Sizzling Supplements
Flowers and Candy Aren't the Only Way to Celebrate
Valentine's Day - by Annie Graves
Taste For Life Magazine ~ February 2006 issue
Say what you will about the human condition-we love to be in
love. And that, in itself, is cause for celebration. With any luck, not to
mention careful nurturing, our love will continue. From time to time, however,
we may take steps to rekindle the early days of wild and crazy fireworks.
"Love is fire," says musician Jason Jordan. "But whether it's
gonna warm your heart or burn your house down you can never tell."
It's in our hands, isn't it? We can keep the sizzle and
spice-and toss in a few vitamins and herbs-year round. Any way you wrap it up,
love seasoned with romance and passion is the sweetest gift of all.
Hello, Hormones
Who can dispute the power of hormones? Not only do they
determine the physical differences between men and women-they also guide our
sexual thoughts and passions. As unpredictable as our emotions, our hormone
levels fluctuate daily, as well as monthly, and they tend to decrease as we grow
older.
"Estrogen and progesterone are part of the complex family
of sex steroid hormones, which includes testosterone, cortisol, and DHEA [dehydroepiandrosterone],"
explains Ann Louise Gittleman, Phd, CNS. "These are all made from
cholesterol and work together to affect everything from your immune response to
your libido."
The most abundant hormone in the body, DHEA is produced in the
adrenals and is the building block for all sex-related hormones, including
estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. A multi-functioning powerhouse, DHEA
improves immunity, mood, and libido, and even strengthens muscles. Under stress,
and with age, it is also the first adrenal hormone to diminish.
Among women, hormone levels are particularly volatile between
the ages of 35 to 50, when levels of estrogen and progesterone are dwindling.
Between the ages of 40 to 55, men may undergo a parallel experience, known as
male andropause, which might be partly due to a decrease in the production of
testosterone. Interestingly, testosterone is active and important for boosting
libido in both men and women, though women have a significantly smaller amount.
As with so many things in life, balance is crucial. Our sex
hormones may originate in the adrenals, ovaries, testes, skin, liver, or brain.
But the fact is that no matter where they come from, chemically they resemble
one another, and the body will convert one type of hormone to another if it
senses a deficiency. "Because of this interrelationship, supplementing one
hormone without ensuring adequate levels of the others will probably create a
hormonal imbalance," explains Dr. Gittleman. Symptoms of hormonal imbalance
include lowered libido, mood swings, hot flashes, high blood pressure,
depression, and insomnia.
Go With the Flow
Additionally, uninhibited blood flow is a prerequisite for
healthy passion. So it makes sense that other major contributors to lowered
libido include cardiovascular disease, which affects blood flow throughout the
body, and prescription drugs such as some antidepressants and blood pressure
medications that lower blood pressure/flow. Clearly this is of major concern to
a large number of Americans-each day, pharmacies around the country fill more
than 15,000 prescriptions for Viagra.
The right supplements and foods can enhance circulation and
oxygenation, keep tissues supple and responsive, and get the hormones moving.
Start by consuming plenty of fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and legumes,
and include cold-water fish for its obega-3 essential fatty acids. EFAs are
especially important for sexual health because our bodies use them to create
hormones called prostaglandins, critical for normal sexual response (also for
immune and cardiovascular function).
Other daily sources of EFAs include nut and seed oils such as
flaxseed, pumpkin, and walnut, as well as black currant seed oil-also a dynamite
source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA), necessary for hormone production and a
healthy reproductive system. Vital vitamin C (1,000 to 1,500 mg daily),
including a hefty source of bioflavonoids, gives a major boost to production of
hormones in the adrenals; these hormones are then converted to estrogen in the
body. Vitamin E (start at 400 IU) contributes to tissue hydration while
enhancing circulation and oxygenation of the blood. Choose unrefined
cold-pressed vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, nuts and leafy veggies for
additional sources of E.
Finally, make sure you're getting enough zinc, a mineral that's
essential for optimal testosterone levels. Pumpkin and sunflower seeds, raw
wheat germ, soybeans, and eggs are good sources, while a single oyster delivers
a daily dose of zinc. Just think twice before you wash it down with a glass or
two of wine. Alcohol, along with white sugar, flour, and processed foods,
depletes the body's supply of zinc. Or as Macbeth so succinctly put is, alcohol
"provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance."
Other less-than-amorous foods include caffeine, sugar, and soda,
which deplete supplies of magnesium, manganese, and other nutrients. Do,
however, make a point of indulging in the occasional dark chocolate. Eating
chocolate releases a pleasure hormone (also found in mangos and bananas) that
raises levels of testosterone in both men and women. (Didn't we suspect
something like that all along?) This is the same hormone that is released during
sexual arousal.
Spice It Up
A handful of herbs and spices can provide more than just
flavoring. Some, including ginseng and yohimbe, affect both female and male
libido by stimulating production of testosterone. Ginseng, an adaptogenic herb
that helps the body cope with environmental stresses, increases production of
testosterone and may boost sperm production. Long used as a tonic for sexual
potency, the most common variety is Asian ginseng, the second most popular
herbal supplement in the U.S. Yohimbe is well-known for increasing blood
vessel dilation and stamina, and counteracting impotence. But consult your
healthcare provider before using this herb and take it only as directed, since
usage at certain doses can increase blood pressure.
Dong quai (3 to 4 g daily), also known as female ginseng, is
another adaptogen that affects the female hormonal system. It acts as an
all-purpose sexual pick-me-up and blood toner, while helping to regulate the
reproductive system. Ginkgo, a plant species that's 200 million years old,
boosts blood flow throughout the body and is one of the top prescribed herbal
remedies in France and Germany. In an open trial, 63 men and women taking
antidepressants and suffering from related sexual side effects were prescribed
ginkgo-it was found to be 84 percent effective in relieving symptoms. The
recommended amount is 120 to 240 mg per day.
Additional herbs that stimulate female libido include damiana,
horny goat weed, and say palmetto. And some of our most common
flavorings-cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and pepper-have an aphrodisiac legacy
stepped in antiquity.
That Loving Touch
Finally, reach out and touch the one you love. Touch stimulated
the release of oxytocin, both a bonding and a pleasure hormone that's released
during hugging, kissing, and massage.
"Modern research has revealed important changes in brain
chemistry when animals and children are touched," says Hyle Cass, MD.
"Those deprived of tough develop chronically high levels of the stress
hormone cortisol and show corresponding problems with development and
learning...of course the vast majority of us know how wonderful it feels to be
held in someone's arms. We don't need scientific reports to know that touch
nurtures our bodies and souls. By raising our endorphin levels, a human touch
can lift us into a state of bliss."
In the process, be creative, warm, loving, and spontaneous. And
remember, in the words of Ursula K. LeGuin: "Love doesn't just sit there,
like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made
new."
Natural Health Hut
