Elevating the female libido

This is a long post but may prove useful for women who wish to improve their libido. I'm dividing it into two parts. Part I explains how to lower the toxic metabolite, peroxynitrite. Part II takes this information and adds to it to give ideas on elevating the female libido. References are numbered by the part of the post they are in.

PART I
Lowering peroxynitrite

Peroxynitrite, appears to be a big player in many stereotypical female problems like edema, premature skin aging, thinning hair, fragile nails, a tendency to have headaches, anxiety, autoimmune disorders, low libido and more. Controlling peroxynitrite is very valuable in maintaining maximum functioning and appearance if you produce estrogen or take it as a medication.

(1) helps explain what happens with women to make more peroxynitrite. In low androgen (testosterone, for example) situations peroxynitrite generation is greater. Also, dysfunctional estrogen metabolism that often occurs as women age may create more peroxynitrite.

Following are various ways to limit peroxynitrite toxicity:

Protection from toxicity:

* Taurine - does not lower peroxynitrite but is protective against the damages it causes to the liver, kidney and more. Since estrogen lowers taurine this is a highly recommended nutritional supplement for women. It is particularly useful for female type edema related to estrogen usage.

* Regular voluntary aerobic exercise - elevates BH4 which is damaged by peroxynitrite and is a key player in the psychological problems caused by peroxynitrite. Anything which is exciting and gets our blood flowing rapidly will also elevate BH4. You figure it out - a higher libido which leads to more sexual activity will elevate BH4 which will lead to (you guessed it) more libido.....

Peroxynitrite scavengers include:

* Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

* Blackberry extract

* Caffeic acid - in coffee

* Citrus juices - Grapefruit juice is particularly effective but it reacts with many medications so use with caution.

* Folinic Acid (a more active form of folic acid) - available as a supplement but also in sprouts, brewers yeast, liver & kidney meats.

* Gamma tocopherol (a type of vitamin E)

* Ginger

* Green tea

* Red wine

* Rosmarinic acid (in the spice Rosemary)

* Others may be found by a Google and PubMed searches.

Reduction of the generation of peroxynitrite may be accomplished by:

* Limit consumption of processed foods.

* Intermittent fasting - the most effective health intervention currently known to science. Is anti-aging, lowers peroxynitrite, lowers risk of infection, lowers cardiovascular risk factors, lowers risk of cancer, etc. Highly recommended for most people. Discuss with your doctor if you have significant medical problems as this diet is not for everyone.

* Magnesium - estrogen lowers this which is unfortunate since magnesium lowers peroxynitrite production. Regular soaking in the tub with a cup of Epsom's salt added is the best way to replenish magnesium. Add bath oil to limit drying of skin. Side note - magnesium + taurine really make skin look great.

* Maintaining a low body weight. BMI 20 - 22 is recommended for most women.

* Not smoking

* Vitamin C - 3 grams/day is a good dose.

* Zinc - 30 to 50 mg/day (Incidentally, the best natural source for both zinc and taurine is male semen. But, then there are all those nasty sexually transmitted diseases. Fair warning.)

Tricky stuff:

Peroxynitrite lowers brain DHA (a component of fish oil). Even after lowering peroxynitrite our DHA will be low. High dose molecularly distilled fish oil (omega 3) in an egg yolk emulsification can replenish this. Take one tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil and beat together with an egg yolk. Take daily. Unfortunately fish oil increases peroxynitrite generation in our intestine. Taurine protects against this.

Mix and match techniques to maximize your health, functioning and feminine appearance.

1. Nitric Oxide. 2005 May;12(3):163- 76 Androgen deprivation increases neuronal nitric oxide metabolism and its vasodilator effect in rat mesenteric arteries. The generation of ... peroxynitrite was greater in segments from orchidectomized than control rats. PMID: 15875321

PART II
Enhancing your female libido

These things work for my libido. I've tried them a number of times. You may have fun doing the same.

First, some background:

(1) indicates that high dose vitamin C (3 grams) significantly increases libido with the effect most prominent in single heterosexual women.

Marrena Lindberg, in her book "The Orgasmic Diet", recommends high dose fish oil. She feels 1600 mg of EPA and 800 DHA is a good dose. I recommend taking a tablespoon of molecularly distilled fish oil. This is about 50% more of these fatty acids than she recommends.

High dose fish oil has a tendency to oxidize in our intestine which is not a good thing. This can be prevented by taurine. I recommend taking 4 grams.

