4 ways sugar could be impacting your sex life

We’re all about sugar this month! This month is the Sugar Detox themed 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge and we’ve been discussing sugar and exactly what it does to the body.

We’ve learned about sugar’s relation to weight gain and some of the better sugar alternatives, but did you know sugar is affecting our SEX LIVES?!

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.

So much so that 80 per cent of people questioned did not know that type 2 diabetes could lead to these 4 issues in the bedroom:

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, 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 benefit only suffers of type 2 diabetes, a healthy diet is key to a all around healthy life.

Check out these 7 ways to reduce your sugar intake.

Here at The Healthy Mummy we like to offer meal plans to get people started on their weight loss journey or maintaining a healthy weight.

If you think you could be eating too much sugar or refined foods, you might want to try our Sugar Detox themed 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge. Why not join us on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge here.

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 yogurt 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.

Quitting processed sugar worked for this mum, so it could work for you too!

Are you ready to kick-start your weight loss?

Want to shift your baby weight but feel like you have NO TIME in your day to exercise and eat healthily? That’s where the Healthy Mummy’s 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge can help.

Our Challenge entails: 

• 28 days of at home exercise routines (no gym needed) – with video instruction
• Customisable and breastfeeding friendly meal plans
• Time-efficient exercises for busy mums – under 30 mins
• Challenge combines Pilates exercises with interval and circuit training (HIIT)
• Suitable for basic to advanced fitness levels.
• Home to thousands of EASY-TO-MAKE recipes.

To find out more about joining the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge for £1 click here.

PLUS – connect with THOUSANDS of other mums on the 28 Day Weight Loss Challenge by joining our free support community here