Valentine’s Day is around the corner and now is the time to organize your plans to celebrate with your partner.
According to the annual survey by the National Retail Federation, Americans plan to spend $25.9 billion on trips, gifts and jewelry.
Whatever is on the agenda for date night – consuming foods that boost your libido could ignite the spark you’re looking for. Still, it’s essential to understand your food sensitivities to try to avoid fatigue, bloating or IBS symptoms.
Eating meals that hit the ‘pleasure’ hormones like serotonin, dopamine and the ‘love’ hormone oxytocin will release these in the brain to create a sensual experience but there will be certain foods that will not hit the spot.
Before the big night gets planned, YorkTest nutritionist, Sal Hanvey, has shared the aphrodisiac foods that will set your libido on fire and those that will put it out.
Seal the deal with wholegrains & leafy greens
Getting a daily dose of oats, brown rice and buckwheat is a great, natural way to boost your libido. Packed with vitamin B, iron and zinc help to maintain steady blood sugar and reduce the chances of high blood pressure.
Citrus fruits, especially oranges, have many properties which can help improve bedroom activity and increase fertility levels. Most importantly, they contain the phytonutrient hesperidin which accelerates blood flow and increases the body’s sexual desires.
Implementing unsaturated fats into the diet is essential. Nuts, avocados, olive oil and a range of seafood that are high in omega 3 are known to lower cholesterol, maintain brain health and support the reproductive system.
Get those daily steps in
Now, we know making time for exercise helps to increase circulation and adds to our overall health but did you know that it also leads to a better sexual response?
Your blood vessels dilate when exercising which means better circulation and adding foods that are high in vitamins C and E such as pomegranate juice, tomatoes and fatty fish like salmon will help to get your body into optimal condition.
Adding a side of salmon to your morning eggs will more than likely set you off to a good start.
Increase your testosterone levels
For men, consuming foods that are high in zinc not only grows testosterone levels but also enhances sex drive.
Foods such as the classic aphrodisiac, oysters, crabs and even beef can support the male reproductive and endocrine system. Acting as a hormone balancer the mineral plays an important role in testosterone production, the function of the prostate and gland health which all contribute to good sexual drive.
For those following a plant-based diet, flavonoid-rich foods like apples, grapes and berries e have anti-inflammatory effects, protecting your cells from oxidative stress that can lead to disease.
A daily dose of vitamin C
Women may find adding more vitamin C foods into the diet can result in better moods and reduce stress as it helps the adrenal system. Being constantly stressed can impact the adrenal glands resulting in tiredness, feeling drained and not leaving room for a higher sex drive.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, make sure to pick up some broccoli and brussels sprouts which have antioxidants that leave your skin glowing and boost the immune system.
For dessert, cover some strawberries in chocolate which are high in vitamin C and have a good amount of potassium which helps to regulate fluid control.
What can decrease your libido?
This day is usually celebrated with lots of candy, cupcakes and cocktails but eating these in excess could have the opposite effect on your libido.
Dairy foods are popular for a reason but are known to have a lot of antibiotics in them. Indulging in foods such as ice cream can affect women’s estrogen levels and create a testosterone imbalance for men.
Fried foods, fizzy drinks and sugary baked goods contain saturated trans fats that can alter human cells and coagulate the cells. If this happens vital food glucose can’t be absorbed resulting in a rise in blood sugar, limiting the oxygen to sexual organs and depleting your sex drive.
Even though we all enjoy a cocktail here and there, if alcohol is consumed in excess it can negatively impact the hormones and result in erectile dysfunction in men and reduce the chances of women meeting the Big O. Meals that can decrease your libido are very similar triggers for food sensitivities. To ensure everything runs smoothly, take a food sensitivities test to prepare.
