Exercise your libido

There seems to be an increased interest in health, fitness and libido. I follow a number of other health and fitness publications and I see there are a few that will be addressing this somewhat provocative subject in the next few issues, so let's beat them to the punch.

This week's column always proves to be interesting. I have written about the effect that exercise has on your libido in past columns so let's review a few basics.

* A strong libido can be as simple as improving your cardiovascular health. Doing cardio strengthens your heart, improves your circulatory system and pumps more blood effectively throughout your body. In turn, this improves your blood pressure, vascular health and can help erectile dysfunction.

* Weight loss can improve your sex life. Exercise increases your metabolism, which helps build muscle and burn fat. These changes drop inches and gives you more energy, leading to feeling better about yourself and perhaps feel better in those intimate moments.

* Exercise improves your mood and has been a great way to successfully fight depression and enhance mental well-being. Exercise releases endorphins which produce a feeling of euphoria while also relieving pain, reducing anxiety and stress. For both men and women, mood can make or break desire and amazing intimacy.

* Over time, exercise will enhance your confidence and self-image. As you start feeling better about your appearance and overall fitness, you get a great sense of accomplishment and drive. As your confidence increases, you'll find renewed ambition to take life's challenges and pleasures head on.

* Constant strength and muscle building exercises can increase baseline testosterone over time. There have been a number of studies done that have shown increases in baseline testosterone levels in people who engage in strength and muscle building regimens. Similar studies have been done on endurance athletes like cyclists and distance runners and they have found the opposite, a reduction in testosterone in those people over time. One inconclusive theory was perhaps strength training could influence the pituitary and hypothalamic levels, leading to increased serum levels of testosterone.

So does exercise improve libido? It is pretty clear that the relationship between physical fitness and sexual function are connected with a number of positive influences. Other healthy aspects to improved libido are good eating habits, reduced alcohol consumption, getting plenty of sleep and keeping a positive outlook on life. As your health and fitness levels improve, you become happier, feel sexier, confident and more energized. The psychological and physiological changes that occur as you exercise have huge benefits over time and are very real. Studies have shown both men and women benefit equally from the effect exercise has on libido.

A number of studies have shown that benefits of exercise and libido for women tended to be in the area of drive, mood and a more intense feeling of intimacy. In one case study, a group of women were divided into two groups. Each were asked to increase their exercise frequency. The first group, however, exercised immediately before intimacy and those women reported a significantly stronger libido with a much more enhanced outcome. The two groups switched and the second group also found the same results.

There have been a number of studies on exercise and its effect on men's libido. It was also found that their sex drive increased, sexual function improved and in some cases, baseline testosterone levels also increased. In one study it was found that men who practiced moderate levels of yoga on a regular basis increased genital blood flow with improved erectile capacity.

Improving your health and fitness not only benefits your mind, but also your body and your relationships. The mix of endorphins and the potential for increased testosterone all become powerful ingredients for a happy and active libido.

As with most things, exercise should be approached with moderation and done mindfully. Be sure to get checked out by your physician if you're just getting started with fitness and exercise. If you're just getting back into fitness, start slow and stick with it. If you're already active, be consistent and stick to a regular workout schedule. Exercise will not fix all aspects of a sluggish libido or medical reasons for things like ED, but it is a very good way to take your health and fitness to another level with the added benefit of a happy, driven libido.

Now I hope this will inspire some of you to get started with building an amazing health and fitness lifestyle.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.