Increase your libido naturally
After we launched a male formula in 2023, we never, ever expected the reactions to be like this.
Now, I understand if you—like me—can't help but chuckle at these kinds of messages. Of course, I'm incredibly proud that we're getting these kinds of reactions, but it also got me thinking. Especially when women asked me if I'd create a similar formula for women. We've since done so, and it's become our bestseller: female formula.
There's a lot of discussion about libido, but what exactly is it? How does it work? How can we optimize it (even without SUPs)?
In this blog post, we'll delve deeper into libido: the desire for sex. For the first time, we won't differentiate between men and women, as we firmly believe that many factors influence both and can therefore be addressed in the same way.
This blog contains some potentially sensitive material. It's not my intention to offend you personally. I simply want to explain various factors that influence libido. As always, this blog is not a substitute for the advice of a doctor or therapist.
Libido
Libido refers to a person's sexual desire or drive. It is, in my opinion, a fundamental aspect of human sexuality. As you may know, libido can vary significantly between individuals and even within the same person at different points in their lives. Factors that can influence libido include: psychological aspects, such as stress and emotional state; physiological factors, such as hormone levels and health; and external influences, such as relationships and living conditions.
The term libido was popularized by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, who described it as the energy of the sexual drive as part of his theory of the human psyche. In Freud's model, libido is one of the primary drivers of human behavior.
It's normal for libido to fluctuate throughout life. Different life stages, such as puberty, pregnancy, menopause, and andropause (the male menopause), can cause significant changes in libido. In addition, medical conditions, medications, lifestyle choices, and psychological issues like depression and anxiety can affect libido. Low sex drive (libido) is a common problem among both men and women today. A study from the New England Research Institute suggests that 24 percent of men experience low libido. [1] Meanwhile, an estimated 22 to 44 percent of women have low libido. [2] What causes low libido? Let's take a look at some of the contributing factors and work towards improvement.
Psychological aspects
Psychological aspects play a crucial role in influencing libido. These aspects can range from daily stressors to deep-seated emotional or psychological problems. I'll just give you a few examples, then I'll outline some forms of therapy that, depending on the individual, could offer relief. We'd rather reiterate this more often than less often: this newsletter is for informational purposes only, but absolutely not a replacement for therapy or the advice of a doctor or therapist.
Stress and anxiety
Stress and anxiety can significantly contribute to low libido. When someone is stressed or anxious, the body produces more of the stress hormone cortisol. High cortisol levels can reduce sexual response and desire by disrupting the balance of other hormones that influence libido, such as testosterone. Furthermore, chronic stress or anxiety can lead to fatigue and decreased well-being, which can also reduce sexual desire.
When our body experiences prolonged stress or fear or is frequently exposed to hormetic (acute stress) stimuli, our body jumps into a state of survival.
When our body enters a survival mode, several functions become crucial. The heart has to beat faster, focus has to increase, and breathing has to accelerate to release a significant amount of energy for a short time. To achieve this, large amounts of cortisol (a hormone produced in the adrenal glands) are released. Cortisol suppresses immune functions (because getting sick isn't helpful when you need to survive) and increases blood sugar levels to enable rapid flight or fight.
As long as our body is in a survival mode (i.e., increased cortisol production), we see several bodily functions suppressed. Digestion, in particular, and everything related to reproduction are put on hold. The logical explanation for the latter is simple: If you can't survive, what's the point of reproducing?
In this case, the HPA axis (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland) takes control, putting the other two important axes (HPG and HPT) on hold. Simply put, the more cortisol, the greater the chance that reproductive organs won't function as they should.
How do you ensure that cortisol goes down?
Reduce stressors and relax more. Spend less time on your phone and more time in nature. Remember that exercise, ice baths, breathwork sessions, intermittent fasting, etc., are also stressors. Compensate sufficiently by breathing through your nose, spending time in nature, getting enough sleep, getting hours without stimuli, and standing barefoot in the grass doing nothing. In addition, at least take the first few hours of the day without stimuli (CERTAINLY NO PHONE!) and the last 2-3 hours of the day as well. Please take this seriously if you're experiencing a low libido. These are steps you can take yourself. Yes. You too.
Depression
I deliberately added this chapter because many supplements for enhancing libido recommend not taking them while taking antidepressants. This is also the case with our male formula.
Now you're probably thinking... hey, where's the rest of this blog? You can find it in The Elevate Club. Our free loyalty program. Create an account on our website, log in, go to The Elevate Club, and finally to Insights. You'll find the rest of the blog there, with important information about depression, nutrition, exercise, and more.
To help you get started, you can find a hormonal recipe via this link !
[1] Travison, T. G., Araujo, A. B., Kupelian, V., O'Donnell, A. B., & McKinlay, J. B. (2007). The relative contributions of aging, health, and lifestyle factors to serum […] in men. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 92(2), 549-555.
[2] Guay, A., & Davis, S. R. (2002). Testosterone […] in women: fact or fiction?. World journal of urology, 20(2), 106-110.
