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Home / Healthy Eating / 7 Aphrodisiac Foods To Boost Your Libido & Get in the
Mood
 * Healthy Eating

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7 APHRODISIAC FOODS TO BOOST YOUR LIBIDO & GET IN THE MOOD

Get ready to bring on the romance this Valentine's Day by loading your plate
with these foods.

By Samantha Boesch
Published on February 13, 2024 | 9:30 AM
FACT CHECKED BY Olivia Tarantino
Photos: Canva. Design: Eat This, Not That.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and if you have that special someone
in your life, you may be planning quite the romantic evening—unless you're not
into this holiday and are planning on treating it like any other day, because
that's OK, too. But if you're looking to put on the romance on February 14th and
need some extra help, you may be able to turn to food for an assist. In fact,
there are quite a few aphrodisiac foods that have been found to help boost
libido.

According to Pharmacognosy Review, an aphrodisiac is any substance—this can be a
food or drug—that increases your sexual desire. To be even more specific, the
same review states that aphrodisiacs can play any of the three main roles, or
multiple roles at once: increasing libido, enhancing pleasure, and/or improving
potency.




Some of the foods that count as aphrodisiacs may surprise you. For example,
chocolate—which people have associated with romance for quite some time—doesn't
make the list. That's because there is hardly any research on its actual
aphrodisiac effects, and a study that tested chocolate and women's libidos found
that once all of the data factors were adjusted, there was no difference in
libido among chocolate eaters and non-chocolate eaters. On the other hand,
avocados do make the list, which we suspect most of you wouldn't associate with
romance in the slightest.

Which other aphrodisiac foods made the cut? Read on to see which of these foods
you may want to add to your Valentine's Day meal, and for ideas on some
last-minute gifts, check out these 11 Adorable Valentine's Day Treats at Costco.


OYSTERS

Shutterstock

There is nothing sexy about slurping down oysters, and yet, they're arguably one
of the most well-known aphrodisiacs. According to Lisa Young, PhD, RDN, author
of Finally Full, Finally Slim and member of our Medical Expert Board, they get
their libido-boosting name because "they are rich in the mineral zinc, which may
play a role in regulating testosterone production."



"Oysters are high in omega-3s, which may increase blood flow and aid in erectile
and testicular function," Young explains.

Another connection between oysters and the bedroom is that zinc has been found
to improve levels of dopamine in the body. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that
is connected to your senses of pleasure, and studies have found that there is a
connection between dopamine and sex by way of improving erectile dysfunction.

RELATED: 25 Restaurant Chains With the Best Valentine's Day Deals


SAFFRON

Shutterstock

If you haven't cooked with saffron yet—a spice used in many Indian and Moroccan
dishes—you're missing out for two key reasons. For one, it's full of flavor. Not
only does it add a ton of flavor to your food, but saffron has also been found
to contain aphrodisiac qualities.

In one study from Phytomedicine, a group of men who had erectile dysfunction
(ED) were given a 200-milligram saffron tablet every morning for 10 days. After
the 10 days were up, it was discovered that the saffron tablets had a positive
effect on ED cases. More specifically, it increased the number of erections and
how long each one lasted.



Another study, published in Human Psychopharmacology, found that 30 milligrams
of saffron a day was associated with increased arousal in women, as well as
higher levels of natural lubrication.


AVOCADOS

Shutterstock

According to Young, you may want to make some extra guacamole or throw a few
pieces of frozen avocado into your next smoothie.

"This fruit contains healthy unsaturated fats, and including healthy fats in the
diet is important for hormone health," says Young. "Avocados also contain the
B-vitamin folate, which makes histamine, a compound that is released during
orgasms or when one gets aroused."

RELATED: The 11 Most Romantic Restaurant Chains for Valentine's Day


PISTACHIOS

Shutterstock

A small research study published in the International Journal of Impotence
Research found that pistachio nuts may have aphrodisiac-like qualities. However,
the sample size consisted only of 17 male participants, so more research is
certainly needed on this topic.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e



The men who participated had all reported having erectile dysfunction for at
least 12 months. They each ate 100 grams of pistachios every day for three
weeks, and at the end of the study, their erectile function had improved. Not
only that, but LDL cholesterol (the "bad" kind) was lowered, while HDL
cholesterol (the "good" kind) had increased.


MACA

Shutterstock

Maca is technically a cruciferous vegetable—think: the same family as kale or
broccoli—but its most common edible form is a powder that can be sprinkled into
dishes or smoothies. To some, this powder is known as the "Viagra of
superfoods," and research shows that this may be true.

In a small study published in the First International Journal of Andrology, a
group of males with erectile dysfunction were given maca supplements or a
placebo for 12 weeks. At the end of the 12 weeks, the men who were given maca
reported an increase in their sex drive and overall sexual well-being.

Another study looked at post-menopausal women who were experiencing low libido
due to taking antidepressants—also known as SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction. At
the end of the study, a positive association was found between consuming maca
and increased libido.

RELATED: 20 Chocolate Brands That Use the Highest Quality Ingredients




RED GINSENG

Shutterstock

A common root plant that grows in many Asian countries, red ginseng is known as
a helpful aphrodisiac food. You can buy this root in whole pieces, as a capsule,
an extract, or in powder form. Certain teas may also include red ginseng as a
major ingredient. Research has found that this plant has a variety of possible
health benefits, ranging from cardiovascular protection, enhanced immunity,
antioxidant properties, and yes, even the ability to boost libido.

One study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine gave menopausal women
either three red ginseng capsules a day or a placebo, and the results showed
that the ginseng increased sexual arousal in participants. Red ginseng has also
been shown in other studies to improve erectile dysfunction and slow down
premature ejaculation.


BERRIES

Shutterstock

According to Young, berries are another food you may want to consider adding to
your aphrodisiac plate—especially blackberries.

"They are healthy overall and may also help men keep erections, because foods
rich in flavonoids (blackberries are particularly full of them) have been linked
to a lower risk of erectile dysfunction," says Young.



Research from Pharmacognosy Review also found that flavonoids may have the
ability to improve the quality of sperm in males.

So, whether or not you plan on having a romantic Valentine's evening, or are
just looking for an extra boost in the bedroom, these foods may be able to help.
However, if you're experiencing recurring troubles related to libido, talk with
your doctor or another medical expert to talk about the next best steps.

This story has been updated to include new content, links, sources, and copy
edits.

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This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of
Service apply.
Samantha Boesch
Samantha was born and raised in Orlando, Florida and now works as a writer in
Brooklyn, NY. Read more about Samantha
Filed Under
Healthy Foods // Sex // Sex Drive // Valentine's Day
Sources referenced in this article
 1.  Source: Kotta S, Ansari SH, Ali J. Exploring scientifically proven herbal
     aphrodisiacs. Pharmacogn Rev. 2013 Jan;7(13):1-10. doi:
     10.4103/0973-7847.112832. PMID: 23922450; PMCID: PMC3731873.
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     Naspro R, Parazzini F, Gori E, Rigatti P, Montorsi F. Chocolate and women's
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