Top 10 Grocery Store Items For Improving Couple’s Libidos

Spanish fly. Rhinoceros horn. Phallic-looking foods. Throughout history, people have gone to a lot of trouble—not to mention in some cases putting their health in danger—trying to find libido boosters to improve their sex lives. Today, pleasure seekers have it easier because, as it turns out, the grocery store is the perfect place to find natural aphrodisiacs.

Bonus: In addition to making sex a little steamier, nearly all these foods have health benefits beyond the bedroom.

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1. Chocolate

This dark, delicious dessert has long been associated with indulgence, but that’s not the only reason chocolate puts you and your guy in a sensual mood. The treat contains caffeine, which helps perk you up and also boosts serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness.

Chocolate brings on feelings of euphoria because it is a psycho-stimulant so it has an arousal effect.  This is caused by phenylethylamine, a chemical with an amphetamine-like affect that temporarily mimics feelings of falling in love. In fact, a 2007 British study found that letting chocolate melt in your mouth is more stimulating and raised heart rates more than kissing. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is also loaded with antioxidants that improve circulation and lower cholesterol.

2. Pumpkin Pie

The next time you want to seduce a guy, bake a pumpkin pie. A study that measured blood flow south of the border in men ages 18 to 64 found that the scent of pumpkin pie rated the highest response—a 40% increase. Romantic lavender rated equally high, while close runners-up included donuts and black licorice, which boosted blood flow to men’s nether regions by more than 31 percent. As surprising as it may seem, when it comes to sex, scent offers a greater libido lift than ingestion: 90% of what people call taste is actually smell.   The scent of these foods may reduce anxiety, which helps remove inhibitions.

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3. Licorice

You probably won’t look at the candy counter at the movies the same way after reading this: Smelling and tasting licorice-flavored candy caused a 13% increase in vaginal blood flow, according to recent research. Why? The scent may trigger olfactory nostalgia, such as positive memories from childhood as well as feelings of security and safety—a state of mind that helps make sex more relaxing and enjoyable. Oddly enough, the smell of cherries had the opposite effect on women, causing an 18% reduction of vaginal blood flow (in other words, a real turn-off).

4. Oatmeal

You may not have heard of L-arginine, but this common amino acid is a precursor to nitric oxide, a substance that “enhances the arousal response.” Good food sources of L-arginine include oatmeal and granola as well as nuts, seeds, dairy, and seafood.  So the next time you’re on a date at a romantic restaurant, suggest the pasta with pine nuts or salmon. Sexy, mutually beneficial menu options such as these will ensure your evening ends on a high note!

5.[am4show guest_error=’noaccess’ ] Oysters

It is a sensual experience to eat oysters, but these delicacies from the sea are natural aphrodisiacs for another reason, too. Oysters are bursting with zinc, a mineral used in the production of testosterone (and sperm), which plays a role in fueling the sex drive of both men and women. American and Italian chemists who looked at oysters, mussels and clams found the shellfish were packed with rare amino acids that triggered increased levels of sexhormones in animals. What’s more, oysters contain taurine, an amino acid with a caffeine-like effect (used in most energy drinks) for alertness and physical endurance.

6. Fish

It may sound a bit fishy and not so sexy, but foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as mackerel, wild salmon, halibut, and sardine, as well as flaxseed, nuts and oils (think olive and soybean) can take your sex life from lukewarm to hot. Here’s how: essential fatty acids are the building blocks of sexhormones in men and women and help fight the buildup of plaque in the arteries, thereby improving circulation and increasing sensation. Omega-3