Toxics in Condoms – 11 Un-Sexy Chemicals Lurking in Condoms

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Ever thought about the ingredients in your condoms? The majority of condoms contain toxic chemicals and hormone disruptors. Find out which brands do, and don’t.

Reading labels isn’t just something you should do when buying food. You should also pay close attention to labels when choosing your health products — especially your sexual health products.

If you don’t intend to grow your family, chances are that when sex comes to mind you’re thinking about condoms for all of 5 seconds. However, when selecting the condom that is right for you, you might need a few more seconds on the clock.

Chemical exposure from condoms is minimal, but it is real nonetheless. Even though they can be beneficial, the reality is that with overexposure they may be doing more harm to you than good.

Don’t let this stop you from using condoms – they’re key to preventing STIs and unintended pregnancies! But be mindful of your health products, condoms included.

Believe it or not, there is more than just rubber when it comes to the ingredients found in condoms.

On one hand, condoms are like an emergency shut-off switch. They prevent unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and they are the only product available that does these two things at the same time.

On the other hand, their brief contact with your body, if overused and/or if you have a sensitivity to their ingredients, could be enough time for the condom to affect your health negatively.

Condoms aren’t regulated like food products. They don’t require a detailed list of ingredients. The good news is that there are condoms on the market that disclose whether or not their product contains any bad chemicals.

The bad news is that many of them don’t. This is possibly due to the fact that some of these harmful chemicals are made in the processing of latex and are not added after.

Typically, condom packaging will point out things like whether they are latex or non-latex, different flavors, and whether or not there might be lubricant or spermicide present.

If there is lubricant present, you might find labels distinguishing between water-based, silicone-based, gel-based, or pH-balanced. But what exactly is in the chemical makeup of some condoms remains a mystery. Labeling requirements are more focused on the contraceptive and preventive properties of condoms.

For the past 15,000 years, condoms have been in use for birth control, and in more recent years, for STI prevention. So condom labeling today caters to those priorities—Will the condom prevent sexually transmitted diseases? Will the condom prevent pregnancy?

But these FDA labeling requirements often lack important details like—Does the condom contain animal products? What is the full ingredient makeup of the condom? What chemicals were added to produce the final ingredients in the condom?

Watch this video – Condoms Are Surprisingly Toxic

So, what are the chemicals we’ll find in condoms?

1. Benzocaine

Benzocaine is a local anesthetic, and the purpose of adding it to condoms is to provide a numbing sensation to reduce stimulation to nerve endings to delay a man’s climax.

Be careful not to get it on your partner because it may dampen the mood since it will numb them up, too. Also, be sure to wash it off afterward to prevent any irritation later on.

You can also find benzocaine in ointment, spray, liquid, cream, gel, and wax form to offer relief for things like minor skin injuries, insect bites, teething, and toothaches. It is not required to label the ingredient benzocaine on condom packaging.

2. Casein

If you’re vegan or have a dairy allergy, you definitely want to avoid using condoms made with casein. Casein is a protein by-product of milk and it’s used to make latex condoms smooth.

3. Dry-Dusting Powder

If you ever open a condom and find some white powder, don’t freak out. It’s pretty common for companies to use a dusting powder when manufacturing non-lubricated condoms.

Condoms typically come rolled up, and if the condom isn’t lubricated, it can be difficult to unroll, may stick together, and could even rip during the unravelling attempt.

The dusting powder is supposedly corn starch most of the time, but may contain other ingredients, usually preservatives meant to prevent breakdown of the latex. It’s not often you’ll see a label specifying the dusting powder, and the chemical makeup of the powder may vary.

4. Glycerin

Glycerin, not to be confused with glycerol (a sugar), is found in condoms as a lubricant.

There are different types of glycerin, and they are very common ingredients found in condoms as well as lube. Glycerin is water-based, meaning that it won’t leave a mess that is impossible to clean up. Typically, you won’t see glycerin listed as an ingredient.

