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May 4, 2007: At any given time, 40% of
women in the United Kingdom are said to suffer
from low libido.
Female sexual dysfunction can wreak havoc in even
the most loving of relationships and it is an
extremely complex problem with a variety of
possible causes, including illness, menopause,
weight gain, poor nutrition, stress and
psychological factors, says a book titled The
Orgasmic Diet: Boost Your Libido And Boost Orgasm
by Marrena Lindberg.
For pharmaceutical companies, according to the
book, this condition represents a real goldmine –
there are about 25 new forms of treatment being
developed. With worldwide sales of impotence drugs
such as Viagra worth £1.3 billion alone, surely
libido-boosting is a profitable industry.
Two of the treatments likely to be available in
the next few years are PT-141, a nasal spray
containing a hormone that affects parts of the
brain involved with appetite and sex drive, and
SD500, a cream containing nitroglycerine which
relaxes blood vessels and increases blood flow.
But all women may not have access to such
treatments when the drugs do reach the market.
For example, when Intrinsa--the libido-boosting
testosterone patch for women--was launched earlier
in 2007, the drug was available, for a while, only
on prescription for a specific group of women –
those who have had an early menopause because of
surgery.
According to The Orgasmic Diet: Boost Your Libido
And Boost Orgasm, some experts are concerned about
the need for medication in the first place. They
criticise the drug companies for “disease
mongering” – that is, reclassifying some sorts of
behaviour as a medical problem so that they can
sell drugs to treat it.
Then there are the issues of potential
side-effects. Though many sexual dysfunction drugs
are still in the development stage, those that are
already available, such as Viagra and
testosterone, can have an adverse effect on blood
vessels.
While drug manufacturers are engaged in a race to
find a chemical solution, a new scientifically
proven diet from the United States suggests that a
combination of fish oils, dark chocolate and
controlling one’s carbohydrate intake may be all
that is needed.
In her book, Marrena Lindberg claims that most
women suffering from sexual dysfunction do not
need drug therapy at all to rediscover their sex
drive. Just a few simple dietary changes, she
says, will produce dramatic effects.
Through her own experience and extensive
scientific research, Marrena Lindberg has created
a programme which she says not only boosts sex
drive but also aids weight-loss.
Says the author: “In general, female sexual
dysfunction is treated as a psychological problem.
However, in my experience, many cases are linked
to diet and nutrition, and women’s bodies respond
much more effectively to diet than they do to
counselling.”
Her approach has the support of David Ferguson, an
independent research pharmacologist and president
of the United States Women’s Sexual Health
Foundation. Maryon Stewart, author and founder of
the Women’s Nutritional Advisory Service, also
agrees with the principles of the diet.
Here are the four simple steps which Marrena
Lindberg says will help a woman bring back her
libido in days.
Increase intake of fish oils: Taking substantial
daily amounts of two of the active ingredients
found in fish oils (eicosapentaenoic acid, or EPA,
and docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA) can boost the
levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine released
by the brain.
Control serotonin levels: Cigarettes, coffee,
ginseng, ginko and too many starchy carbohydrates
can all raise the body’s seratonin level.
Seratonin, an important brain chemical, enhances
alertness, improves mood and makes people feel
cheerful. When seratonin levels are high, you will
be focused on your to-do list and will find it
hard to switch to the relaxed mood needed for
romance. Avoiding caffeine and other stimulants,
such as cigarettes and sugary, starchy foods, will
help keep your seratonin at the right level to
boost libido.
Increase testosterone: Many studies have shown
that women with a high sex drive have higher
levels of testosterone. Women need this ‘male’
hormone. Testosterone is made in the adrenal
glands and the ovaries, but suppressed by a
chemical called sex hormone-binding globulin. This
presence of this chemical in your body is vital if
testosterone levels are to be kept optimal. The
best way to do this is to eat a small portion of
protein at every meal, and cut back on starch and
sugar – eat non-starchy fruits and vegetables
instead.
Eat libido foods every day:
Take the recommended DHA, EPA, magnesium and
zinc supplements.
Make your meals 30% protein (a deck of cards-sized
portion) to help raise your levels of
testosterone.
Your fat intake should be around 30% of your total
calorie intake and those fats should be
mono-unsaturated wherever possible. Choose olive
oil in preference to dairy, and keep meat lean.
The remainder of your diet should be carbohydrate,
but avoid white bread, sugar, potatoes and
puddings.
Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you wish.
These are good for healthy seratonin levels.
BY OUR PHARMA CORRESPONDENT
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