If you want to improve your sex life, there’s little that works better than having an honest, lengthy conversation about the things you’d like to work on with your partner.
However, it’s also worth noting that there are certain smart dietary changes you can make if you want to perk up your sex drive or enhance your pleasure responses.
Here are ten of the most effective aphrodisiacs you can try.
1. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice has several properties that may lead to an increased libido. For one thing, it can boost circulation, making touch more enjoyable and potentially improving male performance.
Meanwhile, research on pomegranate juice indicates that making it a daily part of your diet can increase your testosterone levels by up to 30%, which is good news for your sex drive regardless of your gender.
2. Chocolate
Many people find chocolate innately sensual, immediately thinking of feeding chocolate-covered strawberries to their partner. However, it also prompts physical changes that can directly impact on sexual passion.
In particular, it is a rich source of PEA (Phenylethylamine), which heightens pleasure response and may even make your partner seem more attractive. The tryptophan in chocolate also helps you to feel mellow and optimistic, helping you to get into the mood for intimacy.
3. Honey
An excellent alternative to sugar and a traditional treatment for wounds, honey has dozens of uses and one of the most exciting relates to your sex life.
Honey provides you with plenty of boron, a chemical that helps your body to maintain an optimal balance of sex hormones. As a bonus, honey is a great source of immediate energy, so it could give you a little extra stamina as well.
4. Asparagus
While admittedly not the sexiest looking food, asparagus has some surprising properties that make it good for enhancing intimacy. In fact, its reputation as an aphrodisiac goes all the way back to the 17th century, and contemporary research suggests it boosts sex drive by increasing histamine production (which, as it turns out, is also necessary for orgasm).
Further, asparagus is one of the healthiest foods on this list, promoting everything from heart health to proper kidney function.
5. Red wine
Overdoing the wine consumption can numb you to pleasurable sensations and inhibit performance, but if you drink red wine in moderation then you could notice some interesting benefits.
In particular, red wine contains a powerful phenol called resveratrol, which increases blood flow to the genitals. There are plenty of other good reasons to get a regular dose of resveratrol, with evidence mounting in support of this phenol’s role in reducing cancer and heart disease risks.
6. Chili peppers
After a dinner that contains chili peppers as a key ingredient, you might find yourself feeling more amorous than usual. Just like a good workout, chilies promote endorphin production, making you feel more enthusiastic and positive.
In addition, they cause your heart rate to increase and your body to sweat, both of which are physical sensations that your body subconsciously associates with arousal (promoting sexual thoughts and an increased interest in physical intimacy).
7. Vanilla ice cream
Anything that contains vanilla bean has the potential to improve your sex life. Specifically, vanilla beans contain nerve-stimulating chemicals that can make the sensation of touch more pleasurable.
When your senses are heightened, everything your partner does will feel even better.
8. Oysters
Of course, no list of aphrodisiacs would be complete without the famous oyster! Scientific studies do support the oyster’s reputation, as the high concentration of amino acids may lead to a quick increase in sex hormones.
Meanwhile, men who are looking to conceive can also benefit from the zinc in oysters, which stimulates increased sperm production. And if you want to explore another alternative to oysters, check out the almighty sea urchin!
9. Coffee
Recent work on how coffee influences bodily processes has suggested that female libido may benefit from a moderate amount of coffee. While too much can make you feel jittery and irritable, a smaller dose might leave you feeling flirty and seductive.
It is theorized that this influence on sex drive might result from improved circulation, so it is suspected that further studies might show that coffee has a similar impact on men.
10. Bananas
Finally, the phallic banana also has a role to play in the bedroom, especially for men.
It is packed full of nutrients that may improve the male sex drive, from a wide range of B vitamins to a good supply of potassium.
