What’s Food Got To Do With It?
I have written a few posts about ways to deal with anxiety, sexual health and dysfunction and feeling more pleasure and sensations in the body. These have included mindfulness techniques, bodywork, talking therapy and breathwork, amongst others. There is another important aspect that can influence our emotions, and contributes towards a healthy functioning of the body – what we eat and drink.
Magnesium
For example, did you know how important magnesium is to us? It is required for the proper functioning of hundreds of enzyme systems in the body, and is a key component of the energy making process. And yet, most of us are deficient in this key mineral. Magnesium deficiency plays an important role in dozens of health conditions, including heart disease, osteoporosis, migraines and many more. If we don’t have enough magnesium in our body, this can contribute to poor sleep, depression, and anxiety.
This is why diet is an important factor in helping us to feel happier and more regulated, especially if other therapies and techniques have not had as much of an impact as we would like. For those interested in reading more, I can recommend the book The Magnesium Miracle by Dr Carolyn Dean.
Sexual Health and Dysfunction
When it comes to sexual health and dysfunction, certain foods can also help support the body. For example, zinc deficiency increases the risk of an enlarged prostate (also known as BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia) in men over 50. At the same time, vitamin D deficiency has been associated with erectile dysfunction. For women, certain foods such as watermelons, apples and cacao have been linked with improved lubrication and general sexual health.
The above are just a few examples out of a possible many. Food can be used to help us feel more calm and relaxed, as an aphrodisiac, or to help us to function optimally. This includes both excluding the foods that don’t work for us, and including those that do. As this can vary from person to person, mindfulness can play an important role – noticing if there is a link between what you are eating and drinking, and how you are feeling. For example, coffee will make many people feel more alert. The increased heart rate can also be interpreted as anxiety by the body. For others, drinking coffee actually makes them feel more relaxed.
Please note, it is generally not a good idea to randomly supplement with this and that. Minerals and vitamins work in combination in the body, so consult with a nutritional therapist if you are thinking of adding any supplements to your diet.