Don’t be fooled.
These routines may seem harmless, but they are all undermining your sex life.
This is how our daily habits influence our sexual desire, performance and satisfaction.
1. Not taking care of your teeth
It sounds strange, but oral hygiene is directly related to sexual performance.
Gum disease triggers low levels of inflammation in the bloodstream and body in general, which is not good.
Bad habits, such as poor oral hygiene or an obsession with social media, can undermine your sex life (file image)
Numerous studies show a link between gum disease and everything from dementia, diabetes, and lung infections to heart disease.
It also affects blood flow throughout the body, including the sexual organs, which is bad news for the fair sex.
Strong, healthy blood flow produces 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 to become aroused.
Aside from sexual function, the other unpleasant side effect of not taking care of your teeth is bad breath.
Along with body odor, it is consistently cited as the main problem. Missing or stained teeth aren’t exactly exciting either.
Fix it: Brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day; Visit a dentist and hygienist regularly.
2. Not talking about important things
Aren’t you good at dealing with problems that never seem to go away? Unresolved issues lead to emotional distance that erodes trust and intimacy.
If you don’t trust or feel safe with your partner, your sexual desire decreases… or stops completely.
Sex and relationships expert Tracey Cox (pictured) has warned that failing to address relationship problems can also have a negative effect on your sex life.
When problems are not addressed properly, they are always in the back of your mind.
Being distracted during sex can lead to erectile dysfunction (for him) and difficulty reaching orgasm (for her). Sex becomes a source of tension rather than pleasure.
If resentment builds over time, unexpressed anger or frustration seeps into your sex life. Elevated levels of cortisol (a hormone released when we are stressed) reduce libido and wreak havoc on sexual performance.
Fix it: There is a lot of information online about how to communicate more effectively.
If you can’t learn on your own, make an appointment with a couples counselor.
Communication skills are learned, not born with them. Get in the habit of dealing with problems early on, 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 perfect, manicured lives of others makes you feel inadequate, unattractive, and depressed.
All of these things make us feel less like sex.
Fix it: Limit screen time, especially before having sex.
If you find that you are highly critical of yourself after looking at your social media, you may want to consider quitting social media altogether.
If you are tired, your testosterone levels will decrease. In turn, your feelings of sexual desire are likely to be reduced as well (stock image)
4. Not sleeping well
Staying up late to watch Netflix, sleeping in on the weekend, going to bed at different times – poor sleep habits have a dramatic impact on your overall health and sex life.
Anyone who’s ever had a bad night’s sleep knows how it affects their mood the next day.
Lack of energy and irritability are also not good for getting you in the mood for sex.
One study found that women who had a good night’s sleep the night before were much more interested in having sex the next day.
Everything logical so far. But what you probably didn’t know is that studies show that poor quality sleep can dramatically reduce testosterone levels.
Testosterone is a critical component in creating sexual desire in both men and women.
Fix it: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, go out into daylight within 40 minutes of waking up, dim the 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 an unstable erection and uncomfortable sex that night.
Dehydration has a direct impact on sexual function. In women, it causes vaginal dryness, which makes sexual intercourse unpleasant or painful.
In the case of men, dehydration decreases semen production and can affect the quality of their erections.
Erectile dysfunction can become a persistent problem for men who drink heavily (file image)
Fix it: Men should drink about three liters of water a day and women just over two liters.
Look at your urine to see if you’re drinking enough: if it’s bright yellow or (heaven forbid) a little orange, you’re severely dehydrated. The ideal would be a pale yellow color.
Avoid too much coffee and alcohol, and remember that cold and flu pills, designed to dry out mucus in your nose, also cause it to dry out elsewhere.
6. Be a sugar addict
While sugar can provide a quick burst of energy, an inevitable crash follows. Eat it close to the usual time of having sex and you will be too tired or sluggish to enjoy it.
In the long term, it is linked to insulin resistance, weight gain, and reduced testosterone levels, all of which negatively affect your sex drive.
Fix it: If you’re looking for a ride, take a quick walk outside instead of grabbing a candy bar. Or opt for a natural sugar by eating a piece of fruit.
A diet rich in fatty foods and processed ingredients can cause erectile dysfunction and reduced libido in both sexes (file image)
7. Available in takeaway and ready meals.
Baked and takeout meals may be convenient, but your body (and your libido) won’t thank you.
A diet high in fatty foods and processed ingredients can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) and reduced libido in both sexes.
Smoking and high-fat diets are strongly linked to poor circulation, which is essential for sexual arousal and performance.
Poor nutrition also affects our body image. The better your diet, the better you will look. Who wants to get naked if they’re not proud of what they’re about to reveal?
Fix it: Try to eat a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats (any fat that doesn’t solidify in the cold).
Foods like salmon, avocados, nuts, and seeds are known to improve sexual health with their heart-friendly fats and circulation-boosting properties.
8. Take medications and supplements
It’s (relatively) common knowledge that antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications reduce our sex drive, but other supplements and medications can also affect our sex lives.
Steroids shrink the testicles and reduce testosterone production, while excessive protein supplements (favored by bodybuilders) can cause hormonal imbalances that reduce our sexual desire.
Fix it: If medication is necessary, ask your doctor if there are alternatives that do not affect desire (there usually are).
If you and your partner are having difficulty communicating effectively, make an appointment with a couples counselor.
9. Drinking and smoking too much
Two drinks can be a social lubricant: We’re more likely to chat with someone when we’ve already had a few. Being a little shy can also make our sexual hang-ups magically disappear.
Indulge in more than two and you’ll be heading down a dodgy path: Men have trouble getting or maintaining an erection, both of them will find it harder to orgasm because our nervous systems become desensitized.
Paranoia sets in and erectile dysfunction becomes permanent for men who drink excessively.
Fix it: Keep it moderate: Alcohol should be a pleasure, not a necessity.
- Tracey’s podcast, SexTok, comes out every Wednesday. Find her books, products and more information on sex and relationships at traceycox.com.