5 Fruits for a glowing skin

That fruits are the best medicine is a wellknown fact.

We also know that a cup of fruit juice a day is sure to guarantee a clear complexion. How about a massage with a fruit pulp or a fruit facial? Fruit facials have been there for at least a decade now. But with people getting more wary of effect of chemicals on the skin, a majority of them are now resorting to using something from their own kitchen. What better way to pamper your skin than with pure stuff which is free of toxins and not harmful to your skin?

Besides the fact that they hydrate and rejuvenate your skin, the very smell of a fruit on your face is quite de-stressing. Unlike the chemical beauty treatments, fruits are cost-effective, natural and also bring a visible difference. Here are a few fruits and their properties, choose what suits you best!

Banana: This is one fruit that's abundantly available in India all through the year. We know it's a good source of iron, magnesium and potassium and helps reduce menstrual cramps. The effect of banana on skin too is not something that can be ignored. Bananas are rich in vitamin A, B and E and hence works as an anti-aging agent. A fresh mashed banana facial can do wonders for your skin.

Lemon: Lemon juice is an important ingredient in most Indian recipes. This is also a fruit of all seasons and almost always finds place on your kitchen shelf or refrigerator. With its vitamin C content, its juice will keep your skin beautiful. A glass of warm water with a tsp of honey and a dash of lemon juice on an empty stomach every morning is a great skin cleanser. With its astringent properties, it can be used to lighten the skin tone and also diminish acne scars. Rub the inside of a lemon peel on your elbow remove dark spots. Mix lemon and honey and use it as a natural bleach on your skin.Apple: An apple a day keeps the doctor away is cliched, but its health benefits are undisputable. Apple's antioxidant property prevents cell and tissue damage. Studies by nutritionists have shown that apples contain abundant amounts of elastin and collagen that help keep the skin young. Applying a mixture of mashed apple, honey, rose water and oatmeal can act as a great exfoliating mask on your skin.

Orange: Rich in vitamin C that improves skin texture. Like apple, orange too contains collagen that slows skin aging process. Rub the insides of orange on your skin to tighten the skin. Oranges can be dried and powdered and used as a natural scrub. Like lemon, oranges too help clear skin blemishes.

Papaya: The benefits of this fruit on skin have perhaps been talked about since the time of our ancestors. Papaya is rich in antioxidants and contain a special enzyme called papain that can kill dead cells and cure skin impurities. A glass of papaya milk or just applying the flesh of papaya on your skin can do wonders to your skin.

Mango: Rightly called the king of fruits for not just its taste but also for health benefits. The soft pulpy fruit has an amazing effect on skin too. Rich in vitamin-A and rich antioxidants, it fights against skin aging, regenerates skin cells and restores the elasticity of skin.

Effective Living Clinic

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Navi Mumbai 400703

Tel: 9987223811 / 9969105310

www.effectivelivingclinic.com

Why men start losing interest in sex

Let's face it. In today's fast-paced world, priorities keep changing all the time. Stress at work, problems at home, managing relationships, all this can take a toll on the best of men. But when it starts affecting you in the bedroom, it's time you realized you have a problem.

There are several reasons why men start losing interest in sex.

Consulting psychotherapist and counsellor Dr Minnu R Bhonsle says, "The modern day man is constantly engaged in competitive strivings, aiming to achieve and sustain the good life with more material comforts and luxuries." says Dr Bhonsle.

"This ambition, inner demand and drive to have more, cause stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol to be released in the body continuously, building pressure on the body-mind mechanism and affecting one's sex life."

"Employers squeezing every ounce of your energy out in return for huge salaries, performance evaluations, a high pressure job environment with ruthless colleagues, crazy deadlines and targets, with the fear of being laid off constantly hovering, is a huge stressor, which takes a toll on one's sex life"

Stressors
Most men worry about whether they will be able to satisfy their partner. Such thoughts affect sexual performance. If the woman is aggressively demanding and taunting him about the lack of sex, his anxiety levels and the subsequent psychogenic impotence get aggravated.

Other stressors include loan repayments, credit card debts, subscribing to 'enjoy now pay later' schemes, explosion of consumerism and need for instant gratification.

Life brings its own set of stressors that can take a toll on one's sex life. If there is unresolved anger and resentment between a couple, if the man feels caught between family squabbles, if the health of parents or children is a matter of concern, this leaves little or no space for sexual feelings to arise.

