Libido boosters and killers: Foods that boost your sex drive and two that kill it

Can eating specific foods spark your sexual appetite and increase libido?

As Dr. Nalini Chilkov L.A. c., O.M.D., says “Love foods that stimulate desire are prized in cultures worldwide. These foods have circulatory, relaxant and muscle strengthening effects, or visual, tactile or sensory impact that stimulates the psyche. The brain, after all is the largest sexual organ in the body.”

All it takes is adding a few key foods into your diet to boost libido and get back in the mood. So dump the Viagra, here’s the list of the top sexy power foods that can boost your sex drive naturally.

Beetroot: Improves sexual health and stamina

Also known as ‘natural Viagra’, beetroot has been commonly used in a number of ancient customs to boost one’s sexual health.  Since the vegetable is a rich source of nitrates it helps release nitric oxide into the body, widening the blood vessels, and increasing blood flow to the genitals – a mechanism that medicines like Viagra seek to replicate. Another factor is that beetroot contains a lot of boron, a chemical compound that is important for the production of the human sex hormone.

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.

Oysters

Have long been suspected as a love drug. Cleopatra and Casanova had one thing in common, they loved oysters. Legend has it that Casanova ate dozens of oysters per day. The Venetian romancer once seduced a vestal virgin by seductively sliding an oyster from his mouth to hers. If that doesn’t get you in the mood, I don’t know what will! In fact, current research proves our suspicion. Oysters improves dopamine levels which boosts libido in men and women. Oysters are also high in zinc which is vital for testosterone production and healthy sperm.

Chocolate

Dark unadulterated chocolate is a superfood. It has more antioxidants than green tea or red wine. It also contains a stimulating chemical known as phenylethlamine, that stimulates the sense of excitement and well being. The Journal of Sexual Medicine published a study that found, women who enjoyed a piece of chocolate every day had a more active sex life than those who didn’t.

Asparagus

High in a B vitamin known as folate that aids in increasing the production of histamine. Histamine is important for a healthy sex drive in men and women.

Maca

Known by many as Peru’s natural Viagra. Apparently this natural root has been known throughout Peru’s history as a sex enhancing root passed down by the Inca. The maca plant is used by the Peruvian culture to increase strength, stamina, energy, fertility and libido.

Pumpkin Seeds

High in zinc which is essential for healthy sperm production and preventing testosterone deficiency in men. They are also loaded with libido vitamins and minerals like vitamin B, E, C, D, K and minerals including calcium, potassium, niacin and phosphorous

Celery

You wouldn’t normally think of celery as a libido inducing food, but eating celery actually increases the pheromone levels in a man’s sweat, making them more attractive to women.

Hot Peppers

The stuff that makes chilies hot, capsaicin, can actually rev up your libido. Have you ever noticed a natural high when eating chilies? Capsaicin promotes the release of chemicals that can raise your heart rate and trigger the release of endorphins that give you a natural high, which pumps that libido!

Black Raspberries

Both the berries and the seeds will get you in the mood. “This phytochemical-rich food enhances both libido and sexual endurance,” say Drs. Anna Maria and Brian Clement, authors of 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality. Consume 10 black raspberries or a tablespoon of seeds a few hours before getting busy.

Figs

Figs will have you and your partner acting like teenagers again. “They’re considered excellent stimulants of fertility and enhance the secretion of pheromones,” say Drs. Clement. Feast on up to five figs before getting it on and find out for yourself.

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. ”

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. To use, Glassman suggests 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.

Processed Baked Goods: Libido Killer

These processed foods will zap your sex drive, giving you a great reason to avoid them. “Baked goods contain saturated trans fats that wreak havoc on human cells, including the immune system,” say Drs. Clement. “They surround the cells, coagulating them so that vital food glucose can’t be absorbed and remains in the blood, raising blood sugar and lowering libido. The fats also clog ventricles, reducing oxygen to sexual organs, and prevent the spleen from producing enough white blood cells, so eggs and sperm have difficulty multiplying.”

Dairy: Libido Killer

Dairy addicts may want to switch to a lactose-free alternative. The Clements say that the lactic acid in dairy and oxygen-destroying elements can squash a libido at any level, so try to limit it to small portions three times per week. The calcium found in dairy is linked to cell and sexual health. When cells are healthy, they increase sensitivity for better circulation to genitalia, thus giving you more pleasure. Stock up on calcium-rich almond milk, leafy greens, cabbage, broccoli, and sardines.