From ginseng to chips: how food affects your sex life
We all have times when our sex life is on the back burner. Due to stress or fatigue, you might see your libido drop quickly to zero or lower. Very normal, but still disturbing. Fortunately, you don’t have to look far for the solution to a healthy sex life. In the kitchen, you will find many foods that can naturally increase your libido.
Smart guys, those Romans
Stress, routine, and an unhealthy lifestyle are disastrous for a healthy sex life. After all, who wants sex when you barely have time for each other? Many couples therefore end up missing out on rolls in the hay. That’s a shame, because the hormones released after an orgasm can significantly lower your stress levels. Just like sex relaxes the blood flow in your body. Sex is healthy? Absolutely.
People have been looking for ways to improve their sex lives for thousands of years. Food is one of them. Of course, there are plenty of foods rumoured to be aphrodisiacs, such as oysters and mussels. But there are also foods that stimulate our lusts and urges. For example, the Romans swore by garlic to enhance their sexual stamina. And the Aztecs consumed avocados for the libido-boosting properties the fruit is said to possess.
Sex after McDonalds? Nope.
When you get a lot of vitamins and proteins, it is not only good for your health, but also for your libido. Foods that boost your sex life often have healthy nutritional values or a favourable chemical makeup. They ensure that the blood flow to your genitals increases, that your happiness hormones get a boost, and sometimes even reduce your inhibitions.
Fast food doesn’t do this. On the contrary, if you eat a lot of junk food, your energy levels will drop and it will restrict your blood circulation. Think about it, do you feel like going to bed after going to the chippy or McDonalds? Maybe for a kip, because junk food in general just makes you tired and lethargic. In addition, you usually feel a little guilty after a greasy feast, which also does not promote the emotional sex drive.
Libido-enhancing food
But what are those super foods that help with sex? Which foods should you toss into your grocery cart to give your sex life a solid boost? A sensible rule of thumb is this: if a food is good for your heart, it’s good for your sex life.
Heart diet
It’s not for nothing that the American Heart Association recommends a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, healthy oils and fats, and whole grains full of fibre. These foods all ensure stronger blood circulation and better stamina. Researchers subsequently found that men who followed such a heart diet had much fewer erection problems.
Good news? These foods have the same positive effects on women. In addition, don’t be afraid of unsaturated fats. The key to our sexual functioning lies in a healthy hormone balance, says medical expert Tasneem Bhatia, and, for a healthy hormone balance, we need healthy fats. These fats are mainly found in oils, nuts, seeds, avocado and oily fish.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a great way to boost your libido. It improves blood circulation to your organs and is associated with a healthy female sex drive. Because it reduces stress and anxiety, you will feel more excited and ready to go to bed. This vitamin also releases prolactin which increases happiness hormones such as oxytocin in your body: essential for an ecstatic orgasm. Vitamin C is mainly found in citrus fruits, strawberries, berries, kiwis, broccoli and red peppers.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also known as the sex vitamin. This vitamin not only pumps blood and oxygen to your private parts, it also regulates your sex hormones so that your libido gets a big boost. The antioxidant also prevents skin ageing, so that you feel more attractive and energetic with sufficient intake. Never a bad thing when it comes to sex. Vitamin E is mainly found in nuts, egg yolks, spinach, asparagus, chickpeas, broccoli, tomatoes and whole grain bread.
Iron
Have you been feeling weak and tired for a while? Fatigue is a known culprit in sexual problems. If you also sleep well and are not overly stressed, you may be suffering from an iron deficiency. Make sure to eat enough fish, meat, meat substitutes, nuts, seeds, dark leafy vegetables and dried fruit to boost your iron levels.
Aphrodisiacs
We call a food that has a direct lust-enhancing effect an aphrodisiac, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Bananas, figs and avocados are full of vitamins and minerals that together ensure that the blood flow to your vagina is strengthened.
The ultimate aphrodisiacs? They come from Asia and South America and have been known for centuries as natural aphrodisiacs:
- Ginseng has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. You can buy it fresh, dried or ground. The wonder ingredient in ginseng is arginine, an amino acid that increases blood flow to your vagina, enhances clitoral sensitivity and stimulates your orgasm. Arginine also improve your stamina and mood, giving your sex life a big boost. Ginseng works very well for women in menopause because it also makes the vagina less dry. You can add ginseng to your food or tea, but capsules work best because they contain higher doses.