Physical stressors like chronic illnesses, obesity, fatigue, insomnia, excessive drinking and smoking and a general lack of fitness have an adverse effect on one's sex life.

Gynaecologist Dr Suman Bijlani says, "If you're wondering what is making your man avoid physical intimacy, you need to find out what is bothering him. Stress, unrealistic expectations, monotony or even your attitude could be reasons. Are you unknowingly intimidating your partner? Do you genuinely express admiration and appreciation for him? Is your hygiene up to the mark?"

"Much as women undergo an abrupt change during menopause, some men may experience a decrease in sex drive and a general decline in energy levels in their 50s and 60s, what is known as 'andropause'," says Dr Bijlani.

Certain drugs used in the treatment of high blood pressure, epilepsy, depression, high cholesterol and others, can also be culprits. If your man shows an abrupt decrease in drive after starting a new medication, consult your doctor.

Depression can also cause loss of libido and confidence. Fertility stressors and demands of planned intercourse during the course of fertility treatment can dampen gusto, too.

Each man's sex drive may differ at different stages in life. His libido is subject to variation in response to the demands of the various events in his life, the state of his mind and your relationship. Lift off the pressure. Chill and let him relax too.

Cure
Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, Varkha Chulani says that psychosexual aspects unfortunately are rarely considered when it comes to a man's sexuality. "The importance of what a man thinks can't be emphasised enough. If a man has a nag of a wife or a pest in a partner, how can his juices flow? Instead of feeling sensuous, he's irate, dissatisfied and grumpy. Emotional well being in relationships determines to a large extent the sexual wellness.

The overall relationship needs to be examined - how does the couple relate to each other in non-sexual aspects? Is there constant strife, discord, bickering? Does the man constantly feel criticised, blamed, unappreciated. If the man is using sex as a weapon or as a tool to settle scores bring it to his notice.

"Teaching him better coping strategies and taking professional assistance may help. Keeping romance alive requires hard work. Innovating, experimenting, talking about preferences and what gets him turned on is one way. Do not have some unrealistic benchmark about how long you should last, how hard you should be or how often you should have sex. This is no competition - not with another and definitely not with you!" says Chulani.

Some dos and don'ts to cope
- Express love in non-sexual interactions. Do not pressure him.
- Communicate. Don't accuse.
- Work on yourself and the relationship. Don't feel guilty.
- Understand. Don't sympathise.
- Initiate and experiment. Don't dominate.

Are you a victim of body shaming?

How playing on someone's body image and constantly criticising them for the way they look, and carry themselves, can take a toll on your relationship in the long run Melissa D'costa

Recently an online dating service was in the news for using the photo of a scantily clad obese model (languishing suggestively) to promote its site. The site was in the news for helping to arrange online affairs for married people from USA, UK, Canada and Ireland. The promotional material encouraged men to cheat on their overweight wives and was slammed by the model for body shaming and promoting infidelity. However is there a connection between the two?

We look at how being picked on for the way you look, can weigh down your relationship.

The fat quotient

Sunita Tiwari, a housewife, shares her experiences on how being overweight made her feel inferior and affected her relationship with her husband. She says, "After marriage, I put on a few extra kilos and before I knew it I had all these extra pounds weighing me down. My husband who adored me before marriage, had been avoiding me. I felt like I was losing him and looking at myself in the mirror just made me more depressed. Looking back, I realise that it's important to work on yourself and not take things for granted. While it's okay to want someone to love you for what you are, it's also important to look and feel attractive for yourself."

Body shaming is not only limited to those who are overweight it also extends to include people who are underweight. Rachita Shah, who works in the glamour industry, adds, "I have been blessed with a good face but have had to work at maintaining the way I look. My job demands that I watch my weight. My boyfriend often remarks about me not having enough body mass and how it would make me more feminine. I feel stressed out and I am very conscious about my body image."

Why adultery is not the solution...

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and in an ideal world looks would not really matter. However, we cannot deny that it's one of the things that attracts and holds our interest. So, what do you do, when the person you fell in love changes drastically over the years. Should you use that as an excuse to cheat on them?

"Definitely not," says Dr Kurien S Thomas Clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. He adds, "Adultery is not the solution but playing your cards wisely is. In a relationship looks matter but only to a certain extent. For any relationship to survive understanding, love and patience is vital. In a relationship when one person loses self-confidence due to body shaming it is the duty of the other partner to first instill confidence and make their partner comfortable. Empathise with your partner with your words and actions. Instead of comparing them to someone else, it would be wise to illustrate solutions that could make your partner feel desired. Also, encourage them to express how they feel. Criticising or comparing them to someone else is not going to solve anything and will only create more problems. It would be wise to seek professional help which could play a big role in getting desired results."