While glycerin is sweet in flavor, it doesn’t actually contain any sugar. The downside? If left in the vagina too long, glycerin can transform into sugar, increasing your chances of getting a yeast infection by throwing off your pH balance.

Safety first, always remember to clean up. Glycerin isn’t required to appear on condom packaging.

5. L-Arginine

Amino acids are the building blocks that your body uses to make proteins needed for daily function of your arteries, glands, organs, and tendons. They are crucial to things like muscle tissue repair and removal of waste.

L-arginine is an amino acid found in a ton of over-the-counter and prescription medications, such as ibuprofen and some chemotherapy medications. It works by converting into the chemical nitric oxide, which improves blood flow by opening up blood vessels. You can find L-arginine in certain lubricants and condoms for a boost in arousal.

6. Latex

Rubbers, as some people call condoms, are traditionally made from the rubber tree. Basically, condoms grow on trees, but it wasn’t until the discovery of the process known as vulcanization that we knew how to go from raw rubber to condoms.

Vulcanization is the process by which natural rubber becomes more durable, i.e. more elastic and able to withstand higher temperatures—it’s done through heating and addition of sulphur.

In the 1920s, latex was discovered, which made condoms even stronger, and allowed them to last longer. The shelf life of a rubber condom went from a few months to up to 5 years.

The discovery of latex meant that instead of using gasoline and benzene (a chemical known to cause cancer with overexposure) to make the rubber into liquid, water could be used, which created a much safer work environment for condom factory workers.

A latex allergy is no joke. For those who bear this trait, latex condoms are going to be a big no-no. Try these non-latex condoms, instead:

• LifeStyles SKYN
• Trojan Naturalamb
• Trojan Supra
• Durex Avanti Bare

7. Lidocaine

Just like benzocaine, lidocaine is also used to bring a numbing effect.

What’s the difference between the two? Lidocaine absorbs faster since it is more water-soluble than benzocaine, and it lasts longer.

But this doesn’t mean that it’s better for you. It actually is something to consider, because being numb for a long time may not be what you’re looking for.

It also absorbs deeper into your skin than necessary. You’re not likely to see lidocaine listed on condom boxes or wrappers, since it’s not required to label this ingredient either.

8. Nitrosamines

Latex production creates nitrosamine by-products. Nitrosamine is a chemical compound that, when ingested, can instigate tumor growth (specifically stomach and colon cancer).

You can frequently find nitrosamine in cured meats, salted fish, and in rubber products like condoms. We already get nitrosamine exposure from things like our food, second hand tobacco smoke, and cosmetics, and the additional exposure from condoms can add up to a toxic amount.

Because nitrosamine exposure specifically from condoms has not been seen to increase risk of cancer, it hasn’t become a banned ingredient. However, in 2010, condom manufacturers were encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO) to remove nitrosamines from their products since it really doesn’t have a purpose.

Prior to the studies regarding the toxicity of nitrosamines, there was a German brand of chocolate-flavored condoms on the market containing a tremendous amount of nitrosamines. They were quickly taken off the market.

9. Nonoxynol-9

Nonoxynol-9, or N-9, is usually added as a lubricant, to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and to kill sperm.

What’s the catch? N-9 can’t distinguish between good and bad, so it may also damage vaginal or rectal cell walls, which actually increases your chances of contracting an STD or urinary tract infection (UTI). Totally the opposite end of the spectrum from pleasure and excitement.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that condoms containing N-9 were not found to be any more protective against sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy than their counterparts lacking N-9.

There are special requirements for labeling of condoms containing nonoxynol-9 issued by the FDA. Kimono condoms were the first to remove N-9. Trojan Armor Series condoms contain N-9.

10. Parabens

Used to prevent bacteria growth, parabens are a group of chemical preservatives found in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and personal care products. Parabens have been taking over these products since the 1950s.

By the 1990s, their reputation wasn’t doing so hot when they were found to mimic estrogen in the body and cause estrogen disruption. Breast cancer tissue has also been seen to contain concentrations of parabens, which has suggested that people should refrain from higher levels of exposure to parabens.

