Best Foods to Boost Your Libido

Is your time in the bedroom needing a little help?  Do you lack a desire to be intimate? Are you too tired? Do you feel undesirable? Lots of factors can come in to play when it comes to not feeling in the mood. Sure, a little Marvin Gaye and and some candle light might help, but the real answer to increasing your desire comes from  proper nutrition.

Food has long been used to increase sexual desire (a healthy pour of wine never hurt, either). Did you know there are foods that can actually improve your performance? You don’t need to resort to any exotic foods from faraway lands; these common foods will all but ensure you a successful session between the sheets. 

Some foods are more effective on the opposite sex; these do wonders for both of you. So, go ahead, dig in! 

Spinach

Popeye didn't eat his spinach just for his muscles.   Eating spinach puts you in the mood by increasing blood flow below the belt. “Spinach is rich in magnesium, a mineral that decreases inflammation in blood vessels.  Increased blood flow drives blood to the extremities, which, like Viagra, can increase arousal and make sex more pleasurable. Women will find it is easier to have an orgasm, and men will find that erections come more naturally. 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate increases both serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, making us happy and lowering our stress level. Both are  “mood” boosters" if you know what I  mean. Likewise,  cocoa increases blood flow through the arteries and relaxes blood vessels, sending blood to all the right regions. Whatever the reason, chocolate is never a bad thing.

Oysters

Oysters are brimming with zinc, a mineral that elevates testosterone while simultaneously boosting growth factor hormone—both of which enhance muscle growth and physical performance (in and out of the bedroom). Research has also shown deficiencies in zinc to be a risk factor for infertility caused by low testosterone levels. So, go ahead and order a bucket. 

Pesto

Pesto is one of my hubbies favorites. (mine too) Fresh Basil makes it a summertime favorite, but I have found that Kale works just as well when basil isn't available. Not only does Pesto taste delicious, but eating it can boost your sex drive. One of the key ingredients in Pesto is Pine Nuts, which like oysters, are full of zinc.  People with higher levels of zinc in their system have been shown to have a higher sex drive than those with lower levels. There are lots of variations for pesto. 

Here's my go-to recipe. 

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed (can sub half the basil leaves with baby spinach or kale)
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan-Reggiano cheese (about 2 ounces)
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup pine nuts (can sub chopped walnuts)
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 teaspoons)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, more to taste

If you like it a little thinner, add 1/2 cup chicken stock. 

Directions:

1 Pulse basil and pine nuts in a food processor: Place the basil leaves and pine nuts into the bowl of a food processor and pulse a several times.

2: Add the garlic and cheese: Add the garlic and Parmesan or Romano cheese and pulse several times more. Scrape down the sides of the food processor with a rubber spatula.

3 Stream in the olive oil: While the food processor is running, slowly add the olive oil in a steady small stream. Adding the olive oil slowly, while the processor is running, will help it emulsify and help keep the olive oil from separating. Occasionally stop to scrape down the sides of the food processor.

4 Stir in salt and freshly ground black pepper, add more to taste.

Toss with pasta, over zoodles, on a baguette. Yum!

Pumpkin Seeds

With fall around the corner, a Pumpkin Spice Latte may be on your mind,  but do yourself a favor and  get some sustenance from real pumpkin.  Pumpkin seeds are one of the best food sources of an amino acid known as tryptophan, which helps the production of serotonin in your brain.  Seratonin improves your mood and in essence, acts as an Antidepressant. It has also been known to boost sexual desire. 

Bananas

Bananas are a great source of potassium which counteracts the effects of foods which are high in sodium.  Salty foods can not only diminish blood flood to the genitals, which can make it more difficult to reach orgasm, but they can also make you bloated. 

Fatty fish

It’s no secret that oily cold water fish like wild salmon, sardines, and tuna are overflowing with omega-3 fatty acids, but here’s something you may not know: The nutrient not only benefits your heart but also raises dopamine levels in the brain. This spike in dopamine improves circulation and blood flow, triggering arousal and can also  make you feel more relaxed and connected to your partner, which makes sex more fun.

For Him...........

Nuts 

Did you know that nuts can boost sexual stamina?? Pistachios, peanuts, and walnuts all contain the amino acid L-arginine, which is one of the building blocks of nitric oxide—a naturally-occurring gas that helps guys maintain their erections. Plus, nuts also help reduce cholesterol levels. The less cholesterol you have in your system, the easier it is for blood to circulate throughout your body and down to your penis, which can help you maintain a firmer erection longer. 

Blueberries

Blueberries make things harder..... in a good way. Eating flavonoid-rich foods is associated with a reduced risk of ED in men. Of the six main types of flavonoids, three in particular—anthocyanins (found in blueberries), flavanones and flavones (both found in citrus fruits)—offer the greatest benefits in preventing ED.

Garlic

According to historians, ancient Egyptians used garlic to boost their stamina. While they didn’t have modern-day science to confirm that it actually worked, they were most certainly onto something. Researchers have confirmed that consuming the plant helps stop the formation of new fatty deposits, called nanoplaques, inside arterial walls. Yes, that includes the arteries leading to your penis, too. Keep your heart healthy and your erections strong by adding some of the kitchen staple to your weekly dishes.  Just make sure you both eat it, so you don't offend your partner with garlic breath  on date-night. 

For her...........

Coffee

It turns out all those Starbucks dates may be worthwhile—coffee may just be the best libido booster around. It contains a stimulant that has been shown  to put females in the mood. so, go ahead, grab a cappuccino and get ready for a pleasant evening. 

Red Wine

If you’re looking for a way to simultaneously boost your libido and keep you relaxed, pour yourself a glass of red. Women who drank one to two glasses had heightened sexual desire compared to ladies who didn’t down any vino, a Journal of Sexual Medicine study found. Just be sure to cut yourself off after your second glass. Enjoying more than that may make you sleepy and  can stop the show before it starts. What makes red wine so beneficial is a rich antioxidant profile that triggers nitric oxide production in the blood, which relaxes artery walls. As with many of the foods on this list, that increases blood flow in all the right places. 

 Broccoli

Beets

Beets have been considered an aphrodisiac or sexual booster for millennia. Part of this stems from the fact that beets contain significant levels of the mineral boron which has been shown to boost the production of sexual hormones. This can lead to a boost in your libido, increased fertility, improvement of sperm mobility, and less frigidity in the bedroom. Your sexual life can get a legitimate  shift  in the right direction by adding beets to your diet.

So, if you are ready to bring the sexy back to the bedroom, pour yourself a glass of wine, and make these foods a staple in your diet. You can thank me later. 

Hugs!

Ruth