Unplanned sex spices up love life

Don't let monotony creep into your relationship - there are plenty of things you can do to spice things up.

Ditch the 'I have a headache', 'The kids have tired me out today' or 'I'm too busy' excuses and win your partner over inside as well as outside the bedroom. We list out some simple ideas...

- It is easy to get stuck in a mundane routine. Experts suggest you keep aside date nights exclusively for yourself and your partner. Why should marriage stop you from having fun just by yourselves? Be spontaneous and do things that you used to do as a couple but haven't since a while.

- Planned sex needn't be boring. Get busy in places around the house which you haven't explored before. Many couples say that they're usually so tired that when they enter the bedroom, all they can think about is sleep.

- When was the last time you hugged your partner? Sneak up to them and give them a hug. The close contact will immediately turn them on.

- Talk about the positions you tried on in the past. You don't have to use dirty or graphic language. Discuss about past memories and relive them again. You don't have to keep any goals in mind. Just go with the flow and enjoy every moment.

- When was the last time you surprised each other? Slip into the shower when he least expects it. Dress up in something he's never seen you in. Plan a special night without any special occasion.

- Share your fantasies. Don't be shy or afraid of scaring your partner - you never know what you both discover!

- Ever played strip poker? Why not use board games or a deck of cards instead and put them to good use?

- Send your partner a racy text message or an email in the middle of the day. Not only does it take them by surprise, it also builds up the anticipation.

- It's also a good idea to recreate your first dates. Go to places where you used to go when you just got together.

- Don't be afraid of telling your partner what you'd like to try. Men like it when women take charge in the bedroom. Suggest some positions that you haven't tried before and watch him drool!

- Buy a book of new sexual positions and go through it together with your partner. He'll love the fact that you've taken the initiative.

- Don't forget to include kissing in your love making. It often happens that couples get so carried away in the act that they actually forget the intimacy that kissing brings to a relationship.

Secrets of longevity

Protect Your DNA

As we age, the ends of our chromosomes -- called telomeres -- become shorter. This makes people more vulnerable to disease. You might think there's nothing you can do, but new research suggests otherwise. In a pilot study, lifestyle changes boosted an enzyme that increases telomere length. Other studies also find diet and exercise can protect telomeres. So healthy habits may slow aging at the cellular level.

Be Conscientious

An 80-year study found one of the best predictors of a long life is a conscientious personality. Researchers measured attributes like attention to detail and persistence. They found that conscientious people do more things to protect their health and make choices that lead to stronger relationships and better careers.

Make Friends

Science has given you one more reason to be grateful for your friends – they might help you live longer. Australian researchers found elderly social butterflies were less likely to die over a 10-year period compared to people with the fewest friends. Another analysis of results from 148 studies supports the link between plentiful social connections and longevity.

Choose Your Friends Wisely

Your friends’ habits rub off on you, so look for companions with healthy lifestyles. Studies indicate obesity is socially “contagious" –  your chance of becoming obese increases by 57% if you have a friend who becomes obese. Smoking is another habit that spreads through social ties, but the good news is that quitting is also contagious.

Quit Smoking

While it's no secret that giving up cigarettes can lengthen your days -- the amount of extra time may surprise you. According to a 50-year British study, quitting at age 30 could increase your lifespan by an entire decade. Kicking the habit at age 40, 50, or 60 boosts life expectancy by 9, 6, or 3 years, respectively. 

Embrace the Siesta

A siesta is standard in many parts of the world, and now there's scientific evidence that napping may help you live longer. A recent study with 24,000 participants suggests that regular nappers are 37% less likely to die from heart disease than occasional nappers. Researchers think naps might help your heart by keeping stress hormones down.

Follow a Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean diet is high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, and fish. An analysis of 50 studies involving more than half a million people shows the impressive benefits of this diet. The findings show it significantly lowers the risk of metabolic syndrome – a combination of obesity, elevated blood sugar, increased blood pressure, and other factors that raise your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Eat Like an Okinawan

The people of Okinawa, Japan once had the longest life expectancy in the world. Researchers attribute this to the region's traditional diet, which is high in green and yellow vegetables and low in calories. Some Okinawans make a habit of eating only 80% of the food on their plate. As younger generations have veered from these traditions, life expectancy in Okinawa has fallen.

