Since the time of the ancient Greeks people have believed that certain foods possess a unique quality to induce arousal. While most traditional aphrodisiacs are stimulating in appearance alone, it turns out that many foods have chemical properties that increase your sex drive. While some of these foods elevate the romantic mood for the night, others are capable of offering a long-term sexual boost.
Bananas
Male hormones, in general, increase the sex drive of both men and women. Bananas are odd fruits that contain male hormones called androgens. While bananas were first thought to be erotic due to their phallic resemblance, it is now suggested that this male hormone is the real source of the banana’s aphrodisiac properties.
Chocolate
While the long-term effects of chocolate on sex drive are limited, chocolate can be the perfect treat to get a person in the mood instantly. Chocolate is full of euphoria-inducing substances that boost mood and energy levels. These substances also have the ability to imitate the feelings experienced during sex. The boost in energy, combined with a rush of dopamine, is sure to increase your sex drive.
Spicy Foods
Foods that heat up the body are known to heat up the bedroom. When the tongue begins to burn as the result of spicy foods, endorphins are released. These endorphins rushing to the tongue can also increase sensations felt in the rest of the body. Dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot reports that spicy foods also release capsaicin which stimulates blood flow throughout the body, therefore elevating arousal levels.
Oysters
Oysters have been thought of as an erotic treat for centuries. In the past this correlation was thought to be due to the resemblance of an oyster to a woman’s genitalia. More modernly, nutritionists have realized that oysters are full of the libido boosting zinc. Zinc is essential for the production of sperm and increases sex drive as well as male potency. A single oyster hosts enough zinc to fulfill the daily requirement.
Pumpkin Pie
A study released by the Smell and Taste Treatment Research Foundation reported that the smell of pumpkin pie causes heightened arousal by 40 percent. This was greater than any other smell tested to include different flowers and other foods. Pumpkin pie is also chalked full of vitamin D which treats a variety of libido reducing conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, muscle weakness and osteoporosis. Eating plenty of this pie can offer both an instant and long-term increase to your sex drive.
