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Foods that are good for your health and waistline may also be good for your sex life, says registered dietitian Bonnie Dix of the American Dietetic Association. In an interview with AOL Health, she lists nine libido-boosters to add to your diet to get your heart pumping, blood flowing and love-making going today. You probably have heard about the potency of artichokes and oysters, but some of these foods will surprise you!

Does your exercise routine or diet help put you in the mood?

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South African running sensation Caster Semenya is making headlines all over the world today, but it's not because the 18-year-old wowed the world by taking home the gold metal in the 800-meter competition at the World Track and Field Championships in Germany yesterday. Rather, the reason Semenya's such a hot topic is because many people are wondering: Is she really a he?

As the International Association of Athletics Federation recently confirmed, the speedy super athlete has to undergo extensive gender verification tests, and while one would think it'd be ridiculously easy to make the final call, it's actually quite complex -- Semenya has to be examined in painstaking detail by a number of professionals, including a gynecologist, an endocrinologist, a psychologist and a gender expert, and it could be weeks before the final report is revealed.

IAAF spokesman Nick Davies told ESPN.com that it's "a medical issue, not an issue of cheating," and the tests are being carried out to prove that Semenya doesn't have an intersex condition or a hormone imbalance that could give her an unfair advantage over her female competitors.

South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm or deny that Semenya was having such a test, but did say "We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way. Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that."

Click on the video below to see Semenya respond to whether she is male or female.



Semenya isn't the first female athlete to face questions about her gender. German high-jumper Dora Ratjen, who broke the world record in 1938, was later revealed to be a man named Hermann, and the gold-medal winning Polish runner, Ewa Klobukowska was found to be a man after failing a chromosome test in 1967. And more recently intersex German tennis player Sarah Gronert chose to undergo surgery to have her male sex organs removed and compete against women.

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British people are too lazy to have sex, at least that's according to a recent study by Nuffield Health in UK. And if that wasn't shocking enough, there are even more startling findings. Such as? Well, one in six say they'd rather sit through a TV show they didn't want to watch than get up to change the channel if the remote was broken. And more than half said they'll always choose the elevator over two flights of stairs. Wow -- no wonder Britain is the most obese nation in Europe.

But don't be too quick to point the finger -- I suspect Americans aren't doing much better. Obesity rates are similar between the two countries, and considering the majority of us don't engage in any exercise whatsoever, I'm guessing a U.S. based study would show similar results.

OK, so maybe stairs aren't your thing, and the couch is just too darn comfy to justify getting up, but that doesn't mean you have to be a total blob -- there are plenty of fun and fabulous ways to get fit.

Have you tried bocce ball and beach paddleball this summer? Sorry to burst your bubble but you really have no excuse to be quite so lazy!

If you're looking to shed some pounds, just remember it's a numbers game. It takes a deficit of approximately 3,500 calories to lose a single pound. You can revamp your diet, but cardio is also a great way to burn calories. But there are a lot more ways to get your heart pumping than jumping on a treadmill. Check out the video below for some fresh ideas on blasting calories this weekend.

What's your favorite calorie-burning activity?

We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

Want to know the best way to tell if the shoe fits for walking? Then head on over to AOL Health's walking shoe shopping guide.

Eating more tomatoes and fewer (OK, no) fries isn't just good for your waistline -- these two small changes may help reduce the degree of your sunburn and help fight acne, respectively. Check out more tips for healthy skin here.

Just what does a woman think of her lover's looks? AOL Health polled over 4,000 women about their sexual histories and preferences and for this particular question, 42 percent of poll takers confessed that they're more concerned with being attractive to their lover rather than being attracted to their partner. A third are concerned with both how attractive they are and how attracted they are to their partner, while 17 percent think looks don't matter at all. More women's sex secrets are revealed here.

We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

Listen up, men: Your physical fitness affects your bedroom fitness, so we want you in tip-top shape. Check out these exercises for better sex from AOL Health. (Note: Ladies, these are just for guys.)

Shocking, but true fact -- toilet cleaner and potato chips have the same ingredient and bread and acne cream have the same ingredient, and these aren't the only odd couples. AOL Health investigates this week in "What's really in our food?"

Whether you suffer from first-date-jitter odors or post-workout stench, we've got fixes for your most embarrassing smells.

We at That's Fit and AOL Health know you've got a lot going on in your lives besides staying in great shape, and we realize that more than just diet and exercise goes into feeling your best every day. That's why we're sharing some of the exciting reporting going on at AOL Health.

So we're all savvy enough to know that just because it's under the salad section on a menu, doesn't mean it's healthy, but who knew these salad shockers could pack in thousands of calories and nearly a day's worth of fat grams (or more). AOL Health culled together some of the worst leafy-green offenders.

First it was an epidemic of obesity, and now it's an epidemic of diabetes and obesity. One sure-fire way to ward off the latter and reign in on your overall health? Ditch your car. Walking -- even if it's not helping you lose weight -- does a great job of keeping your health in shape. Read all 12 diabetes prevention tips from AOL Health here.

