Natural Foods to Help Boost Your Sex Life
Top 5 Foods to Help Boost Your Sex Life
Having a healthy sex drive is linked to feeling physically and emotionally healthy, so it’s no surprise that the foods you eat play a role in boosting your sex life.
A nutritious diet can benefit your sex life in many ways:
- boosting your libido
- improving blood flow and heart health
- improving your stamina
Eating a diet rich in vegetables and lean proteins — and low in foods that contain sugar and saturated fat — can also help to prevent disorders that affect your libido, like metabolic syndrome and hormonal conditions.
These seven foods are packed with nutrients that can perk up your libido and may improve your overall health, too.
1. Oysters
You’ve probably heard about the aphrodisiac properties of oysters.
The reason for this is that oysters are high in zinc. This compound increases blood flow, which may aid blood flow to the sex organs.
Zinc may be especially important in male fertility, as it helps regulate testosterone levels.
According to a 2018 reviewTrusted Source, zinc deficiency has a negative effect on testosterone levels.
Oysters contain more zinc than any other food source, with one serving providing 673%Trusted Source of your daily value.
If you’re not a fan of mollusks, try lobster or crab instead. Both types of shellfish are loaded with zinc.
Non-seafood sources of zinc include:
- beef
- pork
- baked beans
- pumpkin seeds
- cereals fortified with zinc
2. Certain meats
Eating meats, or other foods that contain specific amino acids, could help improve your sex life.
Various high-protein foods — including beef, chicken, and pork — contain compounds that help to improve blood flow, such as:
- carnitine
- L-arginine
- zinc
Smooth blood flow is crucial to sexual response in people of all genders.
In particular, a 2019 reviewTrusted Source suggests that arginine supplements could help treat mild to moderate erectile dysfunction (ED).
Keep in mind, though, that eating too much red meat can be bad for your heart.
Serve up some animal-based protein (in moderation, to avoid increasing the risk of heart disease) to help keep all systems running smoothly in the bedroom.
If you’re following a vegetarian diet, you can get these nutrients from whole grains and dairy products, including milk and cheese.
Carnitine and L-arginine are amino acids found in various high-protein foods. Whole grains and milk are especially good sources of zinc.
3. Salmon
Salmon is well known for having heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
The pink-fleshed fish, as well as sardines, tuna and halibut, could play a role in keeping your body, and your sex life, healthy.
Omega-3s help prevent the buildup of plaque in your arteries, according to a 2021 reviewTrusted Source. This promotes healthy blood flow throughout your body.
Keeping the circulatory system working smoothly reduces the risk of certain diseases that impair sexual function.
A large 2020 Cochrane review says that omega-3 fatty acids slightly reduce the risk of coronary heart disease events and death, and reduces triglycerides (fats) in the blood.
Fish is also a great source of protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron. It also contains zinc.
To help keep your heart and body healthy, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)Trusted Source recommend getting at least two servings of fish per week.
4. Nuts and seeds
Instead of candy, try snacking on a handful of nuts and seeds.
Cashews and almonds are chock-full of zinc, while a host of healthy snacks contain L-arginine to get your blood flowing.
Try the following:
- walnuts
- pumpkin seeds
- sunflower seeds
- pecans
- hazelnuts
- peanuts
Walnuts are doubly helpful, as they are also rich in omega-3s.
5. Beets
Beetroots are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, making a healthful addition to any diet. They’re also high in dietary nitrates, which means they could help boost your sex life.
Dietary nitrates expand the blood vessels, a process known as vasodilation, which improves blood flow. This has beneficial effects on muscle contraction. Because of this, some athletes use nitrates to boost performance.
Some studiesTrusted Source even suggest that just one dose of beetroot juice, or doses over a few days, could improve people’s performance at intermittent, high-intensity exercise, with short rest periods.
ResearchTrusted Source also suggests that the dietary nitrates from beetroot juice can help manage blood pressure. The researchers say this can benefit people with healthy blood pressure and those with hypertension.
These same mechanisms could, in theory, also help to improve blood flow and stamina during sex, while improving your heart health overall.
Other foods high in nitrates include:
- spinach
- arugula, also known as rocket
- cress, also known as garden cress
- lettuce
- celery
- radish