The FDA still deems parabens safe at low levels of exposure, and most products contain low amounts, so technically, the products alone cannot be to blame. Cumulative exposure from many different paraben products is what will cause health problems to arise.

Is it any wonder why parabens have been banned from use in the European Union, yet they are still legal here in the United States? Make sure to limit your contact with parabens. In particular, limit paraben exposure to your skin coupled with UV exposure, which has been shown to have harmful effects.

Parabens might be listed on things like lotion, but usually not on condom labels.

11. Silicone

Silicone is used in condoms as a lubricant. It is an alternative to using water-based lube. Females will be less likely to get a yeast infection when using silicone-based lube. Silicone-based lubricants have a longer-lasting effect, since they don’t absorb into your body or skin, and they also don’t evaporate like their water-based counterparts.

Since silicone is waterproof, condoms using silicone as lubricant are safe for use under water (i.e. in the shower, etc). Try these silicone-lubricated condoms:

• Kimono MicroThin
• LifeStyles SKYN

Which condoms contain these chemicals?

When picking out condoms, make sure that you pay attention to what’s written on the box, not just what is inside the packaging. Below are a few of your options:

Durex

Durex is the world’s oldest condom manufacturer. They stopped making condoms containing nonoxynol-9 in the early 2000s. Their website does mention that “chemicals are added” to make their latex rubber stronger and more reliable.

If you’re looking to avoid latex, don’t use Durex condoms, except their Durex Avanti Bare line. If you are concerned about parabens or glycerin, Durex brand condoms may not be the condom for you, since they’re not likely to show up on the label.

GLYDE

Better known as the first certified ethical, vegan, and fair trade condom brand, GLYDE condoms are manufactured with a “clean plant-based formula” made from sustainably grown rubber trees. If casein is a concern of yours, GLYDE condoms is a brand you can trust, since vegan means no animal products.

Kimono

This brand of condoms touts themselves as containing no N-9, and they’re vegan-friendly, meaning they also don’t have any casein in them.

Their Kimono MicroThin Plus with Aqua Lube water-based lubricant is the only line of condom containing glycerin and parabens. Kimono condoms are made of natural latex using “state-of-the-art Japanese technology”.

L.

L. brand condoms are like the Toms of condom brands. For every condom purchased, the funds help to support their 3 programs designed to fight the ongoing AIDS epidemic in Africa.

L. partners with non-profit organizations that focus on peer-to-peer outreach in areas of extreme poverty. Their second program involves female social enterprise solutions, empowering women with transformative skills that will help them develop a culture that buys condoms. The last program supports sex education and condom access to students.

L. condoms are benzocaine-free, N-9-free, glycerin-free, and paraben-free, and they are made of natural latex. If you live in San Francisco, CA or Brooklyn, NY you can even order these condoms online and get them delivered within the hour.

LifeStyles

“A condom for every lifestyle” is their motto. LifeStyles condoms are made from latex, unless otherwise stated. LifeStyles TURBO contain a lubricant that contains L-arginine. If you’re looking to try some non-latex condoms, give LifeStyles SKYN a try.

Sir Richard’s

These are benzocaine-, paraben-, and glycerin-free. They also do not contain nonoxynol-9. They do, however, contain trace amounts of cornstarch.

Sir Richard’s touts themselves as “chemical-free” condoms, though they are made of natural latex and do contain silicone as a lubricant.

Sustain

Sustain condoms do not contain glycerin, parabens, benzocaine, or lidocaine.

Sustain’s philosophy is to be sustainable as a company and as a product, for our health in addition to the environment. They use fair-trade rubber, are vegan, and are available in unscented and lavender.

Trojan

Who goes home with more than 70 percent of retail condom sales? Trojan condoms, which are made in the U.S. at a rate of more than 1 million condoms a day.

Many types and sizes of Trojan condoms are available. Typically, they are made of latex unless otherwise stated.

