4 ways sugar could be impacting your sex life

Could eating sugar be affecting your sex life? Below, we discuss exactly what sugar does to the body.

We all are aware about how sugar can cause weight gain but it could be ruining our libido as well.

A survey carried out by CuraLin Diabetic Supplement found that type 2 diabetes can seriously affect our sex lives and we don’t even know about it.

Is sugar sabotaging your sex life?

The survey carried out on 2,022 people from the UK, found that people weren’t aware of the more serious consequences of type 2 diabetes – including its effects in the bedroom.

Nutritionist Cassandra Barns also comments on how this now, epidemic level of type 2 diabetes is affecting sex life.

In fact, 80 per cent of people questioned did not know that type 2 diabetes could lead to these 4 issues in the bedroom.

Eating sugar can impact your sex life

1. Unable to reach orgasm

Type 2 diabetes may affect women’s sexual function because the damage it causes to blood vessels can affect blood supply to the vagina and clitoris. This affects sensitivity, meaning reduced pleasure and difficulty reaching orgasm and that’s something we women do not strive for.

2. Erectile dysfunction

In the CuraLin survey, 80 per cent of people questioned did not know that type 2 diabetes could lead to erectile dysfunction. High blood sugar damages the nerves and blood vessels, decreasing sensitivity and making it more difficult for a man to get an erection.

“High blood pressure and heart disease, which often accompany diabetes, can also contribute to the problem,” Nutritionist Cassandra Barns said.

3. Dryness

The study showed that because the damage it causes to blood vessels, the blood supply to the vagina and clitoris is limited, causing dryness and reduced arousal along with nerve damage. Ouch! Dryness can also make us not want to have sex altogether as the pain is all to severe or just plain annoying.

4. Suppressed libido

Depression can impact your sex drive as it involves neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine (which are produced from amino acids in the foods we eat), which plays a role in both mood regulation and libido. So, eating high levels of refined sugar will take a toll on your serotonin levels and lower your mood and libido.

A 2015 study, including nearly 70,000 women, found higher chances of depression in those with a high added sugar intake. Blood sugar levels also suppress energy levels, making you fatigued, which isn’t conducive to wanting to have sex.

And when sufferers aren’t doing enough to manage their levels, such as exercise, diet and sleep, sex lives and more can be continually affected.

What to do about it?

A healthy diet is key to managing your blood sugar, and it doesn’t only benefit sufferers of type 2 diabetes, a healthy diet is key to an all around healthy life.

Check out these 7 ways to reduce your sugar intake.

How to manage your blood sugar levels

1. Eating whole foods – When a food is in its WHOLE and NATURAL form, like a piece of fruit, or full fat milk, then the other elements in the food balance out the sugar and our bodies can cope with it. Most processed foods contain refined carbohydrates or added sugars that can quickly spike your blood sugar.
2. Making sugar swaps – When choosing a sugar to eat and use in your cooking, choose one that has a lower GI, to avoid spikes in blood sugar levels, and some other beneficial properties.  
   
3. Add in more protein and vegetables – Protein will keep you feeling fuller for longer and slows down the release of carbohydrates and sugars in the meal. Accompany your protein with low-starch vegetables as their fibre helps to keep you fuller for longer and will also balance out your blood sugar. 
   
4. Read the labels – Watch out for hidden sugars, even yoghurt can have copious amounts of sugar added to it.
   
5. Reduce alcohol – Not only will excessive drinking cause weight gain, but there are many hidden sugars in alcohol also.

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