Health Question

Most people who struggle with their weight are probably well aware of the correlation between obesity and diabetes. It’s a slippery slope, the more overweight and out-of-shape one becomes, the better their chances for Type 2 Diabetes. The complications caused by diabetes like heart disease, retinopathy (leading to vision loss), kidney disease and nerve damage are openly discussed with doctors and in support groups.

What’s left unsaid -- is what most people are thinking about but rarely talking about -- with their doctors: sex. Yes, diabetes can have a dramatic effect on a person’s sex life and relationships. Beyond the extra pounds making locating the naughty bits a bit difficult, there are a slew of physical and mental problems that can arise.

Obesity can make it difficult locating the libido, but with diabetes also comes a higher risk of infections, nerve damage which decreases pleasure and sensation, limited mobility, erectile dysfunction, feeling unattractive due to excess weight, being tired from high glucose levels, and vaginal dryness, according to the American Diabetes Association.

“Being overweight causes anxiety and prevents you from enjoying your sexuality and sex life. Sex may not be enjoyable merely from the physical difficulty of having sex when you’re obese, or it could be related to nerve damage,” says eDiets’ Chief Nutritionist, Susan Burke. However, she wants everyone to take note that much of the pleasure from sex comes from between your ears -- not just between your legs.

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Burke continues to say that, often times, people don’t know they have diabetes. Type 2 comes on slowly, so it can be hard to catch, gradually creeping into the bedroom and making a person too tired, feeling too unattractive and just not interested due to the problems they face between the sheets, not even realizing what’s caused this drop in desire.

“There are many complications of diabetes that may occur as a result of high blood glucose levels, high blood pressure and/or elevated blood fats. Neuropathy is known to cause sexual dysfunction in up to 75 percent of men and up to 35 percent of women with diabetes,” says eDiets Diabetes Expert, Christine Miller.

“Damage to the nerves in the sexual regions of the body can reduce or interfere with the ability to feel sexual sensations leading to difficulty with arousal and orgasm. Poor blood flow, especially in men, can mean an inability to achieve and sustain an erection,” Miller said.

Erectile dysfunction affects not only the man, but his partner as well. Because Type 2 occurs later in life, it could disrupt a previously normal sex life and could be attributed to weight gain and poor self image, instead of the real culprit, says Burke.

According to Burke, the best way to keep the lovin’ alive is to avert yourself from this uninformed road to ruin, “Get tested for diabetes,” is the best piece of preventative advice she can give. If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.

Now that the problem’s been diagnosed, Miller explains, “Type 2s can often control their blood glucose by losing weight, exercising and when necessary, taking medications. But without making the lifestyle changes required to stay at a healthy weight, some Type 2s need insulin to control their blood sugars.”

“It’s all about prevention,” says Burke. “Controlling blood glucose levels by losing weight, eating properly and exercising.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, often times, women with diabetes viewed themselves as less attractive, less satisfied and less interested in sex. But don’t fret, if it’s too late for prevention, there are ways to get back in the saddle.

Try finding comfortable positions for sex, increasing strength through exercise, lube for dryness, focusing on what makes you attractive (you know your best qualities), and, for erectile dysfunction, there are pills, pumps and even surgery (all these should be discussed with a doctor) says the ADA.

Eat right, control glucose levels, exercise and discuss the effects of diabetes with your partner—so they know what’s going on, too. Don’t let diabetes sidetrack your sex life.

Shawn McKee graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Journalism and has written for The Broward and Miami New Times.

A wedding bell wake-up call motivated Bethany H. to join forces with eDiets.com. She knew she would remember her wedding for the rest of her life. She also knew that it would be a day of nonstop stares and a thousand photographs. While the vegetarian bride-to-be was ready to say "I do" to the man she loved, she also wanted to say "I won’t" to walking down the aisle weighing 183 pounds.

Bethany was ready to start making major changes. She had tried several other diets in the past, but none of them suited her well enough to become a lifelong plan. She wanted a diet she could really stick to for the long haul.

It was the simplicity and individual customization of the eDiets.com vegetarian plan that really sparked her interest.

“It was the ease of being able to log in and get the menu. When I checked out that it had a vegetarian plan, I knew it was right for me. It was the first diet I had ever seen that had a good, balanced plan for a vegetarian. It was just so easy,” Bethany tells eDiets.