Get Married

Several studies show that married people tend to outlive their single counterparts. Many researchers attribute the difference to the social and economic support marriage provides. While a current marriage offers the greatest benefit, people who are divorced or widowed have lower mortality rates than those who have never been married.

Lose Weight

If you're overweight, slimming down can protect against diabetes, heart disease, and other life-shortening conditions. Belly fat appears to be particularly harmful, so focus on deflating that spare tire. A 5-year study of Hispanics and African-Americans suggests eating more fiber and exercising regularly are effective ways to reduce belly fat.

Keep Moving

The evidence is overwhelming – people who exercise live longer on average than those who don't. According to dozens of studies, regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some forms of cancer, and depression. Exercise may even help you stay mentally sharp in your old age. Ten-minute spurts of activity are fine, as long as they add up to about 2.5 hours of moderate exercise per week.

Get Spiritual

Research suggests people who attend religious services tend to live longer than people who never attend. In a 12-year study of people over age 65, those who attended services more than once a week had higher levels of a key immune system protein than their peers who attended no services. They were also significantly less likely to die during the study period. The strong social network that develops among people who worship together may contribute to their overall health.

Forgive

Letting go of grudges has surprising physical health benefits. Chronic anger is linked to decreased lung function, heart disease, stroke, and other ailments. Forgiveness will reduce anxiety, lower your blood pressure, and help you to breathe more easily. These benefits tend to increase as you get older.

Use Safety Gear

Accidents are the fifth most common cause of death in the U.S., and the top cause of death for people ages 1 to 24. Wearing safety gear is a simple way to boost your odds of a long life. In the event of a motor vehicle crash, seatbelts reduce the risk of death or serious injury by 50%. In bike accidents, most deaths are caused by head injuries, so always wear your helmet.

Make Sleep a Priority

Getting enough good quality sleep can lower the risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and mood disorders. Sufficient sleep will also help you recover from illness faster. Burning the midnight oil, on the other hand, carries serious health risks. Sleeping less than 5 hours per night boosts the risk of premature death, so make sleep a priority.

Manage Stress

Dean Ornish, MD, has published research suggesting that lifestyle changes including stress management not only help prevent heart disease, but may actually reverse it. Although avoiding stress is not a viable option for most people, there are effective ways to control it. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing. Even a few minutes a day can make a difference.

Maintain a Sense of Purpose

Finding hobbies and activities that have meaning for you may contribute to a long life. Japanese researchers found men with a strong sense of purpose were less likely to die from stroke, heart disease, or other causes over a 13-year period compared to those with a low sense of purpose. Another study at Rush University Medical Center indicates that having a greater sense of purpose is linked to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Pre-marital counselling, a must

An engaged couple lays out its anxieties to a marriage counsellor before the wedding.

The initial period of any relationship is called the honeymoon period; and after that fairytale, marriage can be a rude reality check. In most cases, quarrels over money, family and trust break a couple apart. Mikhail Shahani and Reshma Rajwani wanted to go into their marriage with eyes open and decided to undergo a pre-marital counselling session to know what to expect. The 27-year-old chef and 26-year-old management graduate come from different backgrounds and met only six months ago. Shweta Kansara from Mind Temple clinic says, "A pre-marital session helps partners accept each other better and avoid future complications or conflict."

Getting started
Asked why they're getting married, Reshma says, "I live in Mexico and was introduced to Mik on a trip here. After I left for Mexico, we continued communication and fell in love. The distance was hard and the pressure from families, intense. So we decided to get married in 2012." Mikhail says, "We were constantly fighting because of the distance. So we figured, if we've decided to get married what's the point of waiting longer. Reshma's family is conservative and her father was unhappy she was marrying a chef - he had an old-school view of 'bawarchis'. Once they met me, things eased up."

Rough corners
Shweta asks them where they expect conflict and what is expected of them. Mikhail says Reshma is short-tempered. "It is true that I get agitated and tear up instantly," she replies. "I like to be left alone in such a mood." Mikhail says, "I can't leave her alone if I know she's upset and try to cheer her up." He adds that she may take time to get used to the Indian culture.

