Did you know that there are
foods that can naturally increase your
libido, boost your reproductive health
and spark your sexual appetite? Spice up your sex life by adding these
foods to the menu:
Wild salmon Wild salmon and other cold-water fish
(such as sardines, herring, trout and
anchovies) are guaranteed to boost
your sexual stamina and overall
health as they are so high in omega-3.
These essential fatty acids are critical to the healthy function of your brain and
nervous system, fight depression and
improve your mood, memory and
brain power.
Watermelon This refreshing summer fruit is rich in
L-citrulline, an amino acid that helps
improve blood flow to the sexual
organs. It’s like Nature’s Viagra
without the side effects. L-citrulline
optimises blood flow in the body by first converting to L-arginine and then
to nitric oxide, which is involved in
dilation of the blood vessels. Low
levels of nitric oxide are associated
with mental and physical fatigue and
sexual dysfunction.
Dark chocolate Dark chocolate’s many benefits are
well documented, including its ability
to mimic the sensation of being in love.
Few people will argue with the fact
that chocolate makes one feel really
good. This is not just because of the taste and texture, it’s also thanks to a
chemical in chocolate, called
phenylethylamine (also called the
“love chemical”), believed to produce
the feeling of being in love. Research
has also found that women who enjoyed a piece of chocolate every day
had a more active sex life than those
who didn’t.
Asparagus Asparagus has been considered a
successful aphrodisiac since ancient
times. And, it seems, for good reason.
This vegetable is rich in potassium and
folic acid, a B vitamin that helps
increase the production of histamine, which is important for a healthy sex
drive in both men and women. Oysters Oysters boost dopamine, a “feel
good” hormone that increases libido
in both men and women. These
shellfish are especially important for
men, though, as they are very rich in
zinc which is essential for testosterone production and the maintenance of
healthy sperm.
Blueberries Blueberries are high in antioxidants
and have the capacity to relax the
blood vessels, thereby allowing
improved circulation. This, in turn,
means better blood flow to the sex
organ and stronger erections. Blueberries also rule when it comes to
the boosting the dopamine levels, as
they give the body a greater ability to
release this feel-good hormone.
Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds are a great libido
booster for both men and women as
they’re said to increase sexual
appetite and desire. Like oysters,
pumpkin seeds are very rich in zinc,
which is important for testosterone. Even though women have much less
testosterone than men, it still plays a
key part in their libido. Pumpkin seeds
also contain high levels of omega-3
which acts as a precursor of
prostaglandins – hormone-like substances important for sexual
health.
Garlic Though the thought of garlic might
not immediately conjure up romance,
it is said to be a powerful aphrodisiac
as it contains allicin, a compound
thought to improve blood circulation
and improve sexual performance by increasing blood flow to the sexual
organs. Avocado Avocados help to increase both male
and female libido as they are a great
source of folic acid, which assists the
body in metabolising proteins and
providing energy.
Avos are also rich in
vitamin B6, which improves male hormone production, and potassium,
which increases female libido by
helping to regulate the woman’s
thyroid gland.
Peanuts Peanuts are great libido boosters,
especially for men, as they are a rich
natural source of L-arginine. This
amino acid helps improve sexual
function in men by relaxing blood
vessels. Preliminary studies have also found that L-arginine may help with
erectile dysfunction because of this
effect on the blood vessels.
