Expert: Dennis Leppanen - 6/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi,
i am 28 years old and have suffered from a low libido all my life, is there anything you can recomend that could boost my sex drive.
thanks

ANSWER: Hi Cash,

Natural treatment can support function by improving overall health. Diet and exercise are keys. A vital, healthy sex drive depends on your overall health. You you smoke? Drink to excess? Eat a fast food diet with many daily sodas? All can interfere with your libido. What prescription and/or over the counter drugs do you take regularly?

Nutrition

Good nutrition may help improve libido.
•   Eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits (lots of richly pigmented berries to support vascular integrity), vegetables, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and mackerel).

•   Avoid sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.

•   Eliminate food sensitivities. Use an elimination and challenge diet elimination and challenge diet to determine food sensitivities.

•   Drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water daily).

Supplements

Supplements are intended to provide nutritional support. Because a supplement or a recommended dose may not be appropriate for all persons, a physician (i.e., a licensed naturopathic physician or holistic MD or DO) should be consulted before using any product.
Recommended doses follow:
•   Bioflavonoids – Take 1000 mg daily.
•   Flaxseed meal – Grind 2-4 tablespoons daily. Flaxseed meal is a better choice due to its fiber, lignan, and vitamin content, but flaxseed oil (1 tbsp daily) can be substituted.
•   Inositol hexaniacinate – Take 1000-3000 mg daily to improve circulation and lower cholesterol. Diabetics should not take this supplement.
•   Selenium – Take 200 mcg daily.
•   Vitamin C – Take 1000 mg 3 times daily with meals.
•   Vitamin E – Take 400 IUs daily.
•   Zinc – Take 30 mg daily.

Herbal Medicine

Garlic 2 capsules three times a day. Enhances blood flow.

Other herbs---Damiana, Sarsaparilla, and Siberian Ginseng. Look for an herbal formula consisting of saw palmetto and damiana. Remember, herbal formulas take time to become effective.

L-Arginine---an amino acid---aids blood flow to the penis.

Exercise daily.

This should help.

Best wishes,
Dennis


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi Dennis thanks for for your help,
just wanted to ask one more question, i use the gym regularly, eat healthy foods and don't smoke or drink.
if you were to recommend 1 or 2 of the herbs, which would be the best also how long approximately would it take to see an affect
thanks

Answer
Hi Cash,

I answered this earlier, but I see you didn't receive it. Sorry. Life in cyber space.

I would opt for Garlic and Ginseng. And, also take L-Arginine, a terrific amino acid for increasing blood flow.


Avoid repeating exercises that restrict the groin area.

Dennis