While she had said goodbye to eating meat years ago, before signing up with eDiets.com she had never said hello to a nutritional vegetarian diet. Instead of heading toward health, she was constantly running for the border; that is, the Taco Bell drive-thru border, one of her favorite stops. She also had a weakness for pizza, lots of fatty snack foods and sweets.

“I think it was hard back then for me to find things that tasted good. It’s easy to forget, but just because it doesn’t have meat in it doesn’t mean that it’s healthy," Bethany says.

As soon as she started following eDiets' vegetarian meal plans, the pounds started melting off. It was a great motivator for her. Her energy started soaring, and she could feel herself gaining confidence.

Following her new, meat-free, nutritionally balanced diet was an absolute no-brainer. It was so simple and convenient that she felt comfortable with it from the get-go. It was the first time she had ever found a plan that gave her choices instead of taking them away. The eDiets.com recipes introduced her to a world of new vegetarian foods that she never knew existed.

“It was actually easier then any other meal plan I ever had in my life," Bethany raves. "I didn’t have to think about it. That, right off the bat, made it so much easier. I knew that I had to save the foods that were in the refrigerator, and that I couldn’t eat everything I bought at the grocery store because I had to save it for another meal later in the week. It really made me think about everything. I didn’t really know a lot about cooking tofu and things. The eDiets recipes showed me how to cook and make it taste good."

Once Bethany opened the door to eDiets.com recipes and meal plans, she realized there was much more to take advantage of on the site. She began using many of the tools on a daily basis. She enjoyed the comfort of knowing that she didn’t have to give up on her new diet, even when she was in a rush. She could simply go to the dining-out guide or substitution options and figure out what she could eat.

Bethany feels much more confident and happy in her new figure. She also enjoys a more active lifestyle. She now takes 30-minute walks every morning with her sweetie and also sets aside some time for strength training at least twice a week. Her ultimate health goal is to reach the maintenance program. She has welcomed eDiets.com vegetarian plan as part of her life.

Today, the happily married woman is looking forward to a lifetime of new memories and a future of good health.

Ready for one of our 24 personalized eating plans? If so, click here and take that first step for a brighter and lighter future.

It may be the dog days of summer, but those autumn weekends will be here soon enough. If you are anything like me, you are anxiously counting down the weeks, days, minutes and seconds until the official start of football season. Instead of spending my Saturdays hitting golf balls at the driving range or lounging around on the beach, I will be packing up the car and heading north to "The Swamp" to root my beloved Florida Gators on to victory.

Find your perfect diet and score big with weight loss! Click here to discover which of our 24 personalized plans is best for you!

I’ve already got everything I need to start tailgating: a portable sports radio, official college game footballs, replica helmets, jerseys, hats, car flags and a cooler filled with plenty of healthy snacks. But on the advice of prominent medical expert Dr. David Katz, I may leave those orange and blue sports beverages behind this season.

"Sports drinks are to drinking what Hummers are to driving -- the effective marketing of a fantasy," Dr. Katz says. "You generally don’t need a Hummer to navigate the streets of your average suburb, and you don’t need a sports beverage for the energy exerted getting up off the lounge chair to change the channel on your television."

After he expressed his views on sports drinks during an episode of Good Morning America, Dr. Katz was contacted by scientists in the sports nutrition industry. He has since reviewed all of the published medical literature on rehydration, which includes studies from around the U.S., England, Brazil and Japan.

"I’ve actually been given an education by the people in this industry," Dr. Katz says. "And I have no doubt about the science of showing that these drinks may be uniquely beneficial for hydrating someone at risk of being dehydrated. But unless you are at risk of being dehydrated, there is no benefit here."

According to Dr. Katz, the biggest problem with sports drinks is that they have been disassociated from sport. When elite athletes exercise for extended periods of time, they sweat out water and electrolytes. Sports drinks are specifically designed to replenish the body in such situations. However, most consumers don’t use these beverages for their intended use.

"You see multi-colored sports drink options in every mini-mart along every highway in the country, and I am really curious to know how many ultra marathoners and Tour de France riders are rushing into those mini marts on a routine basis," Dr. Katz says.

For the average consumer, Dr. Katz believes sports drinks are little more than "glorified soda." While these beverages serve a purpose when you are exercising, he says that the rest of the time they provide people with extra sugar and calories they simply don’t need.

