10 foods putting sizzle in your sex life

Need some sizzle to light the fire in your sex life?  Consider using food.   Many types of food have a natural sensual quality perfect for arousing sexual feelings setting a tone of love.  For centuries, various foods have been used as aphrodisiacs to stimulate a lagging libido.  Aphrodisiacs are any kind of substance than can create thoughts and feelings about sex that arouse you having a powerful impact on the mind and body.  From our brain to our sex organs, effective aphrodisiacs enhance our sensory experience making us feel sexy creating that “love is in the air” type of feeling.

Food are one type of an effective aphrodisiac in the sense that they can affect our mood, they can arouse us and they have get juices flowing throughout the body preparing us for the sexual encounter. So, turn down the lights, put on soft music, and feature some R-rated foods to help turn up the heat.  Here are some foods that have had starring roles in aphrodisiac history and lore you can use whenever you need a little nudge to create a romantic atmosphere.

1.  Dark chocolate

No list of mood foods would be complete without mentioning dark chocolate.  Chocolate is a perennial favorite gift on Valentine’s Day and for a good reason.  Dark chocolate, which contains at least 70% or higher cacao content, also contains tryptophan which helps the body produce serotonin.  Serotonin is chemical that naturally comes from a stimulant called phenylethylamine that also produces endorphins.  With all those lovey-dovey chemicals circulating throughout your body, you’ll be in the mood in no time. 

2.  Avocados

The Aztecs knew a sexy food when they saw one - they actually referred to the oblong, oval-shaped avocado as testicles. In addition to its suggestive shape, this buttery, creamy fruit is a rich source of the perfect mood-enhancing substances.  One is vitamin E which helps the body to manufacture hormones like testosterone.  Testosterone is found in both men and women and is the hormone of desire.  Eat more avocados to amplify both vitamin E and testosterone.  Avocados are also a top source of omega-3 fatty acids that not only naturally boost desire for more bedroom action but also are good for your heart and arteries.  Anything to keep the heart beating strong helps keep blood flowing to all the right places. 

3.  Asparagus

Forget the fact asparagus also resembles a part of the male anatomy.  Its phallic appearance aside, asparagus is a leading source of vitamin B6 and folate both which can stimulate arousal and orgasm.  Like avocados, asparagus also boasts vitamin E helping increase sex hormones in men and women.

4.  Eggs

Already considered a symbol of fertility, eggs contain L-arginine an amino acid that can increase the production of nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide opens up blood flow and blood vessels that lead to the penis and vagina.  All that good blood flow results in helping a man to achieve an erection and increases lubrication and sensitivity to the vagina in women.

5.  Oysters

This super sexy food is a favorite aphrodisiac for many couples.  You may think oysters slippery feel is what gives them their seductive allure – oh no – it’s the fact oysters are loaded with the mineral zinc.  Zinc helps to produce testosterone, absolutely necessary in stimulating libidos in both men and women.  For men, zinc can improve sperm count and make them very efficient swimmers.   For women, zinc keeps their ovaries healthy, the source of estrogen, progesterone, and some testosterone, all needed for a good time in the bedroom.

6.  Strawberries

Best known for their rich source of vitamin C, strawberries are always a welcome way to heat things up between a couple.  Strawberries vitamin C content is the magic ingredient that increases sperm count and sperm’s swimming abilities. Dip strawberries into dark chocolate and you have a double whammy of love mood foods to rely on.

7.  Chili peppers

Spice up your sex drive with some chili peppers.  Thanks to the chemical capsaicin that makes peppers spicy, this mood enhancer gets to work by inducing the release of endorphins in the brain creating a feeling of euphoria.  Those feel-good hormones travel throughout your body stimulating nerve endings contributing to arousal.

8.  Watermelon

This popular summer fruit is low in calories but also high in potentially libido-boosting phytonutrients.  In 2008, Texas A&M research suggested that the lycopene – citrulline – and beta-carotene found in watermelon may help relax blood vessels, and provide a natural enhancement for revving up your sex drive. 

9.  Sweet potato

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 a rich source of beta-carotene, providing the body with vitamin A, which is suspected (but not proven) to be helpful for those with infertility. 

10.  Almonds

This favorite nut contains zinc, selenium, and vitamin E, nutrients important for sexual health and reproduction.  Selenium can help with infertility issues while vitamin E may help heart health.  Zinc is a mineral that helps produce men’s sex hormones and can boost libido.  Almonds contain healthy fats in the form of omega-3 fatty acids which promote good blood flow to the sex organs.