. . . As scientists say randy Ross is just avoiding heart disease
ROSS Poldark’s sexual appetite isn’t just unbridled lust – it could help him avoid heart disease.
Researchers have linked regular sex to reduced cardiac problems. But it only applies to men, so Elizabeth or Demelza will not benefit from their passion.
New research shows making love three or four times a week can slash the amount of the chemical homocysteine in the blood, which can trigger cardiac problems at high levels.
It’s thought that men having frequent sex have better circulation and healthier blood vessels that stops the chemical building up. But women benefit less because their sexual arousal is less dependent on having a healthy blood flow.
A previous study found that having sex twice a week halved a man’s chances of suffering clogged arteries compared to those indulging less than once a month. But there has been little evidence to explain why.
The new findings, published in the Journal Of Sexual Medicine, are the first to show it could work by driving down levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that occurs naturally in the body.
But excess levels, which can be caused by poor diet, are thought to damage blood vessels, raising the risk of a deadly clot forming. The chemical has also been linked with Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers in Taiwan tracked more than 2,000 men and women, aged from 20 to 59.
A report on their findings said: ‘This is the first study of its kind to evaluate the correlation between sexual frequency and homocysteine levels.
‘A good-quality sex life, frequent sex and libido are all related to health in the middleaged and elderly. Increased sexual frequency could have a protective effect on health and quality of life, especially in men, so doctors should support patients’ sexual activity.’
Dr Mike Knapton, from the British Heart Foundation, said the study produced an ‘interesting result’ but did not prove that regular sex reduced homocysteine levels. He added that ‘keeping active and not smoking remain the best ways to ensure a healthy future’.
Every year, about 73,000 people in Britain die from coronary heart disease.