To avoid benzocaine or lidocaine, be aware of these brands:

• Trojan Extended Pleasure
• Durex Performax
• Trojan Double Ecstasy Condoms 

Trojan Charged condoms use L-arginine as a lubricant mixed with ginger maca to provide heightened pleasure, if you’re looking for an alternative to the above.

Other labels to look out for when shopping

Expiration date

There’s nothing worse than going home and finding out someone ate your leftovers that you’ve been thinking about all day. It’s kind of the same feeling you get when you go to use a condom and you realize it’s expired.

Make sure to pay attention to your condoms’ expiration date, another extremely important detail in making sure your sex life stays on its A game. The reason most chemicals are used is to preserve the latex, which deteriorates over time.

Storage

It’s ideal to store condoms in a cool, dry place in order for them to work effectively in the future. Exposing your condoms to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight could also deteriorate them.

Wallets, pockets, and in your car are not the best places to store condoms, as these places could potentially diminish the integrity of condoms, as well.

Bottom Line

If you are trying to avoid certain chemicals, be very conscious when you are at the store buying your sexual health products, especially condoms.

A cumulative amount of chemicals, like parabens, could be a hazard to your health if you’re already using a bunch of other products that contain the same chemicals.

While each product on their own may not be of any worry, frequent use of chemically-laden products can potentially overload your body to create a toxic effect.

Written by Liz Lang

Author Bio:

Liz Lang is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Southern California Institute for Research and Education in the field of Gastroenterology. Liz graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Public Health Sciences. She has an insatiable thirst to learn how the human body works in order to keep people healthy. When Liz isn’t in the clinic, she enjoys exploring nature, yoga, and trying new things (especially food!).

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.

To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Increase Libido – What Can Hurt and Boost Your Sex Drive

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

5 Habits Killing Your Sex Drive (& How to Naturally Increase Libido)

If you’re not “in the mood” as often as you used to be, don’t worry. You’re not alone (it happens to most of us), and there are several effective, natural ways to increase your libido.

Studies show that low sex drive affects 32% of women and 15% of men in the US (between the ages of 18 and 59). While this study suggests that emotions are the strongest influencer in low libido, diet and lifestyle factors (such as sleep, a lack of nutrients, and side effects of prescription medications) can also diminish your desire to get it on.

Understanding what truly drives sexual desire is complex, but your hormone levels have a lot to do with it—which is why many of these natural remedies to boost libido aim to improve hormonal health.

Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and androgen hormones are the primary sex hormones that control the desire to have sex (in both men and women). Low levels of any of these hormones, especially testosterone, are linked to suppressing sexual desire.

Testosterone is considered the strongest hormone for sexual desire. While testosterone is commonly thought of as a male hormone, females also produce small amounts of testosterone in their ovaries and adrenal glands.

5 Habits Killing Your Sex Drive

Here are some of the most common diet and lifestyle factors that influence hormone levels and suppress libido.

Stress

It’s the ultimate catch-22 of libido: Sex helps relieve tension and stress, but it can prevent you from being able to get in the mood in the first place.

Of course, emotional stress can dampen your zest for life and deplete your sex drive. But let’s get more specific about the physiological effects of stress—and what chronic stress does to your hormones.

You see, hormones are your body’s “chemical messengers.” They control nearly every biological function your body performs—including growth and development, digestion, metabolism, sex drive, pregnancy, and regulating your stress levels. Stress raises your blood cortisol levels, which can lead to decreased testosterone and low sex drive.

Now, the reason why stress sabotages your sex drive is because it raises your blood cortisol levels, which is the primary hormone that regulates stress. In fact, studies show that high cortisol levels can actually lower or impair testosterone production in both men and women.

Because your hormones work so closely together, when one hormone is being over or under-produced, it has a domino effect on the rest of your hormones. (For example, your body might repeatedly release cortisol in response to stress.) This impact can “confuse communication” between them, and result in a hormonal imbalance.

