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Had a romantic evening in bed and are now head-to-head with a monstrous appetite?
It’s not uncommon to feel your intestines grumble after a night filled with skin-to-skin passion—even ones stronger than your usual cravings.
Often known as “post-sex munchies”, a lot of men feel hungry after a passionate sexual encounter.
But the question then lies, why? How is your appetite related to your sexual health? Is it as simple as your brain craving junk food more than usual—or are there deeper physiological underpinnings behind it all?
Let’s take a deeper look at how sex influences your appetite.
How Many Calories Does a Good Sex Session Burn?
Even though having sex sometimes feels like a full-blown workout, sex is not a substitute for working out.
For a roughly 30-minute sex session, men may burn an additional 100 kilocalories on average, while women may burn 70 kilocalories.
While many people would attribute post-sex cravings to a loss of calories, that’s not the main factor in play. The calories you burn are similar to a simple 30-minute jog.
So, what makes you so hungry after sex exactly?
The Hidden Factor That Makes You Hungrier: Hormones
During sexual intercourse, your brain and body undergo drastic hormonal changes. These changes directly play a role in your hunger pangs.
This is totally normal. As you get sexually excited, the production of hormones such as testosterone and mood-boosting hormones like serotonin starts to rise. The production of these hormones peaks right after intercourse.
Testosterone is a key player in regulating appetite and promoting eating behavior. Since men experience higher testosterone levels after sex, it’s not uncommon for them to become hungry as a result. This testosterone level elevation is one reason why you get hungry right after sex.
Another factor at play is your nervous system. After an orgasm, the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for eating and sleeping starts to dominate over the sympathetic nervous system.
This activates the hunger receptors in your body, making you crave a meal or two.
If you suspect any abnormalities or worrying symptoms in your sexual health, speak to a local hormone specialist for a proper evaluation of your sex hormones.
Problems with Hormones, Appetite, and Sexual Health
We’re aware that hormones play a key role in your sexual health.
The hormone testosterone, for example, is important for the development of male sex organs and the maintenance of sex drive in men.
Estrogen—a hormone that’s found in men in smaller quantities than in women—is involved in libido regulation and promoting sperm health.
When the body experiences a sharp dip or rise in these hormones, this can adversely affect both your appetite and sexual health.
For example, low levels of testosterone can lead to a decreased sex drive in men, while high levels of estrogen can cause weight gain and increased appetite.
If you find yourself with low testosterone symptoms, consult a doctor specializing in low testosterone for a diagnosis and treatment options.
Is It Only Testosterone and Estrogen?
Testosterone and estrogen are not the only hormones affected by sex. Other hormones in your body affect your hunger more directly.
Also known as the “hunger hormones”, leptin and ghrelin can influence your hunger.
More specifically, leptin suppresses your hunger, whereas ghrelin serves to make you hungrier. Leptin is lower in thin men.
Ghrelin and leptin balance each other in the body, but after sex, your brain signals the release of ghrelin which ramps up your hunger.
The next time you have sex, don’t skip out on the chance to eat healthily! This can pave the way for even better sessions in the future.
Here are some great snacks you can munch on after making love.
4 Foods for Better Sex
Some men fall asleep after sex, while others get hungrier by the second. If you relate more with the latter, don’t just reach out for whatever you have nearby without a second thought.
Eating unhealthy foods after sex can leave you lethargic and exhausted—leading to worse sessions in the future. Consult your healthcare provider if you need help managing or developing a meal plan.
Instead of grabbing a bag of chips or a slice of cake, grab food to boost energy levels and replenish your body as a substitute. Here are some good options:
1. Yogurt
If you are looking for a healthy and delicious snack to eat after a good session, give yogurt a try.
Yogurt is a food filled with probiotics (aka good bacteria) that can flush out dead toxins in the body. If you want a low-fat option, low-fat yogurt exists and is just as delicious.
If you want to make a more well-rounded meal, you can add a few almonds, nutmeg, or berries.
2. Wheat Vegetable Sandwich
Eating a healthy sandwich is another great option after sex. Wheat bread is easy to digest and the veggies contain vital nutrients that can help you replenish energy.
Sandwiches are also ridiculously easy to make. Just put a bunch of vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce between two slices of bread, add some sauce, and you’re set.
3. Warm Milk
Milk is another food that can help decrease the levels of ghrelin in your body.
Warm milk aids in metabolism and digestion, which helps clear your bowels. It’s also effective in lowering the acidity in your stomach thanks to its basic properties.
4. Fruits
Fruits are tasty, filling, and healthy. What more do you need after your intimate affair?
The following are some fruits that are great for post-sex cravings:
- Avocado: With high vitamin E, avocados help widen your blood vessels, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and improving blood flow circulation.
- Watermelon: Watermelon also helps relax your blood vessels. Citrulline, an enzyme present in watermelon, can help stimulate and enhance your mood.
- Banana: Bananas help prevent cramps and muscle spasms.
- Apple: Apples contain a slew of essential nutrients that can help you relax your body.
Contact Jacksonville’s Top Male Sexual Health Center for a Hormone Consultation
Hunger after sex is common, but it’s not merely a result of strenuous physical activity. Hormonal changes are one of the key drivers of your increase in appetite.
The foods listed above are great options to regain lost energy and cure your hunger pangs. Testosterone-rich foods, in particular, may also help raise your sex drive too.
That said, sexual health is a multifactorial disease; oftentimes, eating healthily isn’t enough to cure the plethora of sexual symptoms that may arise and afflict you.
Sexual dysfunction can affect anyone at any age. If you are suffering from any form of sexual dysfunction, contact a licensed health practitioner for a medical evaluation.
You can overcome sexual health conditions with various men’s health treatments recommended by health practitioners at Prime Men’s Medical Center in Jacksonville. This includes ED therapy, premature ejaculation therapy, acoustic wave therapy, testosterone treatment, and HGH treatment.
Don’t miss out on any opportunities you can find to get the proper treatment and achieve a happy and fulfilling sex life. Give our team a call today to schedule your appointment.