- Maca grows in the Andes and is known for balancing female hormones. The root of the small plant not only ensures a better libido, but also regular ovulation. The Peruvians have used maca for centuries as a fertility enhancer. You can eat it raw, but you can also use it in dishes or drinks such as smoothies. Grating some maca over a casserole is a great way to spice up your dinner.
Five aphrodisiac foods
1. Nuts: Almonds, pistachios, walnuts and Brazil nuts are packed with zinc and magnesium, which give your libido a big boost. They are an important source of energy and vitamin E and promote your sexual performance in a natural way. A handful of nuts a day is enough for both your health and your sex life.
2. Strawberries: There’s something undeniably erotic about the juice of a ripe strawberry in the corner of your mouth, but did you know that strawberries also stimulate your nervous system? They intensify every sexual impulse, while the high amounts of vitamins B and C boost your libido and circulation. The seeds of the strawberry are also full of zinc, which helps your body get ready for sex.
3. Avocados: Folic acid and vitamin B6 are necessary for a healthy sex drive. While the first is a true energy bomb, the second ensures a stable, stress-free hormone balance. Avocados are chock-full of these substances. In addition, this fruit originally from Mexico consists of healthy fats, which stimulate your blood circulation.
4. Chocolate: How nice would it be if chocolate boosted your sex drive? Unfortunately, that is a myth, but eating a block of dark chocolate does release such stimulating substances as serotonin and endorphins. These happiness hormones make you feel more positive and energetic. They also reduce your stress level, which makes you more receptive to sex. Cocoa also stimulates the production of dopamine. Dopamine ensures that you experience feelings of pleasure and happiness more strongly.
5. Honey: Ever wondered why they call it a honeymoon? Honey has traditionally been seen as a means of increasing fertility. For example, the Vikings added honey to their wine and Babylonian bridegrooms drank honey beer during the first month of marriage to enhance their performance in bed. There is some truth to these practices, as honey increases testosterone levels in the body. Testosterone will strengthen your libido and make your orgasms more intense.
Libido killers
Besides libido-boosting foods, there are of course more than enough foods in your fridge that can kill your libido. One of the usual suspects? Booze. Shakespeare once said: “wine provokes the desire, but takes away the performance.” Of course, a relaxing glass of wine can help loosen the sexual reins, but more than three units of alcohol greatly affects your sexual performance. And not in a positive way.
While men might no longer be able to get it up, women may lose sexual desire with excessive drinking. Especially when the mood changes from slightly tipsy to fall-over drunk. When you drink heavily for a longer period of time, it also affects your hormone levels, severely damaging your sex drive.
Chewing gum and carbonation
You may have noticed that after chewing gum or drinking carbonated beverages that you have a bloated stomach. This is because these “treats” also add a lot of air to your stomach. For example, while chewing gum, a breath of air enters each time and there are countless carbon dioxide bubbles in soft drinks that accumulate in your stomach. The result? A bloated gut and a collapsed libido.
Trans fats
Hope to get lucky tonight? Then avoid greasy food from the deep-fat fryer. We all know that chips don’t exactly contribute to a balanced diet. But the fact that the trans fats in fried foods have a negative effect on your libido may be news to you. Trans fats are unsaturated fats that affect your testosterone levels and blood circulation. A lot of junk food will also make you more lazy and passive, which can really get in the way of an energetic sex drive.
Salt and sugar
Canned foods and processed foods contain relatively high levels of sodium. A high intake of this can increase your blood pressure. Not very healthy, but also a killer for your blood circulation. In men, too much salt results in erectile dysfunction, but also for women a daily overdose of salt does little good for the blood supply to the genitals. Sugar, on the other hand, has a negative effect on your hormone levels and especially on your testosterone level.
Libido-enhancing supplements
Do you suffer from a low libido? And do a good night’s sleep, sufficient exercise and a healthy diet do little to help? If there is no medical cause, there are always libido-enhancing supplements that can help.
- Viafemme, for example, is a natural libido enhancer that improves blood circulation to your labia, clitoris and vulva. The capsules help you enjoy sex more and promise intense and long-lasting orgasms. No brainer, right?
- If you need a quick shot of sexual energy, you can opt for the Libido Power Shot from Prorino. The drink has been specially developed for women and contains various libido-boosting ingredients.
- Libidoforte is a product based on Chinese medicine. It boosts your libido and can even help your sex sessions last for hours.
Tip: always read the package leaflet before use! Some products are not recommended for people with heart problems, pregnant women, or those using certain drugs. Are all the lights green? Have fun between the sheets!
Also read: Good Sex Starts with a Healthy Mindset
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