Vegetarianism improves sex life
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Often vegetarians become the object of jokes among friends-meat eaters, but, as you know, laughs the one who laughs last. It turns out that when it comes to the bedroom, male vegetarians can give odds to any meat lover.
As the research results of a team of scientists from the University of California, led by Dr. Michael Wasserman, those who prefer tofu and other herbal products are more sexually active. It is believed that the cause in certain plant products that affect the hormonal level and increase sexual activity.
The results of researches of scientists are published in the journal "Hormones and Behavior". This research work of scientists is the first, during which the relationship between the behavior of wild primates and the so-called phytoestrogens - sex hormones that are part of some plants was studied.
The study lasted eleven months and during this time the scientists conducted a series of experiments, observing the primates in the Uganda Kibale National Park. They recorded what the animals fed, the manifestations of aggression and the frequency of mating, and also collected stool samples, to analyze changes in the level of hormones.
The researchers found that the more the male consumed the leaves of Milletia - plants of the legume family, which contain estrogen-like substances, the higher their estradiol level - the sex hormone, and the level of cortisol - the stress hormone.
They found that with altered levels of hormones, monkeys spent more time having sex, and less time was devoted to rest and other activities.
In another study of scientists from the University of Bellarmin in Louisville, Kentucky, it was found that men involved in the study believe that eating meat makes them more manly and sexually. However, scientists assure that vegetables and fruits are in no way inferior in this respect to meat, and in addition, they can reduce the risks of diseases of the cardiovascular system, strokes, cancer, diabetes and resist obesity.