Sometimes, when boredom in the bedroom starts to affect your relationship, couples tend to despair and think about hitting the road; but they may not realize that with the help of certain foods that boost your libido, your sex life could just as well be right back on track in no time. For several centuries urban myths have surrounded some food groups and their arousing power, being depicted even as sacred ingredients in some cultures. But while past legends based their knowledge merely on first-hand experience, today science takes the lead in telling us what to ingest when we want to heat things up between the sheets.
The chemical components we find in our daily ingredients certainly alter our bodies, as well as our minds, and knowing their properties can help us chose our meals wisely. Last week we published an article about foods that stain your teeth, so you know what to avoid. In this case, however, you may want to stock up on the following nutrients before your next sexual encounter. So, let’s take a look at the foods that boost your libido and what makes them so alluring.
8. Strawberries/Berries
Red has been proven to be the most arousing colour for men, so it’s no surprise that the devilish red berries are on this list. However, apart from their colouring, strawberries are high in B vitamin folate and vitamin C, which can potentially increase your libido. Furthermore, the nutrients in berries help relax blood vessels and improve circulation, thereby creating a sort of Viagra effect.
7. Dark Chocolate
Possibly the oldest recipe in the book, dark chocolate is a proven stimulant. It contains high levels of a compound called phenylethylamine, which releases the same endorphins in your body that are usually triggered by sexual contact. Eating dark chocolate with your spouse, apart from being delicious, also increases the feeling of mutual attraction.
6. Oatmeal and Whole Grains
A somewhat surprising element on our list of foods that boost your libido is oatmeal. Oats and whole grains contain L-arginine, which is known for boosting the ever-important testosterone, as well as reducing blood vessel stiffness. The amino acid is even used to treat erectile dysfunction, as it dilates the blood vessels, allowing for better blood flow and therefore, longer erections.
5. Seeds and Nuts
Nuts have been linked to fertility for a very long time. In fact, the Romans would toss walnuts at newlyweds for good luck procreating. However, what they didn’t know is that the high plant cholesterol and protein levels in seeds and nuts are crucial for the body’s heart health. Furthermore, cholesterol is necessary for your sex hormones to function properly.
4. Saffron
This Mediterranean spice is commonly found in stews, rice dishes, and seafood concoctions, which might explain the urban myth that inhabitants of this region are more sexually active. Saffron contains several antioxidants, such as crocin, crocetin, and safranal, all of which are proven libido boosters. The spice’s exceptional effect on sexual appetite has been suspected for centuries: Cleopatra, for example, bathed in saffron infused water before any encounter with her lovers, while Romans sprinkled it on newlyweds bed sheets.
3. Watermelon
You’re probably wondering how watermelon can boost your libido if 92% of the fruit is simply water. Well, the remaining 8% contains citrulline, which converts to arginine, the amino acid responsible for relaxing blood vessels and thus, improving blood flow in the genital areas of both men and women.
2. Unsweetened Tea
Tea serves as a double sided weapon for your health: its antioxidant catechin increases the body’s blood flow, which we’ve already mentioned as beneficial for your sex drive, and the compound ECGC also helps burn fat. This chemical is found particularly in green tea, and when you keep your sugar intake in beverages to a minimum, your body increases its natural production of endorphins, resulting in a better sex drive.
1. Oysters
The king of aphrodisiacs is, as you may have guessed, oysters. While their shape resembles the female genitalia, oysters are also rich in zinc, which increases the testosterone production in our bodies. For men, zinc will also boost their sperm production and blood flow, thereby making this one of the top notch foods that boost your libido.
