Top 8 foods to fuel passion and pleasure in the bedroom (bathroom, lounge room or any of your favourite locations).
When it comes to fuelling a healthy, fun libido and the passion to fully enjoy and appreciate the feel of another’s body what you eat takes a starring role in controlling the thermostat.
First and foremost, the absolute pinnacle contributor to a passionate sex life is having the energy to participate fully in your connection and interaction with another person before any clothing comes off.
The definition of sexy is having the energy and vitality to play with your beloved.
The amount of energy people are able and willing to share and invest in one another is the number one factor tipping the scale from a so-so to a winning sex life. Let’s face it you can have all the sex in the world but if it’s not amazing in your mind it’s not going to be reaching the level of amazing it can be in your body and for anything to be amazing in your mind you must have the vitality to sustain full immersion. When you’re not well fed your body knows it and is more concerned and preoccupied with finding ways to meet that most fundamental of needs rather than higher needs like connection, passion and romping with your beloved.
If your energy is low at the end of the day and sleep has become consistently more appealing than sex you may be pleasantly surprised to find that making a few tasty additions to your diet can up your energy levels and boost your desire and experience of passion and pleasure. Don’t sell yourself short in the bedroom, or anywhere else in life for that matter, take steps to ensure sex is always amazing because this is your one (sex) life.
So, before you reach for the Viagra or opt for another early night over messing up the sheets, I suggest looking at whether or not you are supplying your body with enough energy to fuel the passion, desire and sensations you truly want to experience. In addition to having the energy the following 8 foods have properties identified to contribute to both fuelling libido and maximising pleasure and in this post we explore what those special properties are as well as some suggestions on delicious ways to fit these foods into your current diet.
If you want to take your pleasure to the next level, then I encourage you to up your intake of the following 8 foods that stand out as super stars on the sex scene.
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) & Sesame Seeds
The key sexy ingredient to both pumpkin and sesame seeds is zinc.
Zinc is the same nutrient that is responsible for oysters often getting the number one spot in the aphrodisiac food hierarchy.
I am going to throw in these two easy alternatives to oysters to kick off the libido foods here because even if you are an oyster lover (and people tend to be polar with these things being either enthusiasts or haters) how often do you eat them? Oysters aren’t a regular part of many peoples diets and are often restricted to special occasions whereas pepitas and sesame seeds can readily be a part of your daily diet. Nuts and seeds are packed full of nutrition and their health benefits extend far beyond their libido boosting properties to including decreasing risk of heart disease. So, if the libido boosting powers of pepitas and sesame seeds aren’t enough to get you excited (about eating them that is) perhaps consider their other benefits and enjoy a passionate sex life as a bonus.
Zinc has been shown to play a role in regulating testosterone production, a hormone highly responsible for sex drive and a necessary factor in the development of healthy sperm. Testosterone isn’t just important in testosterone production in men either, although different in women it still plays the same important role in generating sexual desire. Zinc deficiency has also been linked to symptoms of depression1 and nothing takes the sparkle and anticipation out of sex quite like depression.
How to:
Add a tablespoon or so of pepitas to your breakfast cereal, salad or toast and sprinkle over your dinner for a nice little crunch. If you want to get creative crush a mix of pepitas, sesame seeds, salt and pepper and pat onto raw fish to make a crust that when cooked is delicious and crispy, use tahini (a paste made from sesame seeds found in the health food isle of your supermarket) mixed with lemon or orange juice salt and pepper as a dressing for salads or have a collection of zinc packed snacks or decadent desserts ready to go in your fridge in the form of bliss balls (for some inspiration click on the link to get my recipe book Bliss 16 dedicated to all things bliss balls).
2. Fish
Fish is a great source of protein.
Our bodies need protein to be fit and healthy and is there any greater way of celebrating you health and fitness than bedroom escapades?
For a sexy sex life making sure you are eating enough protein is a must. Protein is needed for stamina and muscle strength which let’s face it if you’re increasing your sex drive it’s only a matter of time before you’re experimenting with some of those more challenging positions… In which case you’re going to need all the assistance you can get in keeping your muscles strong!
As well as being high in protein cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines) have the added benefit of being high in omega-3 fats. Omega-3 fats (also found in walnuts and flaxseed) exert powerful health promoting and protective effects on heart, skin and brain health. Omega-3 fats help relieve stress as well as improve circulation to the places it’s needed to maximise the sensations that make for mind-blowing sex.
On top of this keep in mind that omega-3 fats are cited as playing a role in the prevention of depression, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia2 and we all know the biggest bonus of staving off these diseases is that it means you can extend your sex life years, right?!
How to:
Take a tin of tuna or sardines to work and pop into your salad/wrap/pasta or make up an large batch or multiple batches of bliss balls to keep in your fried for any time snacks.
3. Avocado
Avocadoes are packed with nutrients. When it comes to sex drive they are powerhouses being that they are high in both potassium and folic acid3.