As the Yale professor is quick to point out, we live in a society where obesity and diabetes are much bigger problems than rampant dehydration. If you are just looking for a refreshing beverage, Dr. Katz recommends water, natural fruit juice and fruit-flavored seltzers as healthier alternatives to sports drinks.

"If you are engaged in a high-intensity sport like, for example, being on the Florida Gators football team and training in 100-degree heat, you are actually at risk of dehydrating and a sports drink may really help you out," Dr. Katz says.

Though I did graduate from the University of Florida more than a decade ago, I didn’t play on the football team. Technically, that means I’ve still got 5 years of eligibility left. I think I will keep a few sports beverages in the bottom of my refrigerator... Just in case coach Urban Meyer needs to use me this season.

Have questions about your favorite foods and the best nutritional options? eDiets' experts have your answer. Click here for a free profile and kick off your diet today!

A dying wish gave Barton L. back her life.

Between obesity and alcoholism, the 40-year-old was a mess. At 201 pounds, she was caught up in a cycle of binge drinking and overeating. Her unhealthy habits didn’t go unnoticed. Family and friends were concerned that the former bodybuilder from Las Vegas was no longer taking care of herself.

It wasn’t uncommon for her to down a bottle of tequila a day. She would also consume an entire pizza by herself. Beer, chocolate and ice cream were staples in her diet. Barton knew she needed to change and a promise to her dying stepfather was just the incentive she needed. Before he passed away, she vowed to get her life together.

And she kept her word.

Instead of tackling one vice at a time, Barton quit drinking and overeating cold turkey. But, she didn’t go it alone. After hearing about the Atkins plan from her aunt, she decided to test the eating approach. She had her doubts about a plan that promised to improve her health despite a menu of bacon, eggs and other tempting foods.

“I loved the food,” she tells eDiets. “I felt like I was cheating. I did the traditional scrambled eggs and bacon in the morning. For lunch I would have salad with chicken or turkey. At night I would have a burger without a bun.

“A lot of times I would have the same thing every day. It made it a lot simpler.”

Barton has discovered it’s easy to diversify the menu. In addition to low-carb cookbooks, there are a lot of new low-carb products on the market. She's currently sweet on Fiber One cereal and tuna fish with cantaloupe.

When it came to following the Atkins approach, self-discipline kept Barton from getting off track. She ate the recommended foods, drank plenty of water and began her own exercise regimen.

The hardest part for Barton was learning the amount of carbohydrates in foods. Giving up bread and pasta didn’t seem like much of a sacrifice as the pounds began to melt away like butter.

The loss was slow and steady for our 5'7" featured dieter. Over 18 months, she shed an incredible 66 pounds. Today, her weight has steadied at 138 pounds. She’s traded the size 18 clothes she used to wear for slender size 7’s (and can even fit into a size 6 at times).

Barton couldn’t believe how good she felt. As her energy level increased, she decided to get moving. She strapped on leg weights and walked around the house while watching television. Eventually, she was given a hand-me-down stair stepper, which she used until it literally fell apart.

Barton now exercises 30 to 60 minutes, 5 days a week. She’s also a die-hard fan of both yoga and Pilates. In addition to her workout DVD sessions, she also takes classes in both disciplines when she visits California.

“It’s something that centers your mind and helps you shape your body," she says. "It’s done things for my body that I never saw when I was lifting. It makes your body pretty and you feel better about yourself. It gets your whole body in tune with you mind.”

As her physical health improved, her mental health followed suit. Barton no longer suffers the overwhelming depression that had plagued her for so long. Before she knew it, she had a year of sobriety under her belt (today she’s four years sober) and she no longer needed medication to elevate her mood.

“The main thing for me was the mental stability," Barton says. "I used to think I needed Prozac, medicines for sleeping, a pill for this and a pill for that. But besides vitamins, I don’t need anything, which is just amazing because of the way I used to be many years ago. I think that cutting out white sugar, flour and caffeine really helps.”

Barton says her weight sometimes creeps up 5 pounds. Whenever that happens, she goes back on induction for a short time to get back down to her healthy weight. There are special occasions when she’ll have birthday cake or other empty carbs. But it isn’t until she gets back to low-carb living that she feels like her healthy self.

