We’ve been celebrating the erotic power of food for centuries; while Greek and Roman cultures enjoyed a parade of ripe fruits and exotic dishes before engaging in sensual pleasures, today we upload “food porn” photos on Instagram. Nutrition has a weird but great role in sexual health. The quality of your diet has a direct impact on your overall wellbeing – including sexual wellness. Here are our top tips for sexy sustenance:
1. Feast on fruits: Many fresh fruits are bursting with fibre, antioxidants and aphrodisiac properties, making them as sensual as they are nutritious. Erotic literature throughout the world celebrates fruits such as apples, apricots, bananas, cherries, coconut, dates, figs, grapes, mangoes, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, quince, raspberries and strawberries – yet another reason to make sure you get your five-a-day.
2. Vamp with Vegetables: Veggies are often, ahem, phallic-shaped, which is why produce such as asparagus, carrots, celery, corn, cucumbers, carrots and aubergine have long been prized for their aphrodisiac effects. Moreover, these veggies are packed with vitamins and minerals that invigorate your body and get it ready for a night of passion. Then you have vegetables like the tomato (ok, we know it’s technically a fruit, but, come on.) Also known as the “love apple,” tomatoes are a potent source of the powerhouse antioxidant, lycopene, which was once a highly sought-after libido enhancer. For optimal sexual health, you should also load up on beans, garlic, leeks, onions, parsley, peppers, soybeans, spinach, truffles, turnips and watercress.
3. Savour Seafood: You can fuel your body, brain and sex drive with shellfish – including abalone, oysters, clams, scallops, shrimp and lobster – and deep, cold-water fish like cod and halibut. Oysters are a particularly well-known aphrodisiac as they are rich in iodine and zinc, the latter of which is an essential sexual nutrient as it aids testosterone production in men and women.
4. Love (a Little) Lean Meat: You need protein to make your body perform at its peak, but Elson Haas, MD, author of Staying Healthy With Nutrition, warns that meats such as chicken and turkey are only healthful in moderation. ‘Good protein intake is important, but excessive amounts can interfere with sexuality,’ he points out. To avoid hormones, antibiotics and other additives that make meat a little bit dodgy, choose organic products where possible and go for non-animal sources of protein like nuts, seeds and beans. Pine nuts and pumpkin seeds are particularly known for being sexual adjuvants.
5. Get a Little Extra on the Side: The best way to enhance your sexual wellness is through a healthy, balanced diet. Still, while your diet should provide most of the necessary nourishment, you can get a little bit of extra health insurance from a multivitamin/mineral supplement. Make sure your multivitamin includes vitamins A, C, E and the B group of vitamins. This is important because these vitamins are essential for healthy sexual functioning. B vitamins, such as niacin and B5, for example, can help improve your sexual stamina as well as your ability to reach orgasm. Then you have vitamin E, which supplies your sex organs with sufficient oxygen. However, you should not neglect minerals from your supplement regime, as these nutrients – particularly selenium, manganese and of course, zinc – are also vital in regulating your hormones and revving up your sex drive. To ensure the correct dosages, it’s better to take a multivitamin/mineral rather than taking each mineral and vitamin individually. To find out the best and safest brands, and to make sure it’s ok for you to take a multivitamin, speak with your doctor for more information.