Potassium is a mineral which is found in all fresh fruit and vegetables to varying concentrations. You have probably heard that bananas are high in potassium well avocadoes are even higher3!
When it comes to libido potassium plays a role in sex hormone production. Our sex hormones have a role in informing us we feel like we want to have sex. Therefore when our hormones are out of balance for whatever reason (often dietary) the natural appeal of sex can drop or go out the window all together. If our hormones aren’t functioning to communicate between our brain and our bodies that some sex would be nice right about now (or sometime soon) then no amount of money invested into sexy lingerie or toys is going to spice things up or bring back the passion. The very simple cure of smashed avo on toast however just might.
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins (B6) and is important in the pathway that generates energy.
Energy is key to not only a great sex life but a great life in all areas!
I really can’t stress how wonderful it is to have ample energy and vitality (and therefore the importance of eating well to make this so) because if you’re lacking in energy sleep will always be the top priority, you’re not going to feel like sex or enjoy it to the level you could. And while I certainly encourage getting enough sleep it would be a huge shame for it to take top priority when you are jumping into bed with your sexy partner.
How to:
Up the avo intake by making Mexican with ample guacamole, avocado on toast, there’s even some delicious recipes out there for avocado chocolate mousse or how to add them to smoothies but you really don’t need to do anything too unusual just add them to salads and chop on top of your dinner. Other great sources of potassium include green leafy veg, citrus and wholegrains so up these also.
4. Dairy
Dairy products are high in the vitamin Riboflavin4,5 otherwise known as Vitamin B2 (also found in green leafy vegetables, liver, meat, fish peanuts and wholegrains).
Riboflavin increases energy which equates to stamina and the enthusiasm for choosing sex over immediate sleep!
As well as energy Riboflavin has an important function in maintaining healthy mucus membranes. While talk involving excessive use of the word mucus might not get you in the mood bear with me because it really is important.
Mucus membranes are found in the nose, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and also the vagina and penis. They are part of your body’s immune system and help protect you against bacteria that may otherwise get into your body and cause disease. Therefore, dry and unhealthy mucus membranes can allow for bacteria or fungal infection as well as just being generally uncomfortable in the genital region. Dry mucus membranes can mean sensations of stinging, itchiness, irritation or bleeding (think having sandpaper rubbed down there) not hard to imagine how unpleasant that would be nor what a hit the pleasure factor of sex would certainly take.
How to:
Moral of the story is include good sources of Riboflavin in your diet. Lucky there’s lots of options. Think dairy, green leafy vegetables, liver, meat, fish, peanuts and wholegrains.
5. Beans
Kidney beans, black eyed beans and soybeans all contain phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogen is a chemical produced by plants that acts like oestrogen, the female sex hormone.
Continuing on with the above theme oestrogen plays a crucial role in the stimulation of vaginal lubrication as well as sex drive and general mood in both men and women.
Improved lubrication, sex drive and mood all in one hit. You’re welcome.
Just quickly a few more incentives to boost your bean intake is that beans help with generating feelings of satiety, heart health and reduce the risk of developing cancer. Plus, beans, legumes and pulses are delicious, there are so many variety and they’re incredibly versatile once you start think outside the baked bean bubble.
How to:
If you don’t currently include many beans, legumes or pulses in your diet I recommend going slow to begin with. This is because beans are high in dietary fibre and you have to get acclimatise your gut bacteria used to metabolising this fibre gradually or you run the risk of negating the wonderful libido increasing benefits with a not so sexy corresponding increase in gas production. Try a recipe for vegetarian chilli con carne using kidney beans, marinate some tempeh in soy sauce, ginger and garlic, add a few dollops of hommos to your or a tin of colourful mixed beans to your daily salad.
6. Chilli or Capsicum
Chilli is the highest food source of Vitamin C.
So, what’s the link between vitamin C and a magical sex life? Well you might be surprised to hear that the benefits of Vitamin C go beyond its well-advertised role in preventing colds and flus.
Keeping yourself at your peak health means more days of sex!
Vitamin C is a crucial to good blood flow and good blood flow really is vital to a superb sex life because this is what allows for you to fully experience the sensations of those most sensual caresses. Vitamin C is also a key ingredient in collagen synthesis keeping your skin full, soft, supple and sexy a huge part of sexual arousal. Imagine your loved one sensually massaging you and how alive your skin feels as you savour each caress. The more vitamin C rich foods we include to optimise blood flow the better.
How to:
If you’re not a fan of spicy (foods that is because if you’re reading this far I’m going to assume you’re a fan of some of the other spices of life) there are plenty of other ways to ensure you get enough vitamin C in your diet to get the sexy benefits. All fresh fruit and vegetables contain vitamin C in varying concentrations. Some of the higher vitamin C sources are berries, mango and green leafy vegetables.