Reshma says, "Mikhail lives with his mother and they are very close. She is a cool, forward-thinking lady but staying with her may bring in its set of concerns." Mikhail says he worried about finding someone who wouldn't be able to adjust to his family. "My mother, sister and I live together and I was always very afraid of someone creating a divide. But seeing how Reshma has adjusted and how fond my family is of her, really eases my worry."

Counsellor speak:
It is essential to discuss roles, baggage and unresolved issues if one wants the partner to accept and support him/her. If Reshma is short-tempered, her childhood issues could be the cause. While feeling angry is natural, how we express it is learnt from our environment. The couple went through a few exercises.

A. Descriptive writing
Reshma and Mikhail were asked to write a few lines on each other. While he wrote an essay in a heartbeat, she paused to get her thoughts in order. She brought up his laidback attitude to health.

This exercise helps the couple see how the other person views them. They should tell each other if they've missed anything out or if they disagree on something.

B. The big six
While talking about religion, lifestyle, sex, children, behaviour and recreation, they agreed on most things but had trouble in the financial aspects. Reshma says, "Mik needs to buy a good brand to feel his money is well spent and finds my thrift shopping a waste of money."

Mikhail replies, "She spends so much money trying to source the cheapest thing, it seems pointless. I just look for the best value for my money."

By discussing each of these topics in detail, the couple ensures sensitive subjects are talked about and the partners know where the other stands. Agreement on religion and lifestyle help deal with the changes that a new family and home will bring. Sex and children are crucial subjects for family planning and keeping intimacy alive. A couple should discuss how long it would like to wait before having a child, birth control options and the plan for the lifestyle change. It is also important to discuss how one behaves with the other in private, in front of famly and in public.

Cranking game
Shweta drew up another list with the following heads -Family, career, self, friends, health (physical and emotional), purpose of life and money. She asked the couple to rate each category on a scale of 10 and then rank according to priority on in their own lives. They were then asked to introduce 'Partner' as a new category and carry out the ranking again. While Mikhail placed his family, partner and career in the top three slots and reserved health for a latter ranking, Reshma gave health and family a high ranking with self and career set a little lower.

Discussing discrepancies, Shweta says, "It's important to level out on most subjects so that the relationship is on an even keel. One's priority of self needs to have more importance."

What it does:
Prioritising these heads in front of each other helps the partners know the challenges the other is facing at the time. It helps them acknowledge their weakness and helps the other step up and be more accepting and supportive.

What is the sugar busters diet?

We all love to add sweetness into our lives. When we feel happy, we want to treat and greet ourselves with sweets. When we feel sad, sweets act to boost our moods. When we show our thankfulness, we prefer to treat others with sweets. Whenever guests visit us, we won't leave them before they do the traditional "Moo-Mitha". When we pass, we take sweets, when we fail; others bring sweets for us to cheer us up. So, will there be anything to worry about with all these sweetness "surrounding" us? Yes, too much of sweetness may bring bitterness in our lives in the form of diabetes. This explains why we see the emergence of various concepts which claim to battle your sugar cravings. And this explains why we get to come across popular concepts like the Sugar Buster Diet, designed by Samuel S. Andrews, M.D (endocrinologist), Morrison C. Bethea, M.D (cardiac surgeon), Luis A. Balart, M.D.(gastroenterologist),H. Leighton Steward (a corporate CEO).

The Salient Features of the Sugar Buster Diet

·         It is about how, what and when to eat and exercise.

·         It encourages you to avoid refined sugar and processed grain products.

·         It encourages you to make a commitment in choosing the right carbohydrates - the low insulin-producing carbohydrates. Insulin causes you to convert and store excess sugar as fat and to also store the excess fat as fat.

·         It involves eating high fiber vegetables, fruits and whole grains. The fiber in both of these food products has a beneficial effect on your digestive process and overall health. Meats are an important source of protein but should be lean and trimmed.

·         It encourages the intake of low-fat products while choosing milk and cheese while strongly advocating careful attention to saturated fats. Too much saturated fat and trans fats and those oils used in fast foods, are very harmful not only to your waistline but also to your heart and blood vessels.

·         Hydration is important and everyone is encouraged to drink six to eight glasses of water daily.

·         It is important to eat three regular meals daily and appropriate snacks are allowed. But moderation in portion size is most important. If you are not careful enough, then you may end up eating too much of healthy foods as well.

·         Late night snacking is not allowed. Eating at night before going to bed only raises your insulin level and encourages cholesterol production since most of the cholesterol is manufactured while you are sleeping.

