Austin Spiritual Guidance: Sacred Sexuality, Sacred Relationship And More

Caring for your body and the ecstatic power it contains also means making sure it's nourished nutritionally.
This excerpt from The Nutrition Almanac, THIRD EDITION by Lavonne J. Dunne (copyright 1990) will guide
you through some very helpful tips. Even though this writing is from 1990, its information is still valuable.

I also highly recommend books of this sort in conjunction with a visit to a naturopathic doctor, herbalist,
and/or nutritionist if your body is not functioning the way you want it to. And the allopathic route is not to be
neglected in my opinion, just not relied upon solely.

SEX
From pages 226 and 227

A satisfying sex life requires a healthy body, which depends on sound nutrition, exercise, and sufficient
rest. For the most part, sexual function is controlled by the endocrine glands, which secrete specific
hormones. In order to function properly and produce sufficient hormones, these glands have certain
nutritional needs. The pituitary gland has both direct and indirect effects on sexual and reproductive
functions. Its hormones need the B complex vitamins, pantothenic acid, niacin, vitamin E, and zinc.
Any deficiency of the pituitary causes underdeveloped sex organs, early menopause in women, and
impotence in men. The adrenal glands produce a small but significant amount of sex hormone. These
glands need vitamin A, the B vitamins, pantothenic acid, vitamin B1, niacin, vitamins C and E, and the
unsaturated fatty acids. Adrenal exhaustion can result in little strength or desire for sex. An
inadequately supplied thyroid can also cause a lack of desire or strength for sex. Iodine, the B vitamins,
vitamin B1, and vitamin E are essential for the production of its hormone, thyroxine.

The male sex gland, the testis, is composed of two glands; one secretes testosterone and the other
produces sperm. Women also secret some testosterone. (Testosterone increases sexual desire in
both sexes.) Vitamins A, C, E, and folic acid work with testosterone to produce sperm and other male
characteristics such as a deep voice and facial hair. The nutrient content of sperm includes calcium,
magnesium, zinc, sulfur, and vitamins B12, C, and inositol. A deficiency of vitamin E causes a degeneration
of the testicles; too low levels of zinc result in immovable, useless, and infertile sperm. In male laboratory
animals, a manganese deficiency causes loss of sex drive, lack of semen, and degeneration of the seminal
tubules; a lack of selenium results in infertility. Testosterone levels proportionately decrease with the
amount of marijuana smoked.

The female sex glands, the ovaries, secrete two hormones, estrogens and progesterones. The B vitamins,
folic acid, niacin, vitamin E, and zinc are necessary for the functioning of these hormones. Insufficient
estrogen causes, among other conditions, delayed sexual maturation and lack of development or shrinkage
of the breasts and genitals.

The sex hormones are made from cholesterol. Cholesterol-containing foods need not be limited as long as
the body has sufficient amounts of the other nutrients needed to properly metabolize the cholesterol.
These include the vitamin B complex, C, and E, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and lecithin. Refined and
processed foods are greatly lacking in these nutrients; in their absence cholesterol is unable to enter the
cells and remains in the blood, eventually forming plaques.

Impotence, the male's inability to achieve erection of the penis, has been related to a magnesium or
combined zinc and vitamin B6 deficiency. Other factors associated with impotence are emotional problems,
physical illnesses such as diabetes, and the intake of drugs and alcohol. (Frigidity is the female counterpart
of impotence.) Although levels of testosterone decrease with age, this does not cause impotence because
the penis requires only minimal amounts of the hormone for successful operation.

...

Sexual desire and performance can be adversely affected by numerous things including drugs, alcohol,
cigarette smoking, caffeine, some common medicines such as certain tranquilizers, antihypertensives, and
anticholinergics, and the birth control pill. The most common oral contraceptives are composed of two
synthetic hormones, estrogen and progestin. The pill has been shown to interfere with carbohydrate and
fat metabolism and to destroy certain nutrients, including several B vitamins and vitamins C and E. It
increases copper and iron levels and decreases zinc levels. The pill may also aggravate schizophrenia,
cause migraine headaches, and increase the rise of hypertension and the formation of blood clots.
Women who smoke, are above age 35, and have type A blood should not use the contraceptive pill
because blood clots can occur.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration nor are they
intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Nutrition and Sex