While many of us experience some form of psychological stress on a regular basis, stress can take other forms (such as physical stress), which leads me to the next sex-drive inhibitor.

Exercise (too much or too little)

Good things come to those who sweat, but overdoing it can cause physical stress on your body and elevate your cortisol levels. And as previously mentioned, that’s linked to lowered testosterone levels.

Over-exercising may also impair estrogen and progesterone production in women, which has been linked to menstrual irregularities. A change in (or loss of) your monthly cycle and fluctuating levels of both of these hormones may reduce your desire to have sex.

However, moderate amounts of exercise (in particular, high-intensity exercise) have actually been shown to improve testosterone levels. So if your sex drive is low and you’re not exercising for at least 30 minutes per day, it’s worth adding a few weekly HIIT sessions to your routine. Then see if you notice a difference.

Eating a Diet Rich in Processed Foods

Healthy, balanced hormone production depends on specific nutrients (such as omega-3 essential fatty acids, amino acids, and fiber). These essential nutrients are primarily found in whole, unprocessed foods (such as wild fish and meat, leafy greens, fruits and veggies)—not in a greasy fast-food bag.

Processed foods are void of nutrients, which can lead to nutrient deficiencies (when consumed regularly). And the sugar and trans fats they contain can do serious damage to your hormones (and sex drive) in the long run.

Let’s take refined sugar as an example.

Processed sugar is highly concentrated because it’s stripped of all nutrients (including fiber) that slow down its release into the bloodstream. Therefore, when you ingest refined sugar, it causes your blood sugar levels to rapidly spike. Refined sugar sends your hormones out of whack, leading to a lower libido.

In order to bring your blood sugar level back down to normal, your body releases the hormone insulin into your bloodstream, which brings sugar out of your bloodstream and into your cells. So as you can guess, the more processed sugar you eat, the more insulin your body has to release. Over time, this sugar can lead to imbalances in your sex hormones.

In fact, research shows that imbalanced blood sugar levels are linked to menstrual irregularities. And they may decrease blood flow to the genital regions in both men and women, which can lower libido.

And that’s not to mention the other hormone-disrupting ingredients (such as trans fats) found in processed foods.

Trans fats (such as hydrogenated oils) are the ultimate anti-nutrients for hormones. They promote inflammation in the body, which can interfere with hormone production. This inflammation is yet another way that processed foods can contribute to hormonal imbalance, and potentially decrease your desire for sex.

The Paleo diet is free from trans fats and processed sugar, and rich in hormone-balancing nutrients (such as healthy fats, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals). So eating a Paleo diet (even 70% of the time) could help offer your body the nutrients it needs to increase libido.

Smoking and Alcohol

In addition to processed foods, excessive alcohol consumption and smoking can also cause nutrient deficiencies.

Frequent alcohol consumption can impair liver function, which prevents your body from properly detoxifying excess hormones your body no longer needs.

When these hormones aren’t properly eliminated, they risk getting reabsorbed back into your bloodstream, which may lead to hormonal imbalances.

Frequent alcohol consumption also puts stress on your pancreas. Since this organ is responsible for releasing insulin to regulate blood sugar levels, impaired pancreatic function can sabotage your body’s ability to metabolize sugar.

As you now know, blood sugar imbalances can directly impact the functioning of the rest of your hormones, including sex hormones. Alcohol and tobacco can wreck your sex drive. Toss the cigarettes and stick to a 1-2 drink minimum!

Tobacco raises blood cortisol levels, and it’s full of endocrine-disrupting toxins that have been linked to fatty liver disease and hormonal imbalances (such as thyroid dysfunction and insulin resistance).

Bottom line: Cigarettes are a no-go for a healthy libido, and sticking to a 1-2 drink maximum can help prevent the loss of libido.

Oral Contraceptives

Essentially, birth control prevents pregnancy by stopping ovulation. Since ovulation is when you’re most fertile, it’s typically when you’re more likely to want to have sex. Therefore, disrupting this natural cycle can suppress sexual desire.

