Bill and I have been together for over 20 years so we are well aware of the key elements to a successful relationship. But for over a year now, the two of us have a new commitment: keto. So, how does our new passion for food impact our relationship? We look at this in a 5-part series of blogs about being Married to Keto. Today is Keto and Sex.
The first key element is love and commitment. Click here to read that blog.
The Keto and Sex Element
The second key element is having a healthy, strong sex life. Well! This is not a topic we usually cover at Married to Keto. But since you asked (and even if you didn’t) we’re here to share. What better place to start looking at this information than a site called www.ketogasm.com.
When we eat carbs, especially simple carbs (i.e. sugar that is naturally occurring in fruits and refined sugar like we find in candy), our blood sugar peaks. We all know that happy feeling! But then our body has to bring us back to normal. The elevated blood glucose and insulin that our body uses to even things out again help create sex hormone imbalances. Keto, on the other hand, keeps our blood sugar well balanced so our hormone levels are also well balanced.
Carbs and Sex Often Don’t Mix
After the peak from eating carbs, we experience the crash. According to www.ketologic.com, when we experience the crash, our bodies release stress hormones to raise our blood sugars and stabilize it again. These stress hormones decrease our sex drives and feelings of arousal. That just makes sense. When we are feeling stressed, we don’t look to snuggle our partners – or at least I don’t.
I’m too preoccupied with whatever is stressing me out. When I think about that, it makes me think about how I would turn to food when I felt stressed. Is it possible that I was feeling stress because of what I was eating (i.e. simple carbs like sugar) and that made me want more of those carbs? Hmm, another blog for another time. For now, back to the good stuff!
Keto and Sex Go Hand in Hand For Hormone Levels
On top of all that, high fat diets lead to an increase in the hormones of estrogen, estradiol, and testosterone. Dropping weight also boosts testosterone levels in both men and women. The higher these hormones are, the more of a sex drive you have. Speaking for myself, dropping weight has also given me a lot more confidence. That’s important when you are looking for some alone time with your partner.
Then there is the simple fact that, once you get over the keto flu, you tend to have more energy when you are eating keto. The New York Times reported that one in four Americans simply didn’t have the energy to have sex. That’s just sad.
Possible Issues You May Encounter
I did find a couple of warnings about eating keto and your sex drive when I was researching this. If the fat you are taking in is trans fat (which it absolutely should not be), you can experience a reduction in your sex drive. Trans fats are when liquid fats are turned into solids, like margarine and shortening. Stick with the healthier fats from dairy, meats, nuts and seeds.
The other issue some people can face is not getting enough nutrients in your diet. If you are lacking in magnesium and zinc, it can negatively affect your sex drive. We haven’t had any issues with zinc, but we do take magnesium supplements daily. It just depends on what foods you are taking in.
Keto and Sex in Summary
So, in summary, keto appears to be good for a couple’s sex life. The high fat diet of keto tends to release more sex hormones, keeps our stress hormones from being activated because of food and gives us more energy. Weight loss not only releases testosterone but also makes us feel better and gives us more confidence. All in all, it’s a winning combination for keeping things spicy in the bedroom! You’re welcome!
Wendy
