beans, nuts, and seaweeds. These specific foods will help your body conserve energy for a long night of sex and keep you warm too.
Exercise - Just 30 minutes of exercise a day can help you be more energetic even on that cold winter night. Take your dog on a walk or lift some weights. Try taking to winter yoga or other classes that will motivate you to keep working out. There are also exercises specific for helping you in the sack. Try Kegel exercises, Box Press-up and Half Lotus Position. Exercise can also help you get rid of lifestyle changes that are yet another form of stress, which can often adversely affect your sex life.
Keep Warm - Keep warm because cold weather dulls sexual sensations. Lower body temperatures dampen arousal for both men and women. "If your body is warmer, it's more sensitive," says Dr Ian Kerner, sexual therapist and author of ‘She Comes First’. “Most men will notice that when they get cold, their penis will shrink," adds Kerner. It is also studied; women are 30% more likely to orgasm when their feet aren’t cold!
Light it up! - Trick your body into thinking its still summer by investing in a blue-light light bulb. While maybe even splashing out on a pricey light-therapy box that used to be one way of getting her in a better mood. These lights reset the body's circadian rhythms by tricking it into thinking it's a bright summer's day. Mood lights can be easily purchased online from various shopping portals.
Although a decreased wintertime libido might be an indication of other, more serious problems. Consult your family doctor in order to rule out any abnormal reason for lack of interest in sex being linked to a physical or mental concern.
Who says, winter is far from the sexiest of the seasons!