A small number of women (approximately 15%) report a loss of libido when taking birth control. This loss may also be caused by the synthetic estrogen and progesterone found in birth control, which can throw off your body’s natural balance of sex hormones.

7 Natural Ways to Increase Libido

While the starting point for a healthier libido may begin by addressing the factors above, there are effective remedies that can improve your sex drive over time.

Foods That Naturally Boost Dopamine Levels

Studies show that low dopamine levels are linked to a loss of libido.

Dopamine is best known as the “pleasure” or “reward” neurotransmitter, as it’s released when we experience sudden gratification (such as crossing off a task on a long to-do list or receiving a big paycheck).

Now, dopamine is extremely complex, and its exact mechanisms aren’t even fully understood by scientists yet. But what we do know about dopamine is that it plays a heavy role in regulating positive emotional responses that can increase your desire to have sex.

Your body synthesizes dopamine from the amino acid L-tyrosine, so adding tyrosine-rich foods (such as eggs, spirulina, raw cacao powder, bananas, almonds, and avocado) to your diet can help increase your dopamine levels naturally.

L-Arginine

Arginine can boost your sex drive because it turns into nitric acid in the body, which increases blood oxygen levels and causes blood vessels to dilate. Oxygen flow may help energize you (which may increase your desire for sex), and increased nitric oxide has also been linked to improve erectile function.

In fact, one study showed that men with erectile dysfunction who took 5 grams of nitric oxide per day for 6 weeks experienced significant improved erectile function. Foods high in arginine, like chicken and spinach, increases oxygen levels and boosts your desire for sex.

Luckily, many of the foods highest in arginine are recommended on a Paleo diet: turkey, chicken, spinach, spirulina, asparagus, chard, and broccoli.

Studies show that arginine supplementation was shown to have no increase in blood oxygen levels (in healthy subjects).

Essential Oils

Certain essential oils (such as saffron and nutmeg) may increase sexual desire.

One study on male rats showed that crocin (an active ingredient in saffron) increased the desire to have sex. Meanwhile, nutmeg helped increase the mating performance of male mice.

While it’s unclear what effect these essential oils have on a woman’s libido, their naturally calming scents may help reduce stress levels and promote the desire to have sex.

Aphrodisiac Foods

You’re likely beginning to see the pattern here: a healthy libido can be achieved through your diet!

Aphrodisiac foods are foods that are shown to contain vitamins and minerals (such as vitamin C) to help increase blood oxygen flow to the genital regions. Zinc may also increase sex drive because it helps regulate and boost testosterone production. It’s not just a myth: raw oysters really are a natural aphrodisiac.

Other foods that are considered natural aphrodisiacs are oysters, pineapple, berries, arugula, dark chocolate, figs, and watermelon.

However, all whole, unprocessed foods will naturally provide you with essential vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy libido. So when you look at it that way, any food found in nature can offer your body the nutrients you need to promote a healthy libido.

Strength Training

As mentioned above, higher-intensity exercise (such as strength training) can help increase libido by improving testosterone production.

Research suggests that consistent strength-training sessions have the most impact on testosterone levels. However, testosterone production can improve after only one strength-training session.

While strength training can increase libido on a physiological level, it’s also an effective way to lose weight and trim body fat, which can help improve your overall confidence—in and out of the bedroom.

Panax Ginseng

Panax ginseng has been used as a libido-boosting stimulant in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years—which is credited to its ability to increase nitric oxide production. In fact, many athletes use ginseng to help improve athletic endurance and focus, which could also be a health benefit between the sheets.

Other herbs (such as maca root, gingko biloba, and damiana) are said to be traditionally used to improve libido function. But very little scientific research has been done to prove their efficacy.

Meditation and Yoga

Inhale calm. Exhale stress!

When practiced for as little as 20 minutes per day, yoga and meditation can improve your nervous system function and reduce your blood cortisol levels.

