Image: For maximum spiciness in the bedroom, eat more veggies! | Shutterstock
If you are what you eat, you’ll want to try being fruits and veggies. They’re not only good for your general health: studies show fruits and vegetables can make you a dynamo in the bedroom, too.
“Essentially, what’s good for your heart is good for better sex,” says Steven Lamm, MD, a faculty member at the New York School of Medicine. So to really get the most bang for your buck, try adding more fruits and veggies to your meals! You might also consider going vegan and cutting out meat altogether.
There are actually several sexy reasons veganism could be a good fit for your lifestyle, especially if you have been feeling like you just aren’t performing the way you’d like to in the bedroom:
- A vegan diet has been shown to keep your skin smooth and silky because of its high vitamin C content. Fruits and vegetables with antioxidants help counteract the effects of free radicals and keep skin glowing and healthy. A diet high in calories and meat, on the other hand, can increase skin inflammation and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Fruits and vegetables, the staples of a vegan diet, can make semen taste more appetizing to your partner. Pineapple is especially good for counteracting an acidic taste.
- A 2006 study from Chemical Senses found that the body odor of someone on a vegan diet was generally considered more pleasant than that of someone on a meat-eating diet.
But there’s no need to go to such a diet extreme if you’re not interested in it. Simply consuming more healthy foods will help keep you and your partner happy in bed, too. Eat more of these foods to experience their benefits, in the bedroom and in everyday life:
- Spinach contains a large amount of magnesium, which can help dilate blood vessels. That means better blood flow in the southern region for both men and women.
- Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, Swiss chard, and bok choy are all great sources of folate, a nutrient that helps promote reproductive health.
- Vitamin C consumed daily at a rate of at least 200 milligrams can help men improve their sperm count and motility.
- Watermelon contains high concentrations of phytonutrients like lycopene, beta carotene, and citrulline. Citrulline in particular is converted by the body into arginine, which affects the body in a similar way to Viagra. It may help treat—or even prevent–erectile dysfunction.
- Oysters have more zinc than just about any other food (and they’ve got quite a reputation as the ultimate aphrodisiac!). Zinc keeps testosterone levels high in both men and women. Testosterone is linked to increased desire, as well as healthy sperm count and blood circulation. You don’t have to emulate Casanova and eat 50 raw oysters a day, either: the recommended amount is about six, which would double your daily allowance of 15 mg of zinc. But if you aren’t down with oysters, don’t worry! Zinc, the “aphrodisiac” found in oysters, exists in a lot of other foods. Substitute your oysters for zinc-rich mushrooms mixed with seaweed for a touch of that ocean-like brine!
- Berries, walnuts, ginger, and beans are just a few of the foods rich in antioxidants. Whereas vitamins and supplements haven’t been shown to increase fertility, increasing your intake of naturally-occurring antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and legumes can be helpful when it comes to improving your sexual performance.
That spinach salad probably doesn’t sound so boring now, does it, gentlemen?