Healthy Aphrodisiac Foods to Boost Your Libido
It's not all heartbreaks and stresses if you're caught in a Covid romance. Ignite the bedroom, add spice and sweetness to your palette with these healthy foods that also boost your libido
Text: Rebecca Morais
A couple enjoying dinner
Are you looking to spice up your Valentine's Day? It's not all heartbreaks and stresses if you're caught in a Covid romance. Ignite the bedroom, add spice and sweetness to your palette with these healthy foods that also boost your libido.
Honey, I’m home
1. Honey
Honey is one of the most seductive foods in the world. The sticky, viscous, deliciously indulgent syrup is both a sensual experience and stimulates your taste buds. Honey has many potent vitamins and minerals essential to support sexual health. One of those key components is boron, a nutrient believed to regulate hormones and increase libido. Honey also boasts health benefits such as being rich in antioxidants, improving heart health, and controlling blood sugar levels.
Get up and going with Gingko biloba
2. Gingko biloba
Traditional Chinese medicine ingredient, Gingko Biloba is typically used to treat many ailments, including depression and poor sexual function. In addition, ginkgo biloba is said to act as an aphrodisiac by helping relax blood vessels and increase blood flow to the nether regions. This ingredient also has multiple health properties, such as helping to fight inflammation, improving circulation (in other parts of the body), and reducing anxiety.
Please me with Pistachios
3. Pistachio nuts
Researchers from Atatürk Teaching and Research Hospital studied the effect of pistachios on men who experienced erectile dysfunction. These men ate 100 grams of the nut for three weeks and as a result, it was found that they had increased blood flow and better sexual experiences. Pistachios also contain several essential nutrients like fiber, potassium, and Vitamin B6, which can aid weight loss and heart and gut health.
Set your love life aflame with Saffron
4. Saffron
While saffron can't be directly used to treat erectile dysfunction, it has been suggested that it can help guys last longer in bed. Similar to the ingredient ginseng, saffron can improve energy levels, reduce stress and increase moods by increasing neurotransmitters. This crimson spice also has cancer-fighting properties, reduces PMS symptoms, and reduces your appetite, so it's a helpful ingredient for weight loss.
Spice up the bedroom with chillies
5. Hot chillies
Heat is synonymous with passion as chilli peppers are meant to set fire to your bedroom. Chilli peppers contain the chemical capsaicin, which boosts testosterone levels and increases libido. Historically, chilli peppers were used by multiple cultures as an aphrodisiac and as an anaesthetic to promote cardiovascular health and alleviate chronic pain. Red varieties, which are typically high in beta-carotene and pro-vitamin A, boost immunity and promote healthy mucus membranes, which may ease congestion of the lungs (helps with Covid), nasal passages, urinary and intestinal tracts.
Oysters are a fantastic aphrodisiac
6. Oysters
Oysters are an excellent source of zinc and contain a higher amount per serving than any other food. Zinc is necessary for maintaining levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in sexual health particularly. Bonus points oysters are naturally low in calories making them a healthy, light food.
Asparaguess your love language
7. Asparagus
This pencil-shaped vegetable is also packed with nutrients for boosting healthy hormones. It is known as a low-calorie, high-nutrient food. Asparagus is a source of potassium, a key mineral for relaxing blood vessels. This can equate to improved blood flow, which is important not only for men’s heart health.
Cuckoo about chocolate
8. Chocolate
Not only are chocolates excellent mood boosters and mild sexual stimulants they also contain chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin. Consuming chocolate makes you feel good, perhaps even euphoric. But the aphrodisiac qualities of chocolate are more about the sensual pleasure of how it melts in your mouth than as an actual sexual stimulus.
