Science-Backed Aphrodisiacs: Exactly What To Eat To Ramp Up Your Sex Drive

Suffering from a low sex drive? Try changing up your diet. What you eat can boost your libido, improve your stamina, and enhance your performance in the sheets.

For centuries, various foods have been considered aphrodisiacs. Some gain that reputation simply because they remind us of parts of the anatomy (bananas, avocado, peaches, and the infamous oyster). Spicy foods such as hot peppers cause sweating, increased heart rate, and sensations normally associated with getting it on. By virtue of their procreation status, reproductive foods and organs like fish roe, eggs, and animal genitals were believed to increase sexual desire and potency. Then there are some dishes containing vanilla or licorice that give off pleasing aromas that put us in the mood for sex.

Throughout history, aphrodisiac traits have been attributed to chocolate. Turns out, there's solid truth behind this belief. This divine and luscious-tasting food is packed with flavonoids, beneficial plant compounds that, among other benefits, activate nitric oxide1 (NO) in the body. NO dilates blood vessels, including those in the penis. Translation: firmer erections.

Chocolate also contains a substance called phenylethylamine2 (PEA), a natural amphetamine manufactured by the brain in response to the feeling of love. And PEA is believed to be responsible for that hormonal rush during sex. No wonder the Aztec ruler Montezuma supposedly swilled 50 cups of chocolate liqueur every day before heading off to his harem!

This sweet root vegetable is often called the Peruvian Viagra because in South America it's commonly used to boost fertility. Grown predominantly in the mountains of central Peru, maca is a member of the cruciferous family that includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, and cabbage. There is plenty of research on maca, supporting both its libido-enhancing effects, as well as its ability to improve fertility. One study5 observed that taking maca improved erectile dysfunction; another found that treatment with maca improved sexual desire6. Researchers have also found that maca improves semen quality7—which leads to better fertility.

One final piece of advice: Follow the best diet for the best sex. And what would that diet be? According to a 2018 study in the journal Nutrients, it is a ketogenic diet11, especially for women. Researchers put the participants on a keto diet for four months. At the end of the study, women self-reported the following: feeling more excited during sex, experiencing greater lubrication, and having more orgasms. Translation: A keto diet definitely boosts your friskiness factor and your satisfaction!

I'm not really surprised by what research reveals about a keto diet. Many keto foods boost oxytocin, the bonding hormone that plays an important role in the brain's impulses to be intimate. Foods known to enhance oxytocin include vitamin-C-rich foods such as broccoli and Brussels sprouts, and healthy fats.

If you want to go keto, I always recommend that you make the diet "keto-alkaline." This means adding more greens, avocados, nuts, and other alkaline foods to your eating plan. When the body is in an alkaline state, it functions better and can stave off some of the side effects of the keto diet like keto flu.

You can definitely nourish your libido and sexual appetite with the proper foods and diet. Try these suggestions and see what happens next in your bedroom!