“When I go back to my normal eating habits, I feel so much better," she says. "When I don’t have eggs and sausage in the morning, I’ll have Fiber One if I’m not on induction. I’ll have some turkey and cheese on a salad for lunch. For dinner, I’ll have some type of lean meat and fresh veggies. I can see myself eating this way for the rest of my life.”

Skip the love potions and toss the Viagra -- a simple trip to the grocery store may be all you need to make your sex life sizzle like never before. Just put some anchovies, oysters and licorice in the cart and you may be well on your way to a recipe for love. But is it really that simple, and does it work?

The notion that certain foods are natural aphrodisiacs with libido-lifting qualities is almost as old as time itself. In fact, the ancient Greeks used aphrodisiacs for age-old problems like relieving sexual anxieties, increasing fertility and boosting sexual performance. In those times, Casanova had the skinny on erotic edibles. As legend has it, he seduced a virgin by sliding an oyster from his lips to hers, arousing her sexual appetite. But before you dismiss it as mere myth, there’s logic behind the folklore. Oysters are high in zinc, which boosts testosterone levels -- a hormone important for the sexual functioning of both men and women.

While there is no sound scientific proof that aphrodisiacs exist, new studies are slowly backing up the love-food phenomena. Researchers are discovering some foods contain certain vitamins and minerals that can serve as sexual stimulants and are associated with a healthy libido. Translation: Eating the right foodcan turn up the heat in the bedroom. But of course, the proof is in the pudding. Check out these sexy foods and watch the sparks fly.

Chili can literally heat things up fast because of something called capsaicin -- it’s the active ingredient that gives a spicy kick to peppers, curries and flavorfully hot foods. It’s said to work by increasing blood flow to certain areas of the body and facilitating sexual performance. The hot spices raise the heart rate and release the "feel-good" endorphins that give you the feeling of having a natural high.

Chocolate, another popular aphrodisiac contains a substance called phenylalanine -- an amino acid known for raising the body's endorphins. Try a few pieces for a tantalizing boost before or during sex.

Do you need help finding the right food to fit your mood? eDiets can help -- with more than 20 fantastic programs to choose from, get started today by clicking here and completing a free profile.

The Chinese have used licorice for medicinal purposes in ancient times. Licorice is supposedly 50 times sweeter than sugar, which makes it particularly stimulating to the senses. Licorice is said to be especially erotic for women.

Celery is not the first food that comes to mind when you think of sexy foods, but don’t underestimate its potential for passion. It can be a great sexual stimulator because it contains androsterone, a hormone released through male perspiration that supposedly turns us on. Ladies, need a little incentive with your partner? Serve him up a celery salad and slip into something comfortable…

Nutmeg has been highly praised by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac. In large quantities nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect. Try sprinkling a light touch of nutmeg in a warm pumpkin soup -- to help spice up your evening -- or carry some in your purse for a date gone wrong.

Asparagus has been regarded as symbol of fertility throughout the ages because of its suggestive shape. It’s also high in vitamin E, which supplies oxygen to the sexual organs. Try feeding your lover steamed spears for a sensual experience.

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and B vitamins, which are known to help men and women reach orgasm and improve sexual stamina. Bananas also contain bromelain enzyme, which is believed to improve the male libido. Ladies, if he’s a little sluggish in the passion department, make him a delicious banana milkshake with each meal -- and drink some yourself.

Unsexy foods, or foods that can affect the libido negatively, can wreak havoc in the bedroom. Just as certain foods can stimulate sexual desire, these foods deter from it. To make sure your engine’s always performing at peak level, avoid consuming too many carbohydrates, fats, alcohol and fried foods. Other no-no’s include overindulging in carbs and fats, which can lead to hardening of the arteries and decreased circulation to the genitals. In men, too much fried food can cause a buildup of trans fats, which can decrease testosterone and increase abnormal sperm. Also keep away from foods that are processed and high in sugar and salt. They can lead to difficulty in reaching orgasm and a lack of interest in sex.

Ready to serve up some sexy food? Light the candles, put on some Barry White and start the romance in the kitchen -- good lovin' is on the menu tonight.

Joy Davis is a freelance writer who specializes in holistic wellness, fitness and travel. Several of her articles have also appeared in City Smart Magazine.