Is your libido leaving something to be desired?
Is your libido leaving something to be desired? Italians suggest a simple remedy: bright light.
At a medical conference in Vienna, Italian scientists presented in 2003 on the effect of morning sunlight on 38 men aged 19 to 30. The men had a noticeable decrease or lack of interest in sex.
High Dose of Light
Half received a high dose of light. For 30 minutes each morning, these men sat in front of a special daylight lamp with a strength of 10,000 lux; the other half received a placebo of significantly lower light intensity. For comparison: direct sunlight can reach up to 100,000 lux, while a cloudy day yields about 1,000 lux.
3x Higher Sexual Satisfaction
After two weeks, the men exposed to the bright light reported sexual satisfaction scores that were three times higher than when they started the experiment. Meanwhile, the men in the control group reported only minimal improvements. The light therapy group also had a significant increase in their testosterone levels, which is normally of vital importance for increasing libido.
Results of the Study
The researchers explained this in a press release at the time: "In the northern hemisphere, testosterone production in the body naturally decreases from November to April, and steadily increases in spring and summer with a peak in October. You can see the effect of this on reproduction, with June as the top month. The light box mimics the natural seasonal fluctuations." The researchers repeated the experiment in 2013, with the same promising results.
Simple and Effective Solution
This seemingly simple solution draws attention to one of the major deficiencies in our daily life—direct exposure to natural bright light. Light is such an important conductor of our biorhythm and hormone production that it can even effectively increase your libido.
Neurotransmitter Dopamine
A central player in this is the neurotransmitter dopamine. Normally, a natural dopamine boost in the morning through bright light directs the body. A lack of sunlight can therefore lead to dopamine depletion. Sunlight is good for you at any time of day but extremely important in the morning, and right after waking up is best.
Only 60 Minutes Per Day
Try to get at least 60 minutes per day. If this doesn't work, a daylight lamp is a second good option. You could easily incorporate this into your daily routine by taking a walk of at least 30 minutes before breakfast. A cup of coffee beforehand strengthens the effect!
Production of Melatonin
With adequate bright light, you stop the production of melatonin. This causes all day processes in the body to start running. You therefore feel energetic, clear, and good. The increase in testosterone that the Italian researchers noted is also directly linked to the increase in dopamine.
Self-light therapy is therefore an interesting option in terms of effectiveness, low threshold, excellent side effect profile, and favorable cost/benefit ratio.
