Read more on Eat, Exercise, Relax, and Sleep Your Way to Better Sex

Thought about leading a healthier lifestyle but haven’t gotten
around to doing it? Here’s a possible incentive: Experts say people who are
mentally and physically fit are more likely to have good sex lives.

“If you feel good about yourself, you are in a better
position to feel good about relationships, including your sex life,” says
Karen Zager, PhD, a psychologist in private practice in New York City.

“When one is not feeling well, and is exhausted, it can
certainly have a negative impact on the quality of one’s sex life,” says
Saralyn Mark, MD, a senior medical adviser at the Office on Women’s Health.

This may all seem intuitive, yet many people find the road to a
fitter mind and body to be bumpy, especially if it involves losing weight,
starting an exercise program, reducing stress, or getting enough sleep.

One big reward, though, is to look and feel better — arguably
a plus for good romantic and sensual activities.

Eat Right

While there is no proven connection between a balanced diet and
bedroom performance, a poor diet can cause health problems that can possibly
interfere with sex.

Studies show animals that get too few calories tend to have
weakened immune systems, says John Allred, PhD, professor emeritus of nutrition
at Ohio State University. He says illness can be a big hurdle for pleasurable
intercourse.

“If you have heart disease, then you might be taking
medication that would inhibit sexual activity, or you might be afraid to have a
heart attack,” says Allred. “If you have the flu, a high fever, or just
don’t feel good … any of these things would be a turn-off.”

Mark Kantor, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and food
science at the University of Maryland, agrees, saying, “You will feel sexy
if you look and feel good.”

A way to do that is to eat an overall balanced diet and to
exercise each day. The two go hand-in-hand, says Kantor, as demonstrated by
today’s obesity problem, in which people eat too much food and aren’t active
enough.

Move That Body

Being physically active can be a natural Viagra boost,
according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE), which recommends 20 to 30
minutes of moderate exertion a day.

“Men and women who exercise regularly are going to have
increased levels of desire,” says Cedric Bryant, PhD, ACE’s chief exercise
physiologist. “They’re going to have enhanced confidence, enhanced ability
to achieve orgasm, and greater sexual satisfaction.”

If that isn’t motivation enough to work out, consider this:
Researchers have found that there is a correlation between waist size and a
man’s odds of having erectile dysfunction (ED). The larger the man’s waist
size, the greater his chance of having ED (because of a higher risk of
underlying cardiovascular disease).

Need more positive reinforcement? Studies show that regular,
moderate exercise can have a positive benefit on major sexual problems, such as
ED in men and low libido in both men and women.

It only makes sense, say experts, since ED is often caused by
poor blood flow to the penis, and exercise can improve the body’s ability to
pump and circulate blood throughout the body.

The same can be true for the ladies. In one University of Texas
at Austin study, physically active women who watched an X-rated film had a 169%
greater blood flow to the vagina compared with when they were inactive.

And there’s more good news. Mark says exercise can promote the
body’s release of hormones important for sexual arousal, increase aerobic
capacity and muscle strength, and boost self-body image — all definite
benefits for between-the-sheets play. (more…)