Beyond the fun of having sex, it has been found to increase bonding
between couples, create the requisite atmosphere for having serious
conversation and sharing deep secrets, boost their intimacy and further
unite them. These numerous benefits seem to underscore the need for
couples to have a healthy sex life.
According to some studies, one of the keys to
having a more fertile sex drive (libido) and ultimately, a remarkable
sex life is the kind of food people eat. This implies that eating right
enhances good sex.
According to a naturopathic physician, Dr.
Cammi Balleck, in her report on womansday.com, some food can help boost
libido while some others can dampen it. Thus, a poor diet can lead to a
dull sex life.
She said, “A healthy balance of vitamins and
minerals keeps your endocrine system humming, which in turn regulates
the production of the hormones estrogen and testosterone, essential for
sexual desire and performance. Enjoying an active sex life is essential
to our well-being, and the food we eat play a large role in ensuring we
feel in the mood.”
Some of the food that have been identified to
play a role in boosting sex drive include water melon, banana, avocados,
nuts, cloves, lettuce, ginger, fruits and vegetables, oysters, in
moderate quantity, eggs and meals balanced in protein and carbohydrate,
among others.
Interestingly, some of these food items
increase blood flow to all parts of the body, including the genitals,
while some have components that boost sex drive.
For example, researchers from the Texas A&M
Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Centre, found that watermelon is a good
sexual drive booster. Even though it is 92 per cent water, the
remaining eight per cent is full of nutrients that can boost libido and
produce the same effects with Viagra, a drug that enhances male potency.
“Watermelon contains a phytonutrient called
citrulline, which relaxes blood vessels and improve blood circulation in
the same way a medicine like Viagra does. It increases blood flow to
parts of the body and helps men to last longer,” the study added.
Also found to be of tremendous help in sexual
potency is banana. Cheap, healthy, good source of energy, and has the
tendency to reduce stress and anxiety and boost happiness, banana is
said to be a storehouse of nutrients that increase energy flow and
improve performance in the bedroom.
According to a post on virilityprotocol.com,
the tryptophan compound in banana is a good mood-enhancer and its
magnesium and manganese compounds help to ensure a healthy and
functional prostate. It adds that eating banana before sexual
intercourse is good and would enhance performance, especially in men.
“Banana improves sexual function and
performance. It is high in bromelain and B vitamins, both of which have
been shown to be potent in producing and regulating sexual hormones that
can increase sexual desire, sexual function, libido and overall
virility.”
Also, in the report posted on mensfitness.com,
eggs have been found to boost libido, especially the albumen, which is
the white part of the egg. It explains, “Eggs are high in protein, which
is a source of stamina, and they’re also low in calories. In addition,
they are a good source for an amino acid L-arginine, which has been
shown to be effective in treating types of heart ailments and erectile
dysfunction.
Another food item that has been found to boost
libido are nuts. The study found that apart from reducing cholesterol,
nuts are crucial to the synthesis of nitric oxide, a compound in the
body involved in generating erections.
Other food items pointed out by these
researchers include fruits and vegetables. According to the director of
sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Leslie
Bonci, food made of plant are rich in nutrients that help to keep the
arteries unclogged and help to prevent both heart disease and erectile
dysfunction.
A nutrition scientist and exercise
physiologist, Dr. Shari Lieberman, also notes that a component of
tomato, lycopene, which is a member of the vitamin A family, helps
maintain prostate health, boosting overall sexual performance.
Broccoli, whether cooked or eaten raw, has also
been found to improve libido, especially in women. A dietitian, Keri
Glassman, says, “Broccoli is essential for an improved sexual life
because of its high vitamin C content, which aids blood circulation to
organs and has also been associated with an improved female libido.”
Coffee and chocolate have also been found to
contain stimulants that put women in the mood. In a report on
mensfitness.com, a study conducted on some women found that women who
take small bites of cocoa regularly have more desire for sex and enjoy
it more than those who don’t. This, according to the study, was partly
due to the fact that cocoa increases blood flow through all the parts of
the body and it relaxes blood vessels. The study also found that
chocolate increases serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which
boosts happiness and lowers stress level.
Also, red wine has been found to increase
women’s sexual drive. Researchers from the University of Florence in
Italy found that women who drink about two glasses of red wine daily had
a higher libido than those who did not or those who drank other
alcoholic drinks.
Other food items that have been found to
improve sex drive include coffee, especially in the morning, liver,
fatty fish, peanuts, which has been found to increase sperm count due to
the zinc present in it, and strawberries, which improves circulation.
Its Vitamin C compound, also helps men boost their sperm count,
according to shape.com.
Experts are of the opinion that these food items can help to boost the libido of both men and women.
However, there are certain food items that have
been found to dampen sex drive in both men and women. These include
alcohols and processed food.
Also, a report on Yahoo.com added that regular
exercise, adequate sleep, reduced stress and elimination of junk food
from diet could help boost people’s libido and sexual performance.
According to Dr. Anna Maria and Dr. Brian
Clement, authors of Seven Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality and directors
of Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida, United
States, “Baked goods contain saturated trans fats that wreak havoc on
human cells, including the immune system.
“They surround the cells, coagulating them so
that vital food glucose can’t be absorbed and remains in the blood,
raising blood sugar and lowering libido. The fats also clog ventricles,
reducing oxygen to sexual organs, and prevent the spleen from producing
enough white blood cells, so eggs and sperm have difficulty
multiplying.”
Commenting on the study, a medical
practitioner, Dr. Rotimi Adesanya, said the impact of the aforementioned
food on sexual performance had not been medically proven, adding that
such information were based on some people’s experience and testimony.
He added, “Food items, like garlic, that
contain chemicals that can increase blood circulation can be said to aid
libido. What causes erection in men is increase in blood flow, so, it
is believed that such food tends to increase sexual performance.”
Adesanya said lifestyle plays a prominent role
in people’s sexual performance. He advised that people should avoid
smoking, reduce their alcohol intake and have reasonable rest. “Some
people drink alcohol to get high, but when a person becomes a chronic
alcoholic, the accumulation in the body can affect libido, he added.
Also, a nutritionist, Mr. Okunola Oladimeji,
explained that since libido has a lot to do with blood and energy,
people should consume food items that would increase their blood flow
and give them energy, while avoiding processed foods and excess sugar.
He added, “Generally, the food items that can
help boost people’s libido are fruits, vegetables, nuts (including
cashew nut, groundnut, etc), beans, meat, fish and other food items rich
in zinc.
“However, of more importance is watermelon
because of the presence of citrulline, a rich class of protein, in it
and because it has abundance of minerals and vitamins. It should be
consumed with the seeds and it has been found to work for both male and
female, especially when consumed about one hour before sexual activity.
“Food to avoid are processed food items and
junks, and it is because of the effects of consuming such that people
now resort to herbs. So, people should reduce their sugar intake.”
source: punch
