Antioxidants Increase Sexual Pleasure
We often read or hear news reports about antioxidants and how
they can improve our health, yet we rarely hear about the role
they play in the pleasure we obtain from sex and intimacy.
To understand antioxidants and the ways they can enhance genital
health, we first need to understand the role that free radicals
play in damaging our cells. In essence, free radicals are the
toxic byproducts of our metabolism. Free radical production can
increase as a result of the foods we eat (as is the case with
charbroiled meat) or the air we breathe (as is the case with
second hand smoke).
Using several enzyme-based systems, our body does its best to
combat free radicals. When our body's defenses fail, though,
free radicals cause individual cells to become damaged or die.
If left unchecked, free radicals cause tissue damage, premature
aging, and loss of cellular function. In other words, our cells
become oxidized, much in the same way that rust forms on iron
when it is exposed to air and water.
Antioxidants help to combat free radical damage by shoring up
the body's enzyme-based systems. Vitamins C and E are popular
antioxidants, as are the polyphenols found in plants and in
certain foods and beverages, such as cocoa, red wine, green tea,
and ginseng.
Antioxidants can also improve sexual pleasure and intimacy.
Women who are perimenopausal, menopausal, or post-menopausal -
along with women who use oral contraceptives - can experience
genital oxidative stress, which can result in vaginal dryness
and a lack of sexual desire. In a sense, antioxidants are an
aphrodisiac, in that they preserve the nitric oxide needed to
dilate blood vessels in genital tissues, which in turn causes
sexual arousal.
Eating or drinking foods and beverages with antioxidant
properties is sure to improve your overall feeling of
well-being, but antioxidants delivered in the form of a
lubricant to sensitive genital skin can have a positive impact
on sexual pleasure and intimacy. When organic antioxidants
penetrate the skin, they energize nerve endings.
Genital skin care should be an ongoing priority. When looking
for an antioxidant to promote genital health, it is important to
find one that is water-free and non-oily. Instead, it should be
polymer-based and have a non-sticky feeling. In addition, it
should be a product that can be used on a daily basis.