Better health for better sex

Let’s face it.  At a certain point in a relationship, the libido wanes, the passion diminishes, and the spark fades away. Some adventurous couples are open to the idea of reigniting the spark and the passion any which way possible. Experts recommend using food as one good way to put your lovemaking back on track.

Some foods are reputed to strip away inhibitions and others claim to put you in the right mood for romance. Others even boast improving blood flow to where it counts to enhance performance and pleasure.  

“For centuries, the smell, taste, and appearance of food have been touted as passion-producing,” says Sari Greaves, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and co-author of The Cardiac Recovery Cookbook.

It’s probably more folklore than scientific proof to substantiate the link between food and passion, but there is really no harm in trying. After all, these food aphrodisiacs are a treasure trove of nutrients that could benefit good health.

Some people find produce erotic. Bananas, asparagus, cucumbers, eggplants, and carrots are suggestive on that score. Avocados, Greaves says, were prized by Aztecs, who called them “testicle trees” because they grow in pairs. Ancient Greeks and Romans feasted on figs to promote potency.   Those ancient civilizations were certain that fruits and vegetables were loaded with vitamins and minerals required to produce sex hormones necessary for arousal and pleasure.

Here are some foods that could add some oomph to your lack-luster sex life:  

• Honey. Aside from the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants as added benefits, honey supposedly improves sexual stamina. This is why, centuries ago, newlyweds in Europe drank honey wine during their first month of marriage. Ever wonder where the word “honeymoon” comes from?

• Chocolate. The Aztec emperor Montezuma’s chocolate consumption is legendary. Rumor has it that he drank 50 glasses of honey-sweetened chocolate a day, all in the name of virility. Cocoa beans contain phenylethamine, a compound that triggers the release of endorphins, associated with pleasure.  Dark chocolate contains more cocoa powder than milk chocolate.

• Oysters. Oysters are dripping with dopamine, a compound that stirs feelings of sexual desire and pleasure. These mollusks are also loaded with zinc, a mineral that fosters the production of testosterone, necessary for arousal and pleasure in men and women.

• Salmon. Eating salmon can help brighten your disposition as it harbors an abundance of omega-3 fats which are a natural mood booster, according to Susan Kleiner, PHD, RD, author of The Good Mood Diet: Feel Great While You Lose Weight. Salmon also supplies a great amount of vitamin D, which researchers say work in the brain like anti-depressant medications. They raise the levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that induces feelings of calm and banishes bad moods.  

• Garlic. Rich in antioxidants that protect against cell damage, garlic is said to stir sexual desire and increase blood flow, says Greaves.  Just make sure that your partner eats garlic as well as he/she might find your breath unromantic.

• Alcohol. A certain amount could strip you of your inhibitions and make you feel sexy. But if you overdo it, your love tryst could turn into a snooze fest.  Alcohol is a central nervous system downer. Chronic drinking is linked to erectile dysfunction, which will put a damper on your lovemaking.

Good health is the ultimate aphrodisiac. No matter how much of these sexy foods you eat, if you are not in tip-top condition physically and emotionally, your love life will not improve.

“If you want better sex, take care of your health,” advises Judith Reichman, MD, author of I’m Not in the Mood: What Every Woman Should Know About Improving Her Libido.

— Sources: Women’s Health, Elizabeth M. Ward RD, Laura Martin MD