Is your sex life on a downward spiral? Fret not, you can sizzle it back to life with food. There’s nothing better than a romantic, home-cooked dinner, featuring some R-rated foods to help turn up the heat. Here are some foods that will enervate your sex life.
Avocados
The Aztecs referred to avocados as, ahem, testicles, because of their physical shape. But the scientific reason why avocados make sense as an aphrodisiac is that they are rich in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat, making them good for your heart and your arteries. Anything that keeps the heart beating strong helps keep blood flowing to all the right places; in fact, men with underlying heart disease are twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED). Recipe- seared chicken with Avocado
Almonds
Almonds have long been purported to increase passion, act as a sexual stimulant, and aid with fertility. Like asparagus (another one of sexy foods), almonds are nutrient-dense and rich in several trace minerals that are important for sexual health and reproduction, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamin E. Zinc helps enhance libido and sexual desire. Recipe- salmon with maple syrup and toasted Almonds.
Strawberries
The color red is known to help stoke the fire: A 2008 study found that men find women sexier if they’re wearing red, as opposed to cool colors such as blue or green. Strawberries are also an excellent source of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps ward off birth defects in women and, according to a University of California, Berkeley study, may be tied to high sperm counts in men.
Seafood
Despite their slippery and slimy texture, oysters may be the most well-known aphrodisiac. They’re also one of the best sources of libido-boosting zinc. But other types of seafood can also act as aphrodisiacs. Oily fish—like wild salmon and herring—contain , which are essential for a healthy heart. Recipe-smoked salmon and farfelle in lemon cream sauce
Arugula
Arugula has been heralded as an arousal aid since the first century. Today, research reveals that the trace minerals and antioxidants packed into dark, leafy greens are essential for our sexual health because they help block absorption of some of the environmental contaminants thought to negatively impact our libido. Recipe- fusilli michelangelo with roasted chicken.
Figs
These funny-shaped fruits have a long history of being a fertility booster, and they make an excellent aphrodisiac because they are packed with both soluble and insoluble fiber, which is important for heart health. Plus, high-fiber foods help fill you up, not out, so it’s easier to achieve that sexy bottom line—or belly. Recipe- wilted escarole salad with figs, bacon and blue cheese.
Citrus
Any member of this tropical fruit family is super-rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and folic acid—all of which are essential for men’s reproductive health. Enjoy a romantic salad that incorporates citrus, like pink grapefruit or mandarin oranges, or use a dressing made with lemon and lime.
