What’s on the menu for your Valentine’s Day dinner? If you’re looking to load up on romance tonight, some foods can help boost your libido. An aphrodisiac is any substance, like a food or drug, that increases sexual desire. They can work in three ways - to increase libido, enhance pleasure and/or improve potency.
Some of the foods that can help get you in the mood may surprise you, but research shows these have been proven to do the trick.
- Oysters - While slurping down an oyster isn’t exactly sexy, this seafood is rich in the mineral zinc, which is essential for testosterone production. Oysters are also high in omega-3s, which can increase blood flow, and they’re known to improve levels of dopamine, the neurotransmitter that’s involved in feeling pleasure.
- Saffron - This spice doesn’t just add flavor to your food, it’s also known to have aphrodisiac qualities. One study finds that saffron had a positive effect on men with erectile dysfunction and another study finds it helps increase arousal in women.
- Avocados - They’re delicious, healthy and contain the B-vitamin folate, which helps produce histamine, a compound that’s released during orgasms.
- Pistachios - Research has shown that these nuts may also help improve erectile dysfunction.
- Maca - It’s a cruciferous vegetable, in the same family as kale or broccoli, but it’s commonly eaten as a powder sprinkled into foods and smoothies. In one study, women who were dealing with low libido from taking antidepressants experienced a libido boost after taking maca.
- Red ginseng - It’s a root common in many Asian countries and it’s known to be an aphrodisiac. Research has shown red ginseng helps increase arousal in women and improves erectile dysfunction in men.
- Berries - The flavonoids in berries may help men last longer in the bedroom and blackberries are loaded with them.
Source: Eat This, Not That
photo: Getty
Photo: Anton Petrus / Moment / Getty Images