One study recorded women who were under emotional distress and practiced yoga—for 90 minutes twice a week for 3 months. They reported a 50% reduction in depression and a 30% reduction in anxiety.

Some yoga poses included in the Kama Sutra (such as eagle pose) are said to help increase libido.

As you can see, ramping up your libido may be as simple as making small dietary changes to your lifestyle. But since a low sex drive generally has an underlying emotional component, it’s important to consider the psychological factors that may be preventing you from enjoying sex to the fullest.

Want some more tips to increase libido? Watch this video –LOW LIBIDO and NO SEX DRIVE | What To Do About It

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.

Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.To find out more, click on – Keto Slow Cooker Cookbook

Gut Health and Libido – How Gut Health Affects Your Libido

 

Click HERE to Discover these 80 Keto-Friendly and Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes

Intimacy and sexual arousal can be complex. As humans, we don’t have “on and off” switches that control our sex drive. Instead, both our psychological and physiological states control our desire for sex and how often we’re in “the mood.” In fact, research suggests the state of your gut may play one of the most important roles in sexual desire and libido.

We all know gas, bloating and acid reflux are anything but sexy-time motivators. But beyond noticeable digestive symptoms, your gut is also comprised of millions of neurons that send and receive impulses and control your emotional responses, and, therefore, your desire for sex. In fact, many studies have linked compromised gut health to decreased libido.

The “gut” refers to your entire gastrointestinal tract, including your small intestine, large intestine, esophagus and colon. While the gut’s primary role is to digest food and absorb nutrients, the neurons it contains make up a “second nervous system” (the technical name is enteric nervous system), which allows your gut to also act as a second brain.

You may have experienced this secondary nervous system at work before, by feeling emotions in your stomach such as nervousness, disappointment, or a “gut feeling” that something isn’t quite right. Your gut is like a second brain, feeling emotions through the “second nervous system”.

In addition to millions of neurons, your gut also contains neurotransmitters and proteins that send and receive messages from your brain and central nervous system via the vagus nerve—somewhat like a highly complex telephone system extending from your brainstem to your abdomen.

Your gut microbiome (a fancy word for internal environment) contains more bacteria than any other place in your body. It’s a complex circuitry of cells and living bacteria, which, new research suggests, largely influences your mental state.

In fact, one study done on the microbiome-gut-brain-axis in shy, introverted mice showed that even the slightest disruption to their gut bacteria altered their behavioral patterns. After being given a dose of antibiotics, the shy mice became “bold and adventurous”.

Needless to say, gut bacteria are crucial to both your mental, emotional and physical health. But let’s take a closer look at how they impact your libido.

The Gut, Serotonin & Libido Link

Serotonin is the primary neurotransmitter that determines if you feel happy, have energy and yes—if you’re in the mood to have sex.

Serotonin is involved in controlling and enhancing blood flow to different regions of your body, including the genital regions, which further explains its role in libido.

And while we may automatically think neurotransmitters such as serotonin are produced in the brain, research shows close to 90% of serotonin is, in fact, produced by gut microbes.

The link between healthy gut bacteria and sufficient serotonin production is so prominent, that studies found mice who had little to no healthy gut bacteria produced 60% less serotonin than the control group. However, when their gut bacteria were recolonized with healthy microbes, their serotonin levels increased.

These findings suggest a certain amount of healthy gut bacteria must be present for sufficient serotonin production—and, therefore, a healthy libido. A healthy gut has lots of serotonin, which promotes a good sex drive.

Unfortunately, many factors in today’s modern lifestyle destroy our natural stores of beneficial bacteria. Frequent antibiotic use, alcohol consumption, a diet high in refined foods, and chronic stress have all been shown to deplete healthy gut microbes.

A lack of healthy gut bacteria can result in chronic digestive disorders such as leaky gut syndrome, candida and bacterial dysbiosis. Not surprisingly, studies have linked all 3 of these conditions to low libido.

