As we near February 14^th, we are inundated with advertisements, merchandise, and decorations for Valentine’s Day. All of these intending to, and often succeeding in, raising one’s expectations for a romantic day starting with exchanging cards, candy, or gifts and ending with emotional closeness and maybe even physical intimacy. Did you know that living a healthy lifestyle which includes regular exercise and good eating habits can increase your odds of realizing that romantic ideal?

Consider this:

♥ Exercise boosts endorphins, lifting your mood and increasing your energy.

♥ Physical fitness can increase blood flow, which men and women both need for sexual arousal.

♥ Being fit makes people feel sexier and have healthy self-images.

♥ Exercise helps relieve stress; less stress makes it easier to get in the mood for intimacy.

♥ Eating healthy helps keep arteries clear which is needed for that very important good blood circulation.

♥ Consuming the right nutrients (like iron) keeps energy levels up and helps ward off fatigue.

♥ Eating healthy helps you maintain a healthy weight; obesity can throw hormones out of balance leading to low libido.

Sex certainly isn’t everything in a romantic relationship, but it is an important aspect. Keeping yourself healthy and fit offer significant benefits to you and your partner – in and out of the bedroom.

This Valentine’s Day, invite your partner for a romantic walk, an energetic game of tennis, or some other physical activity you enjoy can together. Substitute high-fat comfort foods with healthy choices. (Many healthy options like strawberries, sweet potatoes, and almonds are said to be aphrodisiacs.)

The bottom line is that what’s good for your heart is also good for your sex life. Leading a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can lead you to a long and sexually-satisfying life.

Finally, you don’t have to take chocolate and wine off of your list this holiday. Dark chocolate and red wine both contain antioxidants which have been shown to be good for heart health when consumed in moderation. Happy Valentine’s Day from Dr. Johnson and his team!

Read more on this topic at: http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/exercise/can-exercise-improve-your-sex-life.htm