18 Foods That Increase Sex Drive

It can take just a few candles and a love song to feel romantic and sexy. If you have a healthy lifestyle — from exercises you do to foods you consume, they can also make you healthier, feel better and boost your sex drive. Nevertheless, some foods sometimes can be mood-killers and sometimes libido-killers.

The link between sex drive and food is not only wishful thinking. Scientific studies show that some ingredients and foods play an important role in boosting libido.

Foods That Increase Sex Drive

Sexologists and cardiologists agree that how much you consume has a huge impact on your sexual health. Exactly what you eat is critically important, too. Here is a list of foods that increase sex drive.

1. Black Raspberries

Both the berries and the seeds will transform your mind-set for getting in the mood, so pop in a handful a day to keep bedroom boredom at bay. This phytochemical-rich food enhances both libido and sexual endurance.

Consume 10 black raspberries or a tablespoon of seeds a few hours before sex.

2. Chocolate

Throughout history, chocolate has been a symbol of desire not only because of its delectable taste, but because of its power to improve sexual pleasure.

According to an article published in the South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition, chocolate releases phenylethylamine and serotonin into the human system, which can produce some aphrodisiac and mood-lifting effects. However, according to a study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the effects of chocolate on sexuality are most likely more psychological than biological.

3. Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are rich in potassium, which helps fight high blood pressure, which is associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction.

They’re also rich in beta-carotene, providing the body with vitamin A, which is suspected (but not proven) to be helpful for those with infertility.

4. Pine Nuts

Pine nuts are loaded with arginine which helps increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels. Plus, arginine is converted by the body into nitric oxide which is found in Viagra. So consider making some pesto or some nice quinoa pilaf with these wonder nuts for your date night.

5. Bananas

Bananas is rich in the bromelain enzyme that is believed to boost libido as well as reverse the impotence in men. Furthermore, bananas are great sources of vitamin B complex, potassium for boosting energy levels in the body.

The best way to enjoy this sex boosting fruit is to place them on a plate in different states of “undress”, then have your partner eat some for you slowly. Gobble yours down, and get to work!

6. Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds contain zinc, the ultimate sex mineral. Studies show that women with a greater sex drive have higher levels of testosterone. To increase your testosterone, add zinc to your diet. Zinc blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone to estrogen. A quarter-cup serving of pumpkin seeds may do the trick.

7. Broccoli

Raw, sautéed, or cooked, toss this vegetable in with your salad or alongside your steak for a bedroom boost. Vitamin C aids in blood circulation to organs and has also been associated with an improved female libido. If you’re going to pick a veggie at dinner anyway, may as well kill two birds with one sprout and make it this one.

8. Avocados

The name for this South American fruit derives from the Aztec language Nahuatl, in which it meant “testicle” – a name chosen for the fruit’s unusual shape.

It may seem like a bit of a stretch to us, but avocados do have some sexy benefits. They are rich in unsaturated fats, making them very heart healthy.

And a healthy heart keeps the blood flowing to all the right places. Men with underlying heart disease are twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction, so feel free to add some extra avocado slices to your salads.

9. Beetroot

Although beetroot doesn’t look like the sexiest vegetable, it has been used as an aphrodisiac since the Roman times. It contains high amounts of boron, which is directly related to the production of human sex hormones.

Beetroot is also relaxing. It contains betaine which relaxes the mind and trytophan which is also found in chocolate and contributes to a sense of wellbeing and happiness, perfect to get you in the mood.

10. Cloves

This sex superfood is versatile when it comes to cooking: it can be brewed in hot apple cider, infused in your favorite exotic dish, or added to a chai tea latte. Just make sure to share it with your guy, too. In India, cloves have been used to treat male sexual dysfunction for centuries.

Research published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine agrees, discovering that clove extracts produced an increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats. Cloves are also used to rid bad breath, which can’t hurt your kissing skills either. Add a little cumin and cinnamon and you’ve got a tasty, multifaceted aphrodisiac.

11. Ginseng

Researchers at the University of Hawaii found that women who took a ginseng supplement significantly upped their libido in a month, and 68 percent also said their overall sex life improved dramatically.

Add ginseng into your diet or try one of the many ginseng teas available. Just don’t jump at the sight of ginseng, though. Many energy drinks that claim to have ginseng in them also contain chemicals and tons of sugar, and there’s nothing sexy about that.

12. Salmon

The omega-3s in salmon are great for improving circulation in your body, says Blum, which is essential for boosting blood flow to your genitals. They can also raise dopamine (feel-good) levels in the brain—a major precursor to getting in the mood.

13. Almonds

These healthy nuts are said to act as a sexual stimulant and a fertility aid, so if you’re trying for a baby, start snacking.

Almonds are rich in nutrients and in several minerals that are important for sexual health and reproduction, including zinc, selenium, and vitamin E. Zinc can also help enhance sexual desire.

14. Watermelon

This juicy red fruit could be the new sexual star. While watermelon is 92 percent water, the remaining eight percent contains the phytonutrient citrulline, which converts to arginine, an amino acid that relaxes blood vessels, according to 2008 research from Texas A&M University’s department of horticultural sciences.

Although not as organ-specific as drugs that treat men’s erectile dysfunction, watermelon may help improve blood flow to erectile tissue (present in the female clitoral area as well as the male penis), increasing arousal. Scientists at the university’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center are now working on increasing the fruit’s citrulline content.

15. Figs

These small fruits pack some big benefits. They are bursting with calcium, iron, potassium, and more of that stimulating zinc.

They are also packed with fiber, which boosts heart health and satisfies hunger without adding to your waistline.

16. Steak

Go ahead, get the filet, says Esther Blum, R.D., author of Eat, Drink, and Be Gorgeous. Red meat (especially grass-fed beef) is a great source of zinc, the same libido-boosting nutrient found in oysters.

Zinc increases your testosterone and curbs production of prolactin, a hormone that can impair sexual function.

17. Eggs

Poached, scrambled or fried, eggs are sure to rev you up after a long day at work. They are full of protein, which keeps you going without packing on the calories.

They’re also an excellent source of amino acids, which combat certain types of heart ailments as well as erectile dysfunction.

18. Saffron

Though on the pricey side, this spice is a treat for your stomach and sex life. Researchers at the University of Guelph have found that saffron can improve sexual performance.

You can use saffron by soaking the threads in hot liquid for 15 minutes then adding to any grain like rice, quinoa, or barley — or use it in a soup or stew.