Eating Healthy Can Increase Your Libido

Laura Flood – CHN Holistic Nutritional Consultant
www.fusionfamilyfitness.ca

Yes, we all know that eating healthy is good for us and helps us to sleep better, improves our mood and of course, also helps give us more energy.  But did you know that eating healthy can also improve one’s libido?   Say what?

Okay and well let’s face if you want more than a four-minute version of I’m Too Sexy to get the job done you’re going to need to make sure that your body is fueled properly to help you increase your sex drive and libido.

Food has long been used to increase sexual desire.  And the cool thing is that no you don’t have to eat strange and exotic foods to increase your libido.  It is really more about feeding your body the proper nutrients and natural foods to ensure you a successful session between the sheets. 

Here is a list of a few foods that you should be including in your diet to help spice up your sex life. 

Spinach

Spinach is rich in magnesium which decreases inflammation in blood vessels therefore increasing overall blood flow.  The increased blood flow drives blood back to the extremities which like Viagra can increase arousal and make sex more pleasurable.  This will help women to orgasm more easily and men to get erections more naturally.

Pumpkin Seeds

Did you know that pumpkin seeds can help lift your mood?  They are full of tryptophan, which helps increase the production of serotonin in the brain.   So, if you’re ever feeling a little down add some pumpkin seeds to your salad or as a snack. 

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate increases the overall levels of serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain which really means it makes us feel happy and lowers stress.  Cocoa also increases the blood flow to the arteries and relaxes blood vessels which means the blood flows all to the right areas.  And really let’s face it a great excuse to add some dark chocolate to our diets!

Bananas

Say what eating bananas helps my sex drive as well?  Bananas are a super high source of potassium which helps to counteract foods high in sodium.  If you are out on a date, make sure to stay away from the salty nuts as that won’t help you later on in the evening.  Yes, its true salty foods cause the blood flow to move away from the genitals which can make it more difficult to reach orgasm.  So, put down the nuts and pick up a banana instead! 

Oysters

Did you know that oysters are full of zinc?  Well if not… I am sharing that they are in fact super high in zinc which is a mineral that helps elevate testosterone.  There have been studies that have shown deficiencies in zinc can also be a risk factor in infertility as well. 

Red Wine

Yes!  Three cheers for this one but yes red wine does help to boost your libido and well if you are out on a first date helps to calm the nerves as well.  Just make sure to stop at 2 glasses as it won’t help stimulate arousal any further and can in fact have a reverse effect.  So, what does red wine do exactly?  Well it triggers nitric oxide production in the blood which relaxes the artery walls and well that means the blood flow can head down south. 

Red Meat

A common thing that can happen to decrease your sex drive is a feeling of being extremely tired.  If you are dragging your butt and have no energy take a peek at your iron levels.  Iron comes in many foods, but yes red meat is one of them.   Yes, if you are fatigued the last thing that is going to happen in between the sheets is sex so ensure you are getting enough iron in your diet.

Coffee

So, we aren’t saying to have the double whipped extra sweet mochaccino here but yes drinking coffee does help improve your libido.  Specifically for females, coffee contains a stimulant that has shown to help put women in the mood.  So perhaps you should take your girl for a coffee and well you never know where it may lead…

Blueberries

Did you know that blueberries can make things harder…but in a good way?  That’s right guys we are talking to you!  These amazing berries are chocked full of flavonoids which can help prevent erectile dysfunction.  So, go berry picking guys and yes even better as they are in season too!