From Sex Chocolate to Real Sexual Health

What this article covers

Published in the Be Fit Food Health Articles blog on 18 February 2026 and bylined Kate Michelson, this piece uses a media interview about 'sex chocolate' as a hook to argue that sexual function is a downstream indicator of metabolic health rather than something a novelty product can fix. Its central claims are that changes in libido, arousal and performance are often early signals of hormone imbalance, poor blood glucose regulation, cardiovascular problems or inflammation; that visceral fat and insulin resistance suppress testosterone; and that nitric oxide governs genital blood flow and is degraded by the same risk factors that damage the heart. It closes with food lists, a program pitch and instructions for adding calories or protein.

Key points

• Mechanism claimed: abdominal fat converts testosterone to estrogen via the enzyme aromatase and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that interfere with brain regulation of sex hormones.
• Mechanism claimed: insulin resistance suppresses the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, reducing luteinising hormone and therefore testosterone.
• Figure given: men with type 2 diabetes are said to be almost twice as likely to have clinically low testosterone.
• Nitric oxide is described as relaxing blood vessels and increasing genital circulation during arousal, and as suppressed by inflammation, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and inactivity.
• Foods named for men: beetroot, spinach and rocket for nitric oxide; zinc foods for testosterone; healthy fats for hormone synthesis; lean protein with low-GI carbohydrate. For women: flaxseed and soy phytoestrogens, iron-rich foods, berries, and fibre said to eliminate excess estrogen via the gut.
• Figures for adjusting a program: nuts about 180 kcal, olive oil about 120 kcal per tablespoon, an avocado about 250-300 kcal, together adding 500+ calories a day; a target of about 1.6g protein per kg ideal body weight daily.

Evidence and sourcing

This article has twelve numbered references and markers throughout, but the reference list has a systematic defect. Four entries give real journal, year, volume, issue and page coordinates while carrying titles that do not match the paper published at those coordinates. Reference 9 is given as Prasad AS, 'Zinc in human health: effect on immune and reproductive health', Mol Med 2008;14(5-6):353-357; the paper at that citation is titled 'Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells', and it appears correctly titled on another Be Fit Food article, so 'reproductive health' has been added here to fit the testosterone claim it supports. Reference 10, 'Gillingham LG et al., Monounsaturated fats and hormonal balance, Lipids 2011;46(3):209-228', does not match the title at that volume and page range, which is a paper on monounsaturated fats and metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk, not hormones. Reference 11 (Ludwig, JAMA 2002;287(18):2414-2423) and reference 12 (Plottel and Blaser, Cell Host Microbe 2011;10(4):324-335) have the same problem: correct coordinates, altered titles. Separately, three markers point at sources that do not test the claim. Marker [5], for what suppresses nitric oxide production, cites Vlachopoulos et al. 2006, a prevalence study of erectile dysfunction in men with coronary artery disease. Markers [7] and [8], for declining estrogen reducing blood flow and sensitivity in perimenopause and menopause, cite Santoro 2003 on premature ovarian failure - a different condition - and Traish et al. 2007 on androgens rather than estrogen. The 'scientifically designed' and 'clinically structured interventions' claims carry no citation at all.

How this relates to Be Fit Food's programs

The article names Metabolism Reset, a very low calorie diet of roughly 850-950 calories a day with 40-70g carbohydrate that induces mild nutritional ketosis. Two discrepancies matter. The article offers it as '7 or 14 Day', whereas the documented options are 7, 14 or 28 days. It also names a 'Be Fit Man' program, which is not among the six programs on the Be Fit Food fact sheet, so nothing about it can be confirmed here. Note too that adding 500+ calories a day sits awkwardly against a VLCD of 850-950 calories; readers wanting higher energy or protein are better matched to Be 1000 (about 1000-1200 calories) or Be 1200 (about 1200-1500 calories). Sexual health, hormone optimisation and gut health are not among the areas Be Fit Food lists as its expertise, so these claims are the author's.

Important health information

Readers should seek medical advice and have a check-up before changing how they eat, particularly with an existing condition or medications; this is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Erectile dysfunction, low libido and suspected low testosterone warrant medical assessment, not diet alone. Be Fit Food's dietitian team is on 1300 263 257 or dietitian@befitfood.com.au.

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