Want to spice things up between the sheets? The foods you NEED to eat to get you in the mood (including avocados, chocolate and red wine)

  • The experts have shared the surprising foods you should eat 
  • Garlic is thought to help men with erectile dysfunction
  • Red wine, oysters and avocados all help boost your sex drive  

Things going south in the bedroom? Experts say it may be time to look at your diet.

Indeed, what you put in your mouth has one of the biggest impacts on people's sex drive and libido.

Here, the experts have shared the surprising foods you should eat to get you in the mood - including red wine, chocolate and avocados.    

Want to spice things up between the sheets? Experts reveal the foods you need to eat to get you in the mood (including red wine, avocados and chocolate)

Want to spice things up between the sheets? Experts reveal the foods you need to eat to get you in the mood (including red wine, avocados and chocolate)

Avocados: The avocado actually gets its name from the Latin American Nahuatl word 'ahuacatl' meaning 'testicle,' an obvious reference to the shape of the fruit. 

Avocados are rich in vitamin B6, a vitamin that helps regulate our hormones. Avocados also contain a trio of heart healthy nutrients – vitamin E, a key antioxidant to help maintain healthy cells; potassium to help reduce high blood pressure and counteract the effect of salt, and beta sitosterol, a phytochemical which helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. 

Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated ones, such as monounsaturates, helps to maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and a healthy circulation is necessary to supply nutrients and oxygen to all parts of your body, including to your sexual organs.

Dark chocolate: Studies have shown that dark chocolate increases the levels of dopamine – the feel-good chemical that affects the pleasure centres in the brain.  

Research published in the Journal of Proteome found that eating 40 grams of dark chocolate daily for a period of two weeks reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol and also lowered blood pressure – obesity and high blood pressure are risk factors for erectile dysfunction, and in turn a low level of sexual desire.

Red wine: Drinking a small amount of alcohol can certainly help to put you in the mood. As well as helping us shed inhibitions, a glass of red wine can also increase desire. 

Research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that levels of sexual desire were higher in women who were moderate drinkers of red wine than in their counterparts who preferred other alcoholic drinks, or were teetotal. 

One theory is that plant compounds, like resveratrol found in red wine, may improve sexual function by increasing blood flow to key areas of the body – don't take this advice liberally – it is important to stick to the recommended limits.

Drinking a small amount of alcohol can certainly help to put you in the mood. As well as helping us shed inhibitions, a glass of red wine can also increase desire

Drinking a small amount of alcohol can certainly help to put you in the mood. As well as helping us shed inhibitions, a glass of red wine can also increase desire

Oily fish: Protein and omega-3 rich oily fish can help boost the feel good brain chemical dopamine, and in turn get you in the mood for sex. Don't like fish? Try taking a supplement like Seven Seas Simply Timeless Cod Liver Oil, which contains vitamin D to support normal bones and is a rich source of essential Omega-3 fatty acids which helps maintain normal vision and brain function. 

Pumpkin seeds: The potent little seeds contain zinc, which your body needs to make testosterone. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in the essential fatty acid, Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) the plant form of omega-3, which the body converts into the longer chain omega-3 fats found in oil-rich fish.

RECIPE FOR LOVE 

MAIN: Stir fry made with salmon, garlic, lots of vegetables e.g. spring onions, mangetout, baby sweetcorn, carrots, peppers and tenderstem broccoli, served with boiled whole wheat noodles, a splash of reduced salt soy sauce and a sprinkling of chopped peanuts or linseeds – a meal packed with libido boosting nutrients

DESSERT: A glass of red wine and a few dark chocolate-coated strawberries

Oysters: The reason that oysters are thought to be an aphrodisiac is because they are high in zinc, which is necessary for the production of testosterone. 

Zinc also contributes to normal fertility and reproduction.

Oats: For good sex, you need stamina and energy. While a generally healthy diet will help you feel strong and healthy, porridge oats have the added advantage of having a low glycaemic index - providing sustainable energy – perfect for perking up flagging energy levels. 

They're also a great fibre provider (a source of cholesterol lowering beta glucan) and research has shown people who have high fibre diets tend to have healthier hearts, which in turn may help to keep your sexual organs healthy. 

Oats also contain magnesium, B6, B2 (riboflavin) and niacin - all of which are important for a healthy nervous system and, in turn, helping to ensure that the nerves are firing properly to initiate the changes necessary to increase blood flow to the penis and an erection. 

Garlic: Not good for garlic-breath, but garlic contains high levels of allicin, which is good for boosting blood flow to the sexual organs. A small three month study found that eating four cloves of raw garlic every day helped to improve men's chances of maintaining an erection, in those who were experiencing erectile dysfunction.  

The reason that oysters are thought to be an aphrodisiac is because they are high in zinc, which is necessary for the production of testosterone

The reason that oysters are thought to be an aphrodisiac is because they are high in zinc, which is necessary for the production of testosterone

 

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