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month, only-because-you-keep-bugwas<br />
nothing sexy about my life. I washad<br />
to go back to what it was like<br />
ging-me chore. Lisa found herselfsleep<br />
deprived, and <strong>by</strong> the time my during our courting phase and relive<br />
faced with the challenges of a new husband walked in the door, I was deit<br />
in my mind. I began buying lingerie<br />
ba<strong>by</strong>, eight weeks of post-pregnancy pleted.º<br />
and entertaining fantasies.º<br />
discharge and an unflattering body Dr. Hutcherson has spent the last6Go<br />
for honey, chocolate and<br />
image.<br />
20 years working with women with oysters.Believe it or not, chem-<br />
ªBreastfeeding left my breastsstories<br />
like Lisa and Kim. The good ically speaking, these foods<br />
small and like dried prunes,º laments news is, in most cases, once all of the have the goods. How they work:<br />
Lisa, who bagged up much of her medical and emotional possibilities Honey is a super source of boron, a<br />
beloved lingerie and threw it away. ªI have been cleared, a lagging libido mineral can also found in green leafy veg-<br />
hated being nude in front of my husbe<br />
jump started. Here are 10 natural etables, fruits, legumes and nuts. It<br />
band, and I went to great lengths not ways to boost your libido that are justhelps<br />
the body process estrogen and<br />
to have sex because I didn't feel sexy; what I the doctor ordered to put the fire enhances the levels of testosterone.<br />
didn't want to be touched.º and desire back in your sex life. Chocolate contains chemicals that<br />
As it turned out, Lisa's lackluster 1Get adventurous. Dr. Hutcherson stimulate the transmission of nerve<br />
libido could be attributed to postpar- recommends women spice up impulses. And, finally, oysters are rich<br />
tum depression. Sex drive issues, their sex lives <strong>by</strong> opening their in zinc, which makes the sex-drive<br />
minds. Whether that means leavinghormone<br />
testosterone.<br />
the bedroom all together or bringing7Drink<br />
in moderation. Alcohol is a<br />
Libido<br />
toys, erotica or videos inside, she says double-edged sword because<br />
is greatly affected you should be open to new experi- even though it relaxes you and<br />
<strong>by</strong> what's going on ences.<br />
takes away your inhibitions, it can<br />
2Try massage. Massages work <strong>by</strong> also interfere with your ability to en-<br />
in your life.<br />
releasing the body's feel-goodjoy<br />
the sexual experience once it's un-<br />
chemicals, endorphins and oxyderway.tocins.<br />
These chemicals help you relax 8Stop smoking. Smoking causes<br />
however, affect millions of women for and make you want to bond with your blood vessels to constrict,<br />
a host of reasons, including heart dissomeone.<br />
including the ones that control<br />
ease, hypertension, high cholesterol, 3Get regular exercise. Physical ac- blood flow to your sexual organs. This<br />
birth control pills, thyroid problems tivity increases blood flow to theis<br />
blood flow that is needed to estab-<br />
and menopause.<br />
sexual organs and increases lish a and maintain proper lubrication<br />
According to Hilda Hutcherson, woman's level of testosterone, theduring<br />
sex.<br />
M.D., co-director of the New York hormone that works directly on the9Build<br />
your self-esteem and deal<br />
Center for Women's Sexual Health at brain to increase desire. Exercise also with emotional baggage.<br />
Columbia Pres<strong>by</strong>terian Medicalgives<br />
you increased stamina during Whether it's not liking the way<br />
Center, the main reasons women exsex.<br />
your body looks or believing that sex<br />
perience decreased libido are medical 4Watch your diet. Be mindful of is dirty, Dr. Hutcherson says you're<br />
problems, medication and relation- what you eat before your es- going to have to deal with your issues.<br />
ship issues.<br />
capades between the sheets. If you don't feel good about yourself,<br />
ªLibido is not stagnant,º explainsHigh-fat<br />
foods decrease testosterone it's going to be really hard to let<br />
Dr. Hutcherson, author of Pleasure: A levels and therefore libido. Sugary or someone in your space.<br />
Woman's Guide to Getting the Sex You high-carb foods like milk and cheese herbal remedies. Dr.<br />
Want, Need and Deserve (Putnam). ªIt can make you drowsy. Instead, try Hutcherson recommends<br />
changes week to week and situation strawberries, grapes or apples. 10Try<br />
two: Arginmax is an herbal<br />
to situation. Libido is greatly affected5Use<br />
fantasy. Your brain is your supplement that has been found to<br />
<strong>by</strong> what©s going on in your life.º largest sex organ, Dr. Hutcher- enhance women's sexual experience <strong>by</strong><br />
Case in point, stay-at-home mom son says. What it believes will improving circulation, and Zestra is a<br />
Kim* and her husband went as longbe<br />
true. Pretty much anything youpersonal<br />
lubricant.<br />
as eight months without having sex. believe is going to increase your desire * All names of couples have been<br />
ªI just had no desire for sex whatso- is going to increase your desire. changed.<br />
ever,º admits Kim, mother of three For Kim, this and an occasional<br />
young children, who during that timechocolate<br />
martini or two was her sav- Sexy, hot, fabulous and single,<br />
was dealing with both medical probing<br />
grace. ªI had to reconnect to myKennedy<br />
Spencer is looking for somelems<br />
and financial stressors. ªThereinner<br />
whore,º she says with a laugh. ªI one to ignite her libido.<br />
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2006 · HEARTANDSOUL.COM 37
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