A glass of wine may get you in the mood, but over-imbibing can wreak havoc on your performance in the bedroom. Alcohol impairs your brain’s ability to communicate with your nervous system, which can lead to problems below the belt. When a man is aroused, his brain alerts his nervous system, which in turn signals the blood vessels in the penis to dilate and relax, causing an erection. For women, signals from the brain to the nervous system cause the clitoris to swell and become more sensitive, and the vagina to become lubricated and ready for penetration. Large doses of alcohol (a blood alcohol level of .10 or more, which equals about 4-5 drinks per hour for a 160-pound person) can put a damper on these processes, making it difficult for men to maintain or achieve an erection, and for women to lubricate or to climax.
Many people prefer to add a little alcohol to the mix on a romantic evening — but for the sake of your health as well as your sex life, it’s best to limit yourself to the USDA recommended intake of one drink a day for women, and two for men.