7. Ginger
Ginger aids digestion, so you don’t feel bloated or sluggish and more like a nap than frolicking around the bedroom (or whole house). The post food slump is a big factor for a lot of people and bloating can be combated through eating in a relaxed mood and improving digestion and one way to do this is with a dose of ginger. As well as being a digestive agent ginger is also another food which improves circulation, to get the blood flowing freely to the areas it is needed for arousal and all-out sexual bliss. Ginger like vitamin C also helps to keep you healthy because it supports your immune system. Staying fighting fit and healthy is important to a full sex life because let’s face it our partner just isn’t at the height of their sexual prowess with a red nose and nasally voice and we don’t feel our sexiest either when we are the one keeping the box of tissues within arm’s reach at all times.
How to:
Grate fresh ginger and add it to your stir fry, chop it finely and have it in tea with lemon and honey or add dried powdered ginger to bliss balls, biscuits, cake and muffin recipes.
8. Peanuts
The more ways I can find to justify my love for peanut butter, (well all other nut butters for that matter brazil nut butter omg!) the better. This list just wouldn’t feel complete if I didn’t find a way to link peanuts to great sex.
As we discussed earlier protein is absolutely necessary for a healthy sex drive. Peanuts are a great source of protein but wait I did come up with something more specific than that broad statement! Peanuts are particularly high in the amino acid L-arginine6 which can help relax your blood vessels which means better blood flow! Amen. I will say it again when it comes to generating and really being swept up in all those tear-your-clothes-off-right-now-feelings blood flow is king.
Just to spell it out for anyone who’s still a little unsure of the link between blood flow and greeeeaaaat sex:
blood vessel relaxation = blood vessel dilation = more blood flow to this area = stronger erection AND heightened skin sensitivity = enhanced sexual pleasure.
How to:
Even more reason to lather peanut butter on to your toast (or spoon it straight from the jar), make satay sauce, sprinkle crunchy roasted peanuts on the top of your soups, add peanut butter to smoothies, bliss balls and baking (peanut butter and chocolate chip biscuits comes to mind).
Putting it all together
I hope you picked up on some common threads in this post relating to the factors which promote mind-blowing sex because there are a few musts: hormones, energy, good blood flow and a happy, healthy brain being the top ones. All of these can be achieved or greatly assisted through building the foundations of a nutritiously strong diet and then on top of this focusing on increasing your intake of the 8 sex star foods we discussed.
As a quick final note three things which definitely do not enhance your sex life are:
Alcohol is not good for your sex life! While it might give you the confidence to approach that gorgeous woman in the bar and it certainly increases most peoples desire for sex alcohol irrefutably decreases your performance, sensuality and fun.
Smoking is a libido destroyer, not just because of the awful smell but also for the fact that nicotine is responsible for plaque build-up in your arteries which over time will decrease blood flow to all parts of your body and can even lead to erectile dysfunction. If you’re lacking the motivation to quit for your ‘health’ do it for the sake of your sex life.
Stress, last but not least one of the biggest killers of sex drives the world over is stress. If your partner is constantly ‘not in the mood’ it’s likely they are stressed! The desire for sex starts in our brain way before it is in our body. Help relax them by listening to their problems, a massage and a nice home cooked meal that just might happen to include all 8 of these ingredients… but seriously take care of them because if someone is consistently not super excited for sex there is a reason because when we are happy, healthy and well fuelled sex and connection are second to none.
Now, go have fun getting creative in the kitchen… and elsewhere…
With my whole heart I hope you found this information useful and inspiring.
Become Great. Live Great.
Bonnie.
Please leave a comment, question or suggestion below and let’s start a conversation on this important and fun topic!
Reference
- Maserejian NN, Hall SA, McKinlay JB. Low dietary or supplemental zinc is associated with depression symptoms among women, but not men, in a population-based epidemiological survey. J Affect Disord.2012 Feb;136(3):781-8.
- Bourre JM. Dietary omega-3 Fatty acids and psychiatry: mood, behaviour, stress, depression, dementia and aging. J Nutr Health Aging.2005;9(1):31-8.
- Calorie King. Avocado. 2018. [Online]. Accessed 4/11/2018. Available from: https://www.calorieking.com/foods/calories-in-fresh-fruits-avocados-average-all-varieties-raw_f-ZmlkPTYzODU0.html.
- Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline; National Academy of Sciences: Washington, DC, USA, 1998.
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Dietary Reference Values for Riboflavin. EFSA J. 2017, 18, 4919.
- Aninbon C, Jogloy S, Nimitr Vorasoot, Nuchadomrong S, Holbrook CC, Kvien C, Puppala N and Patanothai A. Variability of arginine content and yield components in Valencia peanut germplasm. Breed Sci. 2017 Jun;67(3):207–212.
2 thoughts on “Sexy Food: Top 8 Foods for Mind Blowing Sex”
This is why you eat so many pepitas 😉
Pepitas are grand 😉