Nutrient-rich foods to boost your libido

Listen up, foodies: The things you eat may help you feel heat between the sheets. We all have pre-conceived notions of what foods are considered aphrodisiacs. Chocolate and strawberries may come to mind, but according to sex experts, one of the keys to a healthy sex drive is the right diet.

A balanced diet can help you look better, making you feel more confident. Not only that, delivering key nutrients to your body can help keep your libido high, while a poor diet can cause sluggishness, toxicity, and inflammation—all things that can impair your passion.

Some foods are better than others. Foods can encourage the production of certain hormones, or increase activity in parts of the body, in order to raise ones libido. Here are some surprising, everyday foods that have been scientifically proven to get you in the mood.

Pine nuts are loaded with arginine, an amino acid. Arginine helps increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels. As well, Arginine is converted into nitric oxide by the body, a molecule that allows for penile erections, and is used in the drug Viagra.

Avocados are an exceptionally healthy fruit, containing heart-healthy fats, vitamin B6, and folic acids. These nutrients help fuel the body and increase energy. Also, vitamin B6 is known to influence hormone production in men—a key element in a strong sex drive.

Black raspberries are rich in phytochemicals, a compound that occurs naturally in some plants that are responsible for colour and organoleptic properties. As well, phytochemicals are found to enhance both libido and sexual endurance. Sex experts recommend having ten berries just a few hours before doing the deed for max benefits.

Studies have suggested that people have more sex, or at least think about sex more often, in the summertime. The favoured warm-weather fruit, watermelon, potentially has something to do with that. Researchers at Texas A&M University found a nutrient in watermelons called citrulline, and that it has a Viagra-like effect on the body (like pine nuts). Citrulline is converted into arginine in the body, which boosts nitric oxide in the body.

Ginseng tea contains a compound that increases sexual satisfaction. Studies on the tea have also found that it can help lessen erectile dysfunction. In fact, a 2002 study found that Korean red ginseng have helped sixty per cent of participants with erectile dysfunction. It may be time to ditch the coffee.

Folklore suggests that the scent of almonds can be an aphrodisiac for women. Although there is no scientific evidence to back this claim, the nut is packed with libidinous benefits. They’re rich in zinc—a nutrient important to testosterone production and libido in both men and women.

Although it may not look sexy, starting your day off with a bowl of oatmeal could enhance sexual performance. Oatmeal is a testosterone enhancer. The popular breakfast food also contains L-arginine, which encourages blood flow in your nether regions, and is an ingredient in numerous lubricants.

Some of the aforementioned foods may not seem sexually arousing, but with a few tweaks to your diet, and science to back up the claims, these foods can potentially enhance your sex life positively.