It’s a catch-22. Many men spend hours in the gym, endlessly working away to bulk up, slim down and achieve definition in order to make themselves healthier, stronger and – most importantly – more attractive.
But could this intense level of exercise actually be damaging to the mind and body? A new study, from researchers at the University of North Carolina, suggests that it could.
The team of scientists, led by endocrinologist Dr Frances Hayes, found that men who undertake high-intensity exercises on a regular basis tend to have considerably lower libidos than those who follow lower-intensity workout regimes. After surveying 1,100 men – all over the age of 18 – about their exercise habits and sexual history, it was found that those who push themselves further and longer in the gym are either too tired or just not interested to push themselves in the bedroom.
It was also discovered that those who exercise for longer sessions are less likely to be virile. So what can be done? Gym time has become such an integral part of many modern men’s schedules that they can’t imagine forgoing it. But neither will they be to happy to lose their libido.
Minerals and vitamins needed to promote a healthy libido can be found in certain foods – such as figs, bananas and avocados. Herbs such as basic or garlic also contribute to your body’s levels of allicin, and increase the blood flow needed for a healthy sex life. Meditation is another sure fire way to boost your libido, so maybe opt for yoga or softer methods of exercise to relieve stress. Constantly aiming to become more muscular can not only exhaust you physically, but also cause your stress levels to rise – and stand in the way of peak virility.
So watch out, gentlemen. Time in the gym will benefit your body, but will it benefit you in the bedroom?
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