Want to know what the ladies are thinking about themselves (and their partners) in bed? Read AOL Health's sex survey to find out once and for all how (and if) size matters, whose looks she's worried about and how far on the kinky scale she's willing to go.

Photo: Macnolete/Flickr

Who wouldn't want a better sex life? Even if life between the sheets is already pretty good, there's always room for improvement. Building a better sex life is a win-win situation; some of the things you can do to improve your desire and (ahem) performance, will also benefit your overall health:

• Want to want it more? Let's face it. As completely unsexy as it is to admit, there are times when we'd all just rather roll over and go to sleep. After busy days at work and running from here to there taking care of all of life's responsibilities, a little late night loving might be the last thing on your mind. But if not wanting it is more of a rule than an exception, it's probably time to take care of your libido. An active lifestyle where fitness is a priority can help boost your libido. In addition, a fit and healthy body can help you feel more sexy which, in turn, will make you crave sex more.
  
• Need more energy? Exercise energizes many people; in fact, it's recommended that you don't exercise too close to bedtime if you have trouble sleeping. The opposite principle holds true if you want to stay awake a little longer. Try exercising closer to bedtime -- you might be able to take advantage of an extra boost in energy.

Eating healthfully also plays a roll in your energy level, and in your sex drive. And remember, there's nothing sexier than confidence in yourself. No matter what your body type, no matter how good or bad of a hair day you're having, be confident in who you are -- your inner sexiness will shine through!

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Every couple fights from time to time, but I think it's safe to say we all wish we would fight less. "CafeMom" reports that sex may be the surprising answer. What's more, when you stop focusing on the little things that annoy you and ask yourself how you can put sex back in your marriage, you'll reap the other benefits of a healthy sex life, including reduced stress, improved immunity, better cardiovascular health and higher self-esteem. All that, plus you're burning calories!

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Over at Lemondrop, one of the writers posed a question that might interest you a lot. She wanted to know if couples' exercise, like, at the gym, equals more exercise between the sheets. And, she didn't just ask it -- she researched it.

She and her husband tried a variety of physical feats, ranging from tennis to dancing to walking to hula hooping, and her results were mixed. Certain activities, like salsa dancing, really got them going, while others (like the tennis) left them a sweaty mess, but not the naughty kind.

What I'm curious to know is how much of it has to do with exercising together and how much of it has to do with just getting moving. I feel far sexier when I've gotten in a good workout, and therefore, I'm far more likely to initiate a romantic encounter. While I enjoy working out with my husband, I can't say that it increases the probability of a mattress mambo more than working out separately would. What do you think?

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Sex and a trip to the gym have a few things in common They both get you hot. They both get you sweaty. And both get you breathing a little harder.

While it certainly can't replace your regular workout (bummer!), sex does have its fitness benefits. What a good thing to know just before Valentine's Day!

Fitness Magazine details 10 different positions and the strengthening perks of each. Missionary (if you put a little gusto into it) can be good for your core. Doggy style gives your quads and your glutes a workout. Check out their slideshow for more details. (Be warned, though. The illustrations may be mere outlines, but they're still probably not safe for work.) And don't forget to check out AOL Health for some tips on keeping the bedroom action alive and kicking.

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We're coming up on the most romantic day of the year, and while it's typical for most couples to book an expensive night out at a fine restaurant or a nice hotel, I think you should spend this Valentine's day at home. More specifically, spend it in the bedroom, if you get my drift (and how could you not?) Why? Because sex is really, really good for you.

Not only does it burn calories and improve your physical stamina, it helps improve your mood and increase your energy -- so it will actually help you slim down, and a meal at a fancy restaurant definitely won't do that. Plus recent research shows that it lowers your risk of so many health problems out there -- heart disease and cancer, to name a couple. The best part, given our current economic situation? Like Dita Von Teese says, It's totally, 100% free.

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Our society is funny. Thin celebrities are bashed for being thin, yet stars who gain more than five "extra" pounds are criticized for being overweight. What the hell?

I look around my neighborhood and see lots of happy people of all different shapes and sizes, and I imagine (not in a creepy lewd and lascivious way) that many of those people are having sex! You know ... they "get busy" and "do the deed." So my thought process in the long run is that sexy is really not so much about looking like a Calvin Klein model, but more about the way we act and feel.

So what makes you feel sexy? Lots of girls seem to strut their stuff in lingerie, stilettos or shiny shirts. Guys work the boot cut jeans or Under Armour T's, I suppose. Me? I feel best in my black cowboy boots. Am I a western girl at all? Not really. But those boots make me feel just a tad more powerful and as you'll read next ... I love power.

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Does your husband spend lots of time working in the garden? Let's hope so -- not only is it good for him, it's good for your relationship. And I'm not just talking about the fact that the you two are less likely to get into a big fight when he's willingly helping out in the yard -- gardening can actually improve your sex life. As in, physically.

Recent studies show that gardening greatly reduces a man's chance of impotence, meaning it can do wonders for his performance in the bedroom. If gardening is typically your job around the house? Exercise in general will have the same effects, so get your guy moving.

And considering gardening burns around 272 calories an hour, the fact that it's helping your hubby get rid of his beer belly can't hurt either.

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