Heather Little-White, Ph.D., Contributor

Forty days of Lent is a period in the Christian calendar when persons make the sacrifice to give up something that they love such as meat. As such, fish becomes the protein of choice during the period. Others on a spiritual rebirth during this period may even give up other forms of flesh abstaining from sexual intercourse. Ironically, while abstaining from meat and sex as a spiritual choice, fish may actually stimulate sexual desire.

There is a strong relationship between diet, sexuality and dietary fat. All animal, vegetable and seed fats that enter the body are converted by the body's metabolism into basic chemical materials such as fatty acids. Fatty acids are essential to the metabolic role through hormone-like substances present in a wide variety of tissues and body fluids including the uterus, testicles, semen and the brain. The gonads in particular make use of fatty acids for hormone production and transfer neuro-genital impulse waves to the brain.

Healthy heart

During sexual intercourse, the heart plays an essential role in sustaining increased blood flow around the body during sexual stimulation. A healthy heart is, therefore, important for good sex. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and regular consumption leads to a healthy heart. Omega-3 fatty acids help the blood flow more smoothly.

These essential fatty acids help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, lower tryiglygeride levels and blood pressure. Cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, cod, sardines, herrings and trout are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. It is recommended that fish be eaten at least three times a week but during Lent, fish is eaten much more often in some form.

Sexual desire

A study reported in the Archives of General Psychiatry highlighted improvement in sexual desire after a daily dose of omega-3 fatty acids. The lack of sexual desire is often associated with depression and even with the lowest daily dose of one gram of fish oil, participants in the study showed significant improvements in depression levels.

Some persons believe that eating fish carries risks which could be dangerous to your health. Though some species of fish around the world are likely to be contaminated with mercury, PCBs and other toxins, at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science it was posited that the benefits of eating fish far outweigh the risks.

Pregnant women

Young children and pregnant women who may be at risk for eating seafoods because of the implications of mercury contamination should avoid eating shark, swordfish, tilefish and Spanish mackerel. Pregnant mothers and new mothers need the essential fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid or DHA found only in fish oil.

Early epidemiological studies showed that both the Eskimo and Japanese populations living by the sea had relatively low incidence of coronary heart disease and were exceedingly sexually active. This was a result of their diets which included substantial amounts of fatty fish, fish oil and other marine life.

Immune system

The relationship between fish products and sexual functioning is strong. Fish contributes to improved blood circulation, reducing the risk of contracting diseases and auto immune diseases may be drastically reduced. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a common sexually-transmitted disease, can lead to cervical cancer in sexually-active women. Studies have shown that fish oil inhibited the growth of cervical HPV-precancerous cells. Amazing research results further demonstrated that fish oils also inhibited the growth of already cancerous cells in a benign tumour.

Mental alertness enhances sexual desire and sexual performance. New studies have also shown that omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the onset of Alzheimer's disease as well as other mental illnesses. Conditions of hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol and diabetes may reduce blood flow to the penis and genital organs leading to difficulties with erection. However, proper diets with lavish amounts of fish, coupled with exercise can bring back good sexuality during Lent and beyond.

Double pleasure

Double pleasure

Q Please help me, doc. I have read your advice about sex and avoiding veneral disease, and now I would like you to assist me. I am 22 and female. Until recently, I had never discharged. I thought there must be something wrong with me. Then I met these two guys in Ocho Rios. They are good friends, and they work in the tourism industry. Both of them are handsome, and they treated me real well. I began to think that I was in love with one of them - or maybe both. At different times, they both told me where they loved me.

Well doc, I soon found myself going to bed with them - both at the same time. I told them that I could not discharge, and one of them said 'We will soon make you.'

And it was true, doc. These two guys are real experienced, and they knew what to do to help me achieve that orgasm. Generally, what happened was that one of them would have regular sex with me from behind, while the other one gave me the oral stimulation at the same time. I was truly relieved to find that this made me discharge.

In fact, I feel much more of a 'real woman' now, because I can even discharge several times for the evening. All of this is good, but I have to admit that there is a 'downside', doc.

You see, doctor, I know that these two guys are not faithful to me. They admitted to me that they do the same sort of thing for other girls - especially those who have problems with discharging. Indeed, my two boyfriends are real proud of what they do, and they have said to me that they can 'make any woman discharge'.

So could they give me VD? How would I know, doc? And am I foolish in thinking that I love both these two guys?

A Let me deal first with the question of love. It is almost impossible for a woman to love two guys. Obviously, these men have given you a great deal of pleasure - and helped you to reach orgasm for the first time - but I can see no prospect that you could has a long-term loving relationship with both of them.

And obviously, you cannot marry both of them!

Now let us turn to the question of VD. The two guys have admitted to you that they have sex with other women. So there is a real high chance that sooner or later, one of the men will pick up a sex infection. That means that he will almost certainly give it to YOU.

Bearing in mind that there is now a lot of HIV around, you have to appreciate that either or both of these guys could become HIV-positive.

So you can guess what I am going to say. This relationship is DANGEROUS for you, and I think it is time that you brought it to an end. If possible, get some tests done to make sure that the two guys have not infected your body. Remember that VD usually produces no symptoms in women. So a girl cannot really tell that she has it unless she takes tests. On the positive side, it is good that you have now learned to discharge. However, I am sure that in the future you will not need 'two guys at once' to help you achieve orgasm.

Q My little boy have a bad wart on his hand, and I have heard where bananas can somehow cure it. Is this true, doc?

A I believe that the inside of a banana skin contains an enzyme which can sometimes 'shrink down' unhealthy tissue. So it is worth trying the effect of rubbing the skin on your child's wart. However, I suspect that you will eventually have to ask a doc to deal with it.

Q Could I try 'crack' just once, and not get addicted?

A Please do NOT try it. Crack cocaine is almost instantly addictive. So, many people find that they use it once - and then cannot give it up.

Q I am a guy of 42, and I notice that these days I only get 'morning erections' once a week. Am I losing my nature, doc?

A No. Many young guys have these erections almost every day of the week. But men in their 40s have them much less often - yet remain virile.