The female libido is driven by the hormone DHEA (2). This reference recommends taking DHEA as a supplement, 50 mg/twice per day. DHEA is a dangerous supplement. Don't do this unless under the supervision of a doctor. DHEA has a number of nasty side effects if overdone.

Lindberg, in her book, advises a low carb diet and limiting caffeine consumption as ways to naturally elevate DHEA. I agree with the low carb recommendation. However, lowering our intake of caffeine may lower libido. Most people get caffeine from coffee which has caffeic acid in it. Caffeic acid scavenges peroxynitrite.

Lindberg also recommends consuming rich, dark chocolate. She feels this elevates dopamine which is how it works. However, my research suggests that the female nemesis, peroxynitrite, is involved and not dopamine. (3) indicates that chocolate protects against peroxynitrate toxicity.

As I mentioned earlier the female libido appears to be inversely proportional to the level of peroxynitrate activity. I have not found this in the literature so this may be new information (or I just haven't looked hard enough). I've yet to figure out if the relationship is direct, as in more peroxynitrite activity lowers libido, or if the relationship is indirect, as in poor health lowers libido and elevates peroxynitrite.

Various references list n-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) as being able to elevate female libido. My experience strongly agrees with this. Literature review suggests NAC elevates androstenedione. This is the androgen that DHEA in the brain converts into and which elevates female libido. Unfortunately NAC has negative side effects so only take sparingly. A few times per week should be fine.

Summary

To elevate female libido try these things:

A. One tablespoon of molecularly distilled omega-3 fish oil per day. Beat together with an egg yolk without the white to maximize effect.

B. One to two NAC capsules - no more than twice per week. Discontinue use if you discover shortness of breath as that is a side effect of too much NAC. I stopped taking it for that reason. Too bad since it really elevated libido. I was taking two capsules daily. I'll resume and take only a few per week.

C. 3 grams of vitamin C/day.

D. 4 grams of taurine/day

E. A few ounces of rich, dark chocolate/day. Raspberries and dark red wine seem to enhance this effect but I'm still researching this.

F. A low carb diet.

G. Any of many methods to lower peroxynitrite as discussed earlier

H. A rich, hot mocha, which has cocoa in it and caffeic acid, works well for a special treat to raise libido. Be sure to get a real mocha and not the artificial ones made at most of the chain coffee houses. You should see the baristi crush dark chocolate and add to the mocha to know you're getting the real thing.

1. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Aug 15;52(4):371- 4
High-dose ascorbic acid increases intercourse frequency and improves mood: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Brody S. Center for and the Psychosomatic and Psychobiological Research, University of Trier, Germany.

BACKGROUND: Ascorbic acid (AA) modulates catecholaminergic activity, decreases stress reactivity, approach anxiety and prolactin release, improves vascular function, and increases oxytocin release. These processes are relevant to sexual behavior and mood.

METHODS: In this randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled 14 day trial of sustained-release AA (42 healthy young adults; 3000 mg/day Cetebe) and placebo (39 healthy young adults), subjects with partners recorded penile-vaginal intercourse (FSI), noncoital partner sex, and masturbation in daily diaries, and also completed the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the trial.

RESULTS: The AA group reported greater FSI (but, as hypothesized, not other sexual behavior) frequency, an effect most prominent in subjects not cohabiting with their sexual partner, and in women. The AA but not placebo group also experienced a decrease in Beck Depression scores.

CONCLUSIONS: AA appears to increase FSI, and the differential benefit to noncohabitants suggests that a central activation or disinhibition, rather than peripheral mechanism may be responsible.
PMID: 12208645

2. http://www.thehormo/ neshop.com/ dheatiedwomensli bido.htm
Male Hormones Not Tied to Women's Libido, however, DHEA is!

SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, July 6, 2005....

...a low level of dehydroepiandroster one sulfate (DHEAS) did correlate with low sexual desire, arousal, and responsiveness.

The results contradict the idea of using testosterone to treat low sexual desire disorder, the researchers conclude....

DHEAS levels can be elevated by the simple suplementation of USP grade DHEA. 50 mg taken twice a day for 2 weeks had a significant effect on how 87% of women had a positive effect and increased levels of DHEA...

3. FEBS Lett. 1999 Nov 26;462(1-2): 167-70
Protection against peroxynitrite by cocoa polyphenol oligomers.
...epicatechin oligomers found in cocoa powder and chocolate may be a potent dietary source for defense against peroxynitrite.
PMID: 10580113


Nerissa