sex, aging and health

Keep your body in good physical shape, and offset the effects of aging with better communication and emotional closeness.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Conventional wisdom holds that a woman’s sexual activity and interest ebb exponentially as she ages. Yet a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found that fully 43 percent of the nearly 2,000 45- to 80-year-olds in the study reported that their interest in or desire to have sex was “moderate to very high.”

To make sure yours stays that way, we consulted Debby Herbenick, PhD, author of Because It Feels Good: A Woman’s Guide to Sexual Pleasure and Satisfaction. Here are her tips for women and men who desire a long and active and fulfilling sex life:

#1: Protect your heart. Not emotionally, but literally: In other words, don’t smoke, do exercise regularly; and make an effort to eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins. “Sexual function is intrinsically tied to the cardiovascular system,” says Herbenick. “For instance, erectile function, lubrication, and sexual arousal all depend on healthy blood flow. So doing all you can to keep your heart pumping strong will do wonders for your sex life over the long term.”