There are many ways to turn up the heat in the bedroom, but taking a look at your diet is a good place to start.
Not only is what you eat vital, but how you eat it can also increase desire and get you ready for a night of passion.
According to experts, there are numerous foods that increase libido, as well as specific reasons why they have this effect.
Certain nutrients can evoke desire, but also the way food is consumed can be a great way to connect more deeply with your partner.
Newsweek spoke to sex and nutrition experts to find out about foods that boost libido instantly and why this is.
What Foods Increase Libido?
There are a huge range of foods that can increase libido. The reason behind their effectiveness is due to the nutrients are found in these items, which include zinc, amino acids like citrulline, lycopene, and antioxidants such as flavones.
Here is a list of some of the foods that contain these nutrients:
- Oysters
- Watermelon
- Figs
- Cherries
- Spinach
- Nuts
- Avocados
- Pumpkin seeds
- Ginger
- Blueberries
- Dark chocolate
- Citrus fruits
- Grapes
- Apples
- Red wine
- Tea (green, white, and black)
- Pomegranate
- Chili peppers (the hotter, the better)
- Crab
- Lobster
- Maca
When it comes to seafood and nuts, the high zinc content is what helps to increase libido, while fruits and dark chocolate mainly contain antioxidants such a flavanol, which promotes blood flow.
According to Todd Baratz, brand wellness expert at sex toy company Arcwave, blood flow is the key to finding foods that will increase libido.
He told Newsweek: "Any food that brings blood flow to your genitals will add to an increase in libido."
It is the increase in circulation which is good for sex, which means foods that help your heart will also help your libido.
As well as this, there is an element of using food to stimulate our minds rather than just focusing on our bodies.
Speaking to Newsweek, Rachel Wright, sexual wellness expert at We-Vibe said: "When we eat clean and healthy foods that nourish our bodies, we can show up and perform better, including in sex."
"Additionally, so much of sex happens in the brain, so when we're eating mindfully to support our brain health, we're helping our mind to manage potential health concerns like anxiety or depression, which typically decrease libido."
However, it is not simply what you eat, but how you use food in the bedroom, as this can increase anticipation and desire.
How To Use Food to Increase Libido
One important thing to mention straight away is something the experts said: do not place food internally, including in or around the vulva.
However, using food to prepare for sex can be a really exciting way to increase libido, before even entering the bedroom.
Christy S, sexpert and sex blogger at Romantix, told Newsweek: "A shared lobster meal where you both eat with your hands, before retiring for the night can be a much more romantic approach than novelty body paint."
Dr. Jerry Bailey, nutritionist at Lakeside Holisitic Health, suggested combining libido-building foods and feeding your partner.
He told Newsweek: "Blueberries, dipped in chocolate with a little Himalayan sea salt on the outside, are a great way to take in a flavonoid-rich food that can reduce erectile dysfunction in men."
"Rich in flavonoids, Anthocyanins and Flavanones, blueberries increase vaginal and clitoral sensitivity in women by increasing blood flow, providing increased benefits to achieving higher pleasure while reaching orgasm more readily.
"Slowly feeding each other these chocolate berries can be a sensual and connecting experience for both partners that increase intimacy along with emotional and spiritual connection."
Speaking to Newsweek, Dr. Jess O'Reilly, brand ambassador for We-Vibe, suggested playing with food in sexy ways, with examples like licking honey off of your partner's body (externally,) using cinnamon to create a tingling sensation on the skin or painting chocolate over the chest.
