Omega-3 To Improve Sex Life?

Psychiatrists sometimes try to get people to take omega-3 fatty acids,
in order to reduce symptoms of mood disorders.   Although the
evidence is not rock-solid, it is fairly good.  There is no
evidence that it can hurt, and some evidence that it can help with
cardiovascular health.  I've mentioned all that before.
 But I've never yet run into anything like this:

Recipe for better sex: What to eat to add spice

By Forbes.com staff

src="http://msnbcmedia3.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Sources/Local/sourceForbes.gif"
border="0" height="20" hspace="0" vspace="0"
width="140">

Updated: 1:16 p.m. ET Dec 11, 2006

Need to spice up your sex life? All the ingredients
you need may be
found at your local grocery store.



Like many aspects of health, our sex drive is affected by what we put
into our bodies. Certain foods affect the body in different ways.
Depending on what you consume, wining and dining a date can induce more
sleep than romance. A big, fancy dinner, a bottle of wine and fine
chocolates may sound sweet — but such meals are actually
little more than empty calories.



To really get your blood going, consider circulation-enhancing dishes.
Food that's high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel, salmon and
wild salmon are best. "Omega-3 makes your nervous system function
better," says Dr. Barbara Bartlik, assistant professor of psychiatry
and sex therapist with the Human Sexuality Program at Weill Cornell
Medical Center. "Sex is really about circuitry." Multivitamins and
minerals will help, too. Both improve neurological function, which
contributes to good circulation...

I doubt
there are any randomized, double-blind controlled studies on this.
 Such a study would be hard to do, because the placebo
response rate tends to be high in these things.  Still, it
makes sense to do what you can to protect your neurological and
cardiovascular health, if your sex life is important to you.



Maybe that is the key to motivating people to take good care of
themselves.  If they won't do it to treat their bipolar
disorder, maybe they'll do it for sex.  



Oh, and the chili peppers?  Those are supposed to be good, too.

Chili peppers can stimulate the nervous system and
enhance the feelings of sexual arousal.

But I can't mention all this without adding a serious note.
 Sexual dysfunction can be a sign of a serious medical
problem, such as diabetes.  So don't mess around with the
salmon and chiles if you have a change in sexual function.
 See your doctor.