The Mediterranean diet provides a long list of health benefits — and it turns out it can also benefit you in the bedroom.
The much-touted Mediterranean diet is defined by its lack of processed foods in favor of fresh vegetables, fruits and healthy fats like olive oil while emphasizing the consumption of lean protein like fish and chicken.
The Mediterranean diet — which was named the best diet overall for six years in a row by US News & World Report — stresses the importance of quality sourcing and filling your plate with nutrient-rich whole foods and grains.
It’s previously been shown to improve both physical and mental health, and now a sex therapist and registered dietician is saying the diet can boost your sex life as well.
Dr. Janis Roszler told Business Insider that the lifestyle choice might be the best diet option for improving sexual health issues.
“In order to have a healthy erection, you need good blood flow and you need good nerve conduction,” she explained.
High cholesterol can lead to “fatty buildup in your blood vessels that could slow blood flow” — and the Med diet is a great way to lower cholesterol.
The diet aims to reduce the consumption of high-cholesterol foods such as red meat, processed meats, dairy, fried foods and saturated fats.
A 2020 study found that following this diet was associated with a lower risk for erectile dysfunction, “suggesting that a healthy dietary pattern may play a role in maintaining erectile health.”
The diet involves eating plant-based foods, grains and lean poultry along with healthy doses of extra-virgin olive oil — which are anti-inflammatory foods, and reducing inflammation “means that your blood vessels are healthier, that your body is working more effectively, that everything is functioning better,” Roszler said.
Anti-inflammatory diets could potentially improve a woman’s sexual arousal and desire, according to a preliminary study done in 2019.
The Med diet also promotes consuming red wine in moderation with meals, reducing excessive alcohol intake which can “slow everything down in your system.”
Roszler also stressed the importance of a Mediterranean lifestyle along with the diet.
A Harvard study found that living a Mediterranean lifestyle can decrease the odds of premature death by 29%. Along with “good food,” the study suggests that one can live longer if they have “good friends” and get enough rest.
Roszler explained that lack of sleep and stress are both “real libido killers.”
“In order to really connect with someone and enjoy the sexual experience, you’ve got to be present,” she said, adding that the Med lifestyle prioritizes a social life, rest and physical movement, which can boost sexual desire.
Meanwhile, a recent study has found that the Mediterranean diet may help reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder via the gut microbiome.
Other recent studies have found that those who stick to the diet may reduce their odds of premature death by 29%, while women alone have shown a nearly 25% lower chance of heart disease and early death.
