The food we eat plays a huge role in our overall health and quality of life. But couples don’t often realize that the benefits of eating right extends to their sex lives as well. Here are foods that can either boost or kill your sex drive.
Sex drive boosters
Chocolate
Not only is it delicious, but chocolate stimulates your body to release serotonin and dopamine, which are also known as the “pleasure hormones.” Studies have found that chocolate helps heighten sexual pleasure by working as an aphrodisiac and overall mood booster. However, it has a tendency to make those who consume it a bit lethargic.
Avocado
Not a lot of people are aware of the avocado’s aphrodisiac effects, but generations past have tapped its properties to help in sexual arousal. Not only is it rich in flavor, it’s also packed with vitamin E, which helps boost energy and vitality.
Bananas
Not only are they rich in potassium, getting a daily serving of banana helps boost your libido.
Watermelon
Some studies have found that this juicy fruit has a similar effect as viagra.
Pesto
Commonly used as in pasta sauce, pesto contains pine nuts, which are packed with arginine. This component works like the drug Viagra: it dilates blood vessels, improving circulation, thereby boosting sex drive.
Sex drive killers
Dairy
If you’re looking to boost your sex drive, then it’s best to steer clear of dairy–including milk, cheese, butter and yogurt.
Diet Soda
Though it may boost other bodily functions, like circulation, diet soda has been found to do the opposite when it comes to libido.
Soy
Though soy is rich in proteins and antioxidants, which are good for your health, it can hinder your sex drive. In some instances, it can even lower testerone levels as well as sperm count.
Microwaved popcorn
It’s been found that eating microwaved popcorn can decrease a man’s sperm count. But making popcorn atop a stove is just fine.
Papaya
Though green, unripe papaya is viewed by some as an aphrodisiac, the ripe kind has long been considered a sex drive killer.
Carbohydrate-rich foods
Consuming too much carbs, like those found in rice and bread, can lower your libido. Though carbohydrate intake can increase blood sugar levels, the body tends to overcompensate to regulate it, thereby causing a drowsiness and fatigue. This reaction can negatively impact sexual arousal as well.
sources: Insider, Healthline, Women’s Health, Reader’s Digest, Men’s Fitness, Medical Daily