How Anxiety Affects Your Sex Drive

Now that you have the basic rundown on gut chemical reactions, let’s take a closer look at how emotions influence your gut health and sex drive. Of course, it’s obvious that when you’re sad or depressed, sex can be one of the last things on your mind. You may find it impossible to relax, be present and fully enjoy sexual stimulation.

As mentioned above, your gut is like a second brain. Your emotions affect your mind and your digestive tract. When your body is in a state of fear or anxiety, stress hormones such as cortisol are released, which stimulate the sensory nerves in the stomach. When these nerves sense anxiety, the vagus nerve sends signals to increase the serotonin production in your GI tract.

A boost of serotonin may sound like a good thing for improving libido, but a quick, sudden influx (as opposed to a regulated, consistent influx) may actually trigger digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, cramping and nausea as part of the stress response. Needless to say, these are the last things you’d want to experience in the bedroom.

The Bottom Line: If you regularly experience fear and other stressful emotions, you’re less likely to have the adequate serotonin levels needed for sexual arousal. Your body will try to compensate by sending a quick influx of serotonin to your GI (gastrointestinal) tract, but this may result in undesirable digestive symptoms. Instead, the goal is to experience a positive, consistent flow of serotonin, which can be achieved by improving your gut health.

3 Tips to Improve Your Gut Health & Your Libido

Increase the Fiber in Your Diet

Let plants be thy libido medicine.

You may not think a cup of soaked chia seeds can make a difference in your libido. But the truth is, the fiber found in unprocessed foods such as fruit, nuts, seeds, vegetables and leafy greens improve gut health, which, as you now understand, improves serotonin production and libido.

Fiber is like a housekeeper for your GI tract; it “sweeps away” the toxins and waste in your gut that encourage the overgrowth of bad bacteria.

In fact, certain types of fiber, such as inulin, are called prebiotics because they feed and encourage the growth of the probiotics in your system. Inulin is found abundantly in dandelion greens, chicory root, artichokes and garlic. Fiber like chia pudding, fruit, artichokes and garlic are great for a healthy libido.

For some of us, certain types of fiber can be difficult to break down and cause gas and intestinal discomfort—especially when our digestive system is compromised or weakened.

To avoid undesirable symptoms caused by fiber, you may want to consider adding bone broth to your diet instead. Bone broth is rich in the nutrients collagen, gelatin and glutamine, which help repair the gut lining without adverse symptoms.

In general, bone broth is an excellent food for improving gut health—but it especially comes in handy if you follow a low FODMAP or GAPS diet, where certain fibrous foods are off-limits. There are plenty of recipes for low FODMAP versions of bone broth available online and in cookbooks.

Eliminate Processed Foods

You may already know that processed foods rich in trans fats and sugar contain very little fiber, if any at all.

Refined sugar and rancid fats are a primary cause of inflammation in the GI tract. Chronic inflammation is at the root of many digestive conditions and Western diseases, which is why reducing the processed foods in your diet is important to gut health and your entire well-being.

(On the other hand, most whole, unprocessed foods, such as blueberries, dark leafy greens, wild salmon, turmeric and ginger, have anti-inflammatory properties). Steer clear of processed foods and eat lots of blueberries, leafy greens and wild salmon for a healthy gut.

Getting in the habit of avoiding processed foods is simple: try new Paleo recipes at home (which are made from whole, unprocessed foods), and read labels to check for hidden sources of refined sugar and hydrogenated fats.

Create a Regular Exercise Routine

CrossFit, running, spin, yoga. Not only does moderate exercise leave you feeling stronger in body and mind, but research suggests regular exercise can also positively alter gut microbiota.

In addition to improving gut health, exercise is all-around beneficial for libido by releasing endorphins and boosting brain serotonin levels for an instant boost of happiness. And let’s be honest: the more confidence you have in your physical appearance, the more confident you tend to be in the sack.

There’s a reason they say “the road to health is paved with good intestines”—or, shall we say, the road to a healthy libido is paved with good intestines.

Watch this video –Gut Health and Libido

Written by Brandi Black

Author Bio:

Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.

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