Food and Sex
Naturopath Dr. Alvenia Fulton, circa 1975 Courtesy of the Chicago Defender
From 1971 to 1972 Dr. Alvenia Fulton (1893-1999) wrote a column for the Chicago Defender called “Eating for Your Health and Strength.” Here’s what she had to say about food and sex in her responses to readers questions directly and indirectly. I share them in a paraphrased format to make them relevant and accessible and as direct quotes as often as possible. Dr. Fulton, a Tennessee native, believed that for many people overeating served as a substitute for addressing dysfunctional relationship problems, and emotional and sexual issues. Food addictions to sweet, fatty, deep-fried foods and high calorie beverages lead to poor nutrition and obesity. Fulton goes on to say, “obesity can and does create frigidity in females and impotency in men.” Obese people often have a “a lack of energy and restricted mobility contributes to withdrawal, insecurity, and rejection as well as irritability.” All these factors can restrict the development of a healthy and pleasurable sex life.