·         Exercise is an important part of any successful nutritional lifestyle. You should strive to exercise at least twenty minutes daily for four days a week so as to raise your resting heart rate.

·         It encourages the voice of moderation.

·         If you choose alcohol, you should drink red wine.

·         And fruit is preferred over fruit juice and best eaten a half hour before the meal.

What Should You Avoid?

·         All refined sugar products and sugar itself

·         Potatoes

·         Corn

·         White rice

·         Bread from refined flour

·         Beets

·         Carrots

·         Refined sugar

·         Corn syrup

·         Molasses

·         Honey

·         Sugared colas

·         Beer

·         Baked beans

·         Ripe bananas

·         Raisins

·         Bacon

·         Fried chicken

What Should You Include?

·         Lean meats , fish , poultry, dairy products, whole grains and cereals.

·         Vegetables like beans, lentils, peas, spinach, lettuce squash, zucchini, mushrooms, asparagus, artichokes, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, eggplant and onions.

·         Fruits like apples, lemons and limes, pears, cherries, raspberries, kiwis, grapefruits, apricots, melons other than watermelon, tomatoes, tangerines and oranges.

The Pros and Cons

·         In the short term, the Sugar Busters plan is likely to result in weight loss because it eliminates many foods including baked goods and other sweets. And your food choices will be better, such as substituting whole grains for white bread, for instance.

·         You may become irritable and tired due to restriction of carbs. You may also feel low in energy. This may not be the case with everyone, but it may trigger lethargy.

·         Sugar Busters stresses eating healthy foods, such as whole grains, legumes and beans and lean meats. And cutting out refined sugars in processed foods is a plus point.

·         Counting calories or measuring food is not a part of the Sugar Buster Diet, but it may become confusing for a layman without any portion size mentioned.

·         The authors themselves caution that the diet is not for exercise fanatics.

·         High protein diets increase calcium excretion and possible side effects include kidney and liver damage, fatigue, weakness and irritability.

It's good to stay "sweet" while imparting this "sweetness" to other people's lives, but it's not sweeter to go overboard with it. In fact, we don't know what brings "sweetness' in each individual's life. What may work fine for one, may not go well with others. Sugar Busters diet may truly restrict unnecessary or extra fat, sugar or refined carb intake in some, while many others may just fail and surrender to the "calls" of their taste buds.

How long can you last without sex?

Can this need be calmed and oppressed just by the tender gestures of your partner or do you need an entire sexual "show" to feel completely satisfied? Since most people do not ask themselves these kind of questions, there are often conflicts due to the difference between the behaviour and the sexual needs of everyone.

How long can you last without intercourse, before abstinence starts negatively influencing and affecting your overall health? How well do you know your "sexual watch"? How well can you interpret your "need" for having sex?

What are your priorities?
Sex is, undoubtedly, a necessity of the body, based on two coordinates: reproduction and the tendency to socialize, to permanently cooperate with those around us. Survival on long periods of time is based to humans' abilities to live in groups, which involves the birth of relations, more or less lasting or enjoyable. Most times, one of the options regarding celebrating or making an inter-human relationship official is the sexual act itself.

How is your body saying you need to have sex?
It might be easy to overlook your body's signals regarding the need to have sex, because many times you associate them to other problems which you probably have to deal with on a daily basis. The best way is to observe which and how many negative moods go away immediately after having sex. Keep in mind the fact that sex does not always involve two people, in other terms, consider masturbation an option.

Must-have-sex signals
- Excessive nervousness
- Long states of unjustified anxiety, migraines
- Permanent stress
- Lack of food appetite
- Lack of the need to sleep
- Contradictory feelings regarding certain persons
- Frequent sexual fantasies, especially during nighttime.

Practically, a non-existing sexual life causes a lot of reactions, more or less explicable, and in some extreme cases it can lead to severe physical and philological reactions: skin itches, irritations, anger etc. You could end up hurting the ones beside you, emotionally or even physically, because you did not "read" one of your body's cries for help.

Once you fully and completely understand your body's message: "I need sex!" it will be a lot easier for you to identify the time periods these unpleasant symptoms occur. If you manage to do this, you will also be able to prevent them. Of course, these intervals vary from person to person, and they are dependent to certain factors, such as age, sex, lifestyle, physical condition, pregnancy, menopause etc.

All in all, make sure you take some time and really analyze yourself and your body, your needs and your desires, and that way you will manage to understand the course of action you have to take so that everything returns on its' right normal "path" again.