Drinking Milk Has An Unexpected Effect On Your Sex Drive

When you were little, a glass of milk on the breakfast table or milk with your morning cereal were common habits. As you grew older, perhaps your milk consumption dwindled to just a little with your coffee or the dairy that comes in desserts. 

Either way, there are a lot of different reasons why we consume milk; you may want to stave off osteoporosis and have better bone health thanks to its calcium content, or perhaps you're looking for a good source of protein. But have you ever wondered what happens to your body when you drink milk every day? If low sex drive has been a concern, you may want to think about this, according to Allo Health. 

Both male and female libido might be negatively impacted by overconsumption of dairy, specifically high-fat dairy. One theory is that it messes with your sex hormones. According to registered dietitian Julieanna Hever (via Live Kindly), the hormones in cow's milk "may play a role in modifying sex hormone levels in humans and can, therefore, impact sexual function." A 2010 study published in Pediatrics International that involved seven men, six prepubertal children, and five women found that consuming cow's milk significantly reduced the levels of testosterone (a hormone whose main functions include fueling sex drive) in men. However, per Medical News Today, more research is needed in this area. 

Another unexpected effect that whole-fat dairy consumption can have on sexual health has to do with how it raises bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in your body. High cholesterol and low sex drive are typically related, both in men and women. 

While you may have already known that high cholesterol levels impact blood flow to the penis and therefore cause erectile dysfunction in men, they can also negatively affect women in terms of lubrication, orgasm, and even overall sexual satisfaction, per New Scientist. That's because women also rely on blood flow making its way to their private parts in order to feel sexually aroused — and your dietary choices have a lot to do with this. 

Milk isn't the only dairy product you should be concerned about when it comes to your sex drive. Heavy-dairy products like cheese and ice cream can cause sex drive-related issues, too. So if you're looking for natural ways to boost your sex drive, you may want to go easy on the cheese. 

There are plenty of reasons why people avoid lactose or go dairy-free, including personal beliefs, health concerns, and food intolerances. Not being able to properly metabolize milk or other dairy products can lead to bloating, gas, and other uncomfortable digestive issues, which can in turn affect your sex drive too, per nutritionist Kristen Stavridis (via The Sun). And as we all know, having an upset stomach is perhaps one of the worst mood killers when it comes to sex. 

What does this mean, though, for all you dairy and milk lovers out there? Should you be cutting down on milk or eliminating it from your diet altogether just to keep your sex drive up? Maybe you don't have to, as long as you limit high-fat dairy options and lean into lactose-free milk from time to time. Also, keep in mind that these findings are mainly highlighting the effects of drinking too much milk, so practicing moderation might be all you need to do to boost your libido. 

Plus, calcium is also important for healthy sexual function, so if you're cutting out cow's milk altogether, make sure you're getting your calcium elsewhere (like through soy milk, spinach, almonds, canned sardines, and salmon).