Sometimes, you need a bit more than a four-minute Marvin Gaye song to get you in the mood.
You’ll need the proper fuel – like foods – to increase that libido and sex drive.
For a long time, food has been used to increase sexual desire – but did you know there are foods that can actually improve your performance, too? (We just heard the collective masses pause their Marvin Gaye records.)
These aren’t foods from exotic lands or faraway places only the rich can afford to visit. According to studies, these common foods you can find locally can help you have a successful session in the sheets.
Spinach
You know this is true based on Popeye and Olive Oyl’s lust for one another. Eating spinach puts you in the mood for sex by increasing blood flow below the belt.
“Spinach is rich in magnesium, a mineral that decreases inflammation in blood vessels, increasing blood flow,” explains Cassie Bjork, RD, LD of Healthy Simple Life.
“Increased blood flow drives blood to the extremities, which, like Viagra, can increase arousal and make sex more pleasurable,” adds psychotherapist and sex expert Tammy Nelson, PhD. “Women will find it is easier to have an orgasm, and men will find that erections come more naturally.”
Coffee
Our advice: Encourage more Starbucks dates.
Coffee may just be the best libido booster around. According to a study in Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, a stimulant found in coffee is known to put women in the mood. So grab a cappuccino and prepare yourself for a lucky night.
Ginger
Ginger is another sexy food that can improve your sex life by aiding blood flow and improving artery health.
According to a study in the International Journal of Cardiology, just a teaspoon of ginger a few times a week is enough to reap those heart-healthy benefits. So, when you’re out on that sushi date, make sure you’re both eating that side ginger with your order.
Related: What You Eat Could Affect Your Sex Life as You Age
Pesto
Pesto is the ultimate sex food (that’s right, we said sex food). Pine nuts are full of zinc, and people with higher levels of zinc in their system have been shown to have a higher sex drive than those with lower levels.
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