Don’t be fooled.
These routines might seem harmless but they’re all undermining your sex life.
Here’s how our everyday habits influence our desire for sex, performance and satisfaction.
1. Not looking after your teeth
It sounds bizarre but oral hygiene is directly linked to sexual performance.
Gum disease triggers low levels of inflammation in the blood stream and body in general – which isn’t good.
Bad habits such as poor oral hygiene or a social media obsession can undermine your sex life (stock image)
Numerous studies show a link between gum disease and everything from dementia, diabetes and lung infections to heart disease.
It also impairs blood flow throughout the body, including to the sexual organs, which is bad news for good sex.
A strong, healthy blood flow makes for good healthy erections: an erection is created when blood flows into the chambers inside the penis to make it hard.
Vaginas and vulvas also need a good blood supply for arousal.
Quite apart from sexual function, the other off-putting side-effect of not looking after your teeth is bad breath.
Along with body odour, it’s constantly cited as the top turn-off. Missing or stained teeth aren’t exactly a turn on, either.
Fix it: Clean your teeth and floss at least twice a day; visit a dentist and hygienist regularly.
2. Not talking about the big stuff
Not great at confronting problems that never seem to go away? Unresolved issues lead to emotional distance which erodes trust and intimacy.
If you don’t trust or feel safe with your partner, your desire for sex falls…or stops altogether.
Sex and relationships expert Tracey Cox (pictured) has warned that failing to address problems in your relationship can also have a negative effect on your sex life
When problems aren’t dealt with properly, they’re always in the back of your mind.
Being distracted during sex can lead to ED (for him) and difficulties reaching orgasm (for her). Sex becomes a source of tension rather than pleasure.
If resentment builds over time, unspoken anger or frustration seep into your sex life. Raised levels of cortisol – a hormone released when we’re stressed – lowers libido and plays havoc with sexual performance.
Fix it: There’s lots of information online on how to communicate more effectively.
If you’re beyond teaching yourselves, make an appointment with a couple’s counsellor.
Communication skills are learned, you aren’t born with them. Get into the habit of confronting problems early, before they become a big deal.
3. Spending too much time on social media
Yes, it really is the source of all evil. Mainly because looking at the curated, perfect lives of others makes you feel inadequate, unattractive and depressed.
All these things make us feel less like sex.
Fix it: Limit screen time, especially before you might be having sex.
If you find you’re super critical of yourself after looking at your socials, you might want to consider taking yourself off social media completely.
If you’re tired, your testosterone levels will be reduced. In turn, it is likely that your feelings of sexual desire will also be reduced (stock image)
4. Not getting quality sleep
Staying up late to binge on Netflix, sleeping in on the weekend, going to bed at different times – bad sleeping habits have a dramatic impact on your overall health and sex life.
Anyone who’s ever had a rubbish night’s sleep knows how it affects your mood the next day.
No energy and irritability aren’t great for getting you in the mood for sex either.
One study found women who’d had a good night’s sleep the night before, were far more interested in having sex the following day.
All logical so far. But what you probably didn’t know is that studies show poor quality sleep can drastically reduce testosterone levels.
Testosterone is a critical component for creating sexual desire in both men and women.
Fix it: Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, get outside and into daylight within 40 minutes of waking up, dim lights an hour before bed and leave your phone in another room.
5. Not drinking enough water
Not drinking enough water during the day could mean a wobbly erection and uncomfortable sex that night.
Dehydration has a direct impact on sexual function. For women, it leads to vaginal dryness which makes sex feel unpleasant or painful.
For men, dehydration decreases the production of semen and can affect the quality of their erections.
Erectile dysfunction can become a persistent problem for men who drink heavily (stock image)
Fix it: Men should drink about three litres of water a day and women just over two litres.
Look at your pee to see if you’re drinking enough: if it’s bright yellow or (God forbid) a bit orange, you are severely dehydrated. Ideally, it would be a pale yellow.
Avoid too much coffee and alcohol and remember cold and flu tablets, designed to dry up the mucus in your nose, also make you dry elsewhere.
6. Being a sugar junkie
While sugar can deliver a quick burst of energy, it’s followed by an inevitable crash. Eat it close to the time you usually have sex and you’ll be too tired or sluggish to enjoy it.
Long term, it’s linked to insulin resistance, weight gain and reduced testosterone levels, all of which impact your sex drive negatively.
Fix it: If you’re looking for a lift, go for a quick walk outside rather than reach for a chocolate bar. Or reach for a natural sugar by eating a piece of fruit.
A diet high in fatty foods and processed ingredients can lead to erectile dysfunction and a reduced libido for both sexes (stock image)
7. Existing on takeaways and ready meals
Shove-in-the-oven and takeaway meals might be convenient but your body – and libido – won’t thank you.
A diet high in fatty foods and processed ingredients can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) and a reduced libido for both sexes.
Smoking and high-fat diets are strongly linked to poor circulation, which is essential for sexual arousal and performance.
A poor diet also affects our body image. The better your diet, the better you look. Who wants to get naked if you aren’t proud of what you’re about to reveal?
Fix it: Aim for a diet based on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats (any fat that doesn’t solidify when cold).
Foods like salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds are known to boost sexual health with their heart-friendly fats and circulation boosting properties.
8. Taking medication and supplements
It’s (relatively) common knowledge that anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs lower our desire for sex, but other supplements and medications can also affect our sex life.
Steroids shrink the testicles and reduce testosterone production, while excessive protein supplements (favoured by bodybuilders) can lead to hormonal imbalances that dampen our sex drive.
Fix it: If the medication is necessary, ask your doctor if there are alternatives that don’t affect desire (there usually are).
If you and your partner are struggling to communicate effectively, make an appointment with a couple’s counsellor
9. Drinking and smoking too much
Two drinks can be a social lubricant: we’re more likely to chat someone up when we’ve had a few. Being mildly tiddly can also make our sexual hang-ups magically disappear.
Indulge in more than two and you’re headed down a dodgy path: men have problems getting or keeping an erection, both of you will find it harder to orgasm because our nervous system becomes desensitised.
Paranoia creeps in and erectile dysfunction becomes a permanent thing for heavy drinking men.
Fix it: Keep it moderate: alcohol should be a treat not a necessity.
- Tracey’s podcast, SexTok, comes out every Wednesday. Find her books, products and more information about sex and relationships at traceycox.com.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk