Can diet contribute to a healthy sex life?

You know that Americans need to eat more fruits and vegetables. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says only about 10percentofyougetthe recommended amounts: 1 1/2to2cupsoffruit,and2 to 3 cups of vegetables daily. But did you also know that, according to the latest General Social Survey from the National Opinion Research Center, Americans are having less sex than ever? Is there a connection?

Well, overall health depends on eating more produce, and a healthy sex life is influenced by overall health. So, that lack of broccoli — and an associated increase in the prevalence of obesity anddiabetes—maybeabig factor in the declining frequency of sexual relations.

According to the 2018 survey, the portion of adults who went a year without sex was 23 percent, a record high. It’s not just among baby boomers. Eighteen percent of women and 28 percent of men age 19 to 29 report having had no sex in the past year, more than double the number in 2008.

Poor health, plus a lack of face-to-face interaction with potentialmates,maybeto blame. Research shows that sexual satisfaction and contentment within relationships is strongly associated with the quality of communication between partners. So whatever your age, turn off Facebook, put down the phone and ask someone to share veggie-loaded Thai or Vietnamese food with you. It may have the spice you need.

Will regulators finally address supplement safety?

Hypervitaminosis A mostly happens when someone takes too much vitamin A for too long. But that’s just one of the hazards of taking supplements. For example, according to the National Institutes of Health, “products labeled as kava have been linked to the development of … acute liver injury, which can be severe and even fatal.”

Supplements aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug Administration; it’s only able to issue alerts and recalls — but the agency recently announced that it would explore improving communication about harmful ingredients and reform regulatory guidelines that ensure product safety. The question: How good a job will it do?

For now, look for a seal from U.S. Pharmacopeia, NSF International or Consumerlab.com certifying that a supplement isn’t contaminated and the contents are verified. Discuss all supplements with your doctor so that you don’t have negative interactions withothermeds.

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.