You've probably heard that regular exercise can reduce the risk of chronic heart disease, diabetes or osteoporosis.
But a growing number of investigations show that it can have another, more surprising effect: improving your sex life.
In men, regular exercise seems to be a natural Viagra: it is associated with a lower risk of erectile problems.
In a small study, middle-aged sedentary men assigned to participate in a vigorous nine-month exercise program reported more frequent sexual activity, improved sexual function, and greater satisfaction. Those whose fitness level increased most saw the greatest improvements in their sex lives.
Research on women has found that those who are physically active have greater sexual desire, greater arousal, and satisfaction than women who are sedentary.
In an unusual experiment, young women who cycled intensely for 20 minutes and watched an erotic film showed greater physiological sexual arousal (measured by a device that evaluates vaginal blood flow) than those who did not exercise before watching the movie.
Increased blood flow helps explain why exercise leads to better sexual function in men, too.
The image can also play a role. Men and women who exercise may be more likely to feel sexually desirable, which can lead to better sex.
In addition, physical activity - especially strength training - can increase testosterone levels, which in turn increases sexual desire in men and women.
However, overtraining can have the opposite effect.
A recent study found that men who exercise very vigorously tend to have lower libidos. While this is a potential concern for elite athletes or others who push themselves to the max without adequate recovery, it is not something that most of us should worry about.
FUENTE: CNN
