Sex Isn’t Just For Valentine’s Day

Last week, my inbox was flooded with articles about boosting your libido. Why do we wait until Valentine’s Day to talk about this? Shouldn’t it be an all-year round topic? I’ll let you in on a little secret, it’s a “girls night out” topic for my group of friends all the time. 😉

Do you believe that eating specific foods can boost your sex drive? I’m on the fence about this theory, but I’m intrigued. Even I have to admit, there are times I could use some inspiration to get in the mood. And what better and easier way than through food.

When it comes to sex drive, there are many factors at play here. Many people assume a plummeting sex drive is a “normal” symptom of aging when really it’s your body telling you to check in. The most common culprits of a compromised sex drive are things like stress, toxic load, poor nutrition, lack of sleep or obesity.

I can tell you first hand that sex can get better as you age, but it does take you being conscious about how you take care of yourself.  It absolultey helps to be putting high-quality, nutrient dense, organic food into your body to keep your hormones, and therefore your sex life, happy. If you want to take it a step further, try some of these foods, recommended by Dr. Axe,  for an extra boost in the bedroom.

Natural Aphrodisiacs — Figs, bananas and avocados are natural aphrodisiacs loaded with vitamins and minerals that can encourage more blood flow to the genitals and naturally increase sex drive.

Vitamin C foods — Vitamin C improves blood circulation to the organs so it’s important to make sure you consume foods rich in vitamin C on a daily basis. Vitamin C has also specifically been linked with a healthier female libido.  Some great choices include rosehips, kiwi, oranges, tangerines, broccoli and red peppers

Iron-rich foods — For women in particular, low iron levels can have a negative affect on sexual desire, arousal, lubrication and ability to have an orgasm. Great sources of iron include dark leafy greens like kale and spinach, lentils, beans, pumpkin seeds and soy beans or opt for a fabulous greens powder, Barley Juice Extract Powder which can contain up to 7x more iron than spinach.

Collagen-rich foods — Collagen production naturally declines with age. This has a direct negative effect on skin health and makes it harder to keep skin firm. This phenomenon can make it harder for men to maintain an erection, and it can lead to a looser vaginal wall in women. To increase your collagen levels, you can consume more bone broths and opt for a collagen supplement, like Further Collagen. Vitamin C also helps to increase collagen production.

Watermelon —  The phytonutrients known as lycopene, beta-carotene and citrulline found in watermelon help relax blood vessels. While watermelon might not be as organ-specific as Viagra, it can be helpful in the bedroom without any negative side effects when you naturally want to improve libido.

Spices like nutmeg and clove — Spices are loaded with antioxidants, which is great for overall health, including libido. Research found that extracts of nutmeg and clove enhanced the sexual behavior of male animal subjects. Clove is also great at improving bad breath.

Dark chocolate — Research has shown that chocolate consumption leads to the release of phenylethylamine and serotonin, leading to some aphrodisiac and mood-lifting effects. Just make sure you choose a low-sugar, high-quality organic dark chocolate.

Brazil nuts — These nuts are high in selenium, which plays a role in maintaining healthy testosterone levels.

Almonds — Rich in zinc, selenium and vitamin E, almonds contain vitamins, minerals and healthy fats that can improve sexual health and reproduction.

Mineral Water — Making sure you’re not dehydrated is helpful when it comes to your libido since dehydration can cause a number of negative side effects that can easily dull sexual desire. I love mineral water, because it’s loaded with minerals which helps the water go directly into the cells to hydrate you at a deeper level.