An August, 2007 study found that women with metabolic syndrome who adopted a Mediterranean diet improved their sexual functioning by 32% compared to similar women who made no changes. The improvements seemed to be small and across the board when the individual variables were examined (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, pain) - but taken together, the women's sex lives improved significantly. Previous studies have shown similar results for men.

In the women's study, 31 women made Mediterranean changes to their diet, while a control group of 28 women made no changes to their diet, and saw no improvement.

In a 2006 study of men with metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction, 37% of those who went on a Mediterranean diet saw their IEEF scores rise to 22 or higher (a change from erectile dysfunction to normal). Only 7% of the men who did not change their diet improved to the same degree. The dietary changes also led to a reduction in cardiovascular risk, which means those men will not only be having better sex, they will probably live longer as well.

Aphrodisiology has written before about the evidence that metabolic syndrome and diabetes are two of the biggest risk factors for erectile dysfunction in men. Metabolic syndrome is sometimes called 'pre-diabetes' as it shares many of the same characteristics, and because it can turn into full-blown diabetes if not reversed with diet and exercise. Metabolic syndrome includes obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, high LDL or total cholesterol, and high triglycerides. Usually, when a person has 3 or more of these, they are said to have metabolic syndrome.

While some cookbooks focus on particular foods for improving one's love life (and they might have a temporary effect), it appears that that long-term diet is more important and more effective. This Italian study measured sexuality and diet for a two year period. A special weekend dinner is great, but the human body needs good nutrition on a day to day basis, and sexual health can't be entirely switched on and off with one meal.

What Makes a Diet More Mediterranean?

The traditional ways of eating in Greece and Italy vary from region to region, but tend to have the following similarities:

• Olive oil as an important source of fat
• Relatively little red meat compared to a modern western diet
• More fish and poultry than a modern western diet
• More beans (legumes) than in most modern diets.
• Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Regular consumption of almonds, walnuts and other nuts
• Whole grains, but little refined carbohydrates
• Moderate consumption of wine, usually with the evening meal.

Few researchers have looked into the effect that herbs and spices play in this diet - having observed the eating habits of several Greek villages, I can tell you that the liberal use of rosemary, sage, oregano, and other herbs is important, and I believe this may also play a role. Occasional short-term fasts are also common in the religious rural areas of Greece and Italy; I believe that this may have a beneficial effect on many metabolic processes. But there is no single factor acts as a magic bullet - adopting this diet means making broad changes to eating habits.

What Does a Mediterranean Diet Do?

Adopting the diet of a Greek peasant has multiple beneficial effects on the body, and these are especially valuable for treating or preventing metabolic syndrome. Some of these include:

• Better cholesterol levels.
• Lower levels of Oxidized LDL cholesterol - few doctors test for this, yet is a major factor in endothelial health and erectile dysfunction.
• Better blood pressure (another important risk factor for ED).
• Reduced inflammatory molecules, including homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein.
• Lower trigylcerides.
• Improved insulin sensitivity.
• Better weight control.

I've heard some people complain about the cost. Yes, everyone has a budget and needs to respect their limits. Yes, good ingredients often cost more. Olive oil is more expensive than corn oil. But corn oil is more expensive than motor oil; cost isn't everything. Some people live off of ramen noodles because it is cheap. It isn't good, although a healthy young person can do this for a few years before the damage is apparent.

The price of fish has skyrocketed in recent years and good fish can cost $7 a serving, but fish oil capsules cost only a few cents a day. Eating produce that is in season and plentiful keeps the costs down. Frozen produce is often a good compromise ... its close to fresh in terms of nutrition, and is usually priced competitively.

Non-Mediterranean Foods with a Similar Effect

There are foods from other cuisines that have similar beneficial effects, and they can be incorporated to any diet.

• Cocoa and Chocolate (improves endothelial function)
• Sesame Oil (reduces blood pressure, cholesterol)
• Flax Oil or Fish Oil (broad nutritional values)
• Fiber (improves cholesterol, blood pressure)

Diet is not the only factor contributing to the outstanding health that has been observed in some parts of the Mediterranean. The traditional life styles there include more physical activity, less stress, and strong social ties in the community. These are all good for health (and ultimately for sexual health). But the Italian study on women only asked them to change their diet, which yielded big benefits.

Related Links

• Mediterranean diet improves sexual function in women with the metabolic syndrome
• Mediterranean diet improves erectile function in subjects with the metabolic syndrome
• Metabolic Syndrome, Libido and a Low-carb Diet here at Aphrodisiology.com