Do aphrodisiacs really work? Sample these aphrodisiac foods with your sweetie and see if they light a spark.
14 Natural Aphrodisiac Foods That Could Spark Romance
Updated on Jun. 18, 2021
Chili peppers
This invigorating spice has an exotic reputation and a bright red color, which could be why chili peppers are considered natural aphrodisiac foods and a symbol of love. But there’s scientific backing, too. According to experts at Northwestern University, chili peppers stimulate endorphins and dopamine, your body’s two feel-good chemicals, and boost circulation (which is important for a rocking sex life).
Avocado
It could be the sensuous pear shape, or the rich flavor of the fruit that gave avocado its aphrodisiac reputation as far back as the Aztecs. And while the jury is still out on just how lustful avocados are, the fruit’s vitamin E could help keep the spark alive because of its role in helping your skin maintain a “youthful appearance,” say experts from the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB).
Chocolate
Chocolate is sensual, from its taste to its aroma, but dark chocolate has also been shown to cause a spike in dopamine, which induces feelings of pleasure, according to UCSB. Here are 9 ways you can improve your sex life in just one day.
Bananas
With its phallic shape, bananas already look like a feel-good food, but UCSB points out that these aphrodisiac foods also contain bromelain, an enzyme which triggers testosterone production, and the fruit’s potassium and vitamin B elevate energy levels.
Honey
Honey is made through pollination and is a symbol of procreation. Birds and bees ring a bell? In fact, the word ‘honeymoon’ originates from mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey given to the happy new bride and groom. It also contains boron, a mineral that’s associated with high testosterone levels, says Protstate Cancer 911. It’s also a rich source of blood-vessel-boosting nitric oxide. Find out the reasons you might have low sex drive.
Watermelon
Researchers at Texas A&M discovered that this “lycopene king” may have a Viagra-like effect on the body, as it relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation. (Discover the myths about sex that everyone thinks are true.)
Pine nuts
According to Piedmont Healthcare, pine nuts are high in arginine, which your body converts into nitric oxide (that helps dilate your blood vessels). Make a pesto with pine nuts, basil and olive oil.
Arugula
Leafy greens are a good source of nitric oxide, which foodrevolution.org says is renowned for its ability to increase blood flow. (Ever wonder what happens to your body when you stop having sex?)
Olive oil
Packed with antioxidants, olives and their oil have been used for centuries for health. The Greeks believed these aphrodisiac foods made men more virile as well. Olive oil is a good source of monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, and a study published in the Natural Product Communications have discovered that it may boost testosterone levels.
Strawberries
Feed them to each other for a healthy, vitamin C-packed dessert that helps keep blood flowing to all regions of the body. Harvard School of Public Health says berries also contain the magical triumvirate when it comes to erectile function: anthocyanins, flavanones, and flavones. Discover other bedroom-enhancing miracles in these natural sex drive boosters.
Pomegranates
These bright gems enclosed in a thick rose husk are filled with antioxidants which support blood flow. One study by The Male Clinic in California found that, although the results weren’t significant, pomegranate juice had a positive effect on erectile dysfunction.
Cherries
This superfruit is packed with feel-good (and erection-boosting) anthocyanins, flavanones, and flavones, says Harvard School of Public Health. (Check out some more surprising things that boost your libido.)
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are high in magnesium—74 mg in just an ounce! Magnesium helps raise testosterone levels, according to a study published in Biological Trace Element Research.
Whipped cream
Decadent yet light as air, it just isn’t dessert without this rich topping. While there’s no evidence that whipped cream will boost libido, it’s sure to put you in the mood. Next, find out 31 natural libido boosters to increase your sex drive.
Sources
- Northwestern University: This Is Your Brain on Capsaicin
- University of California, Santa Barbara: Aphrodisiacs
- Prostate Cancer 911: 6 Foods to Boost Testosterone Naturally
- Walt Larimore MD, medical journalist, author, and physician
- Science Daily: Watermelon May Have Viagra-Like Effect
- Food Revolution Network: Why Plants Are Better Than Pills for Sexual Performance
- Piedmont Healthcare: Can Certain Foods Boost Men's Libido?
- Natural Product Communications: Effect of argan and olive oil consumption on the hormonal profile of androgens among healthy adult Moroccan men.
- Harvard School of Public Health: Flavonoids Associated With Better Erectile Function
- International Journal of Impotence Research: Efficacy and safety of pomegranate juice on improvement of erectile dysfunction in male patients with mild to moderate erectile dysfunction: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study.
- Biological Trace Element Research: Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion.
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Originally Published in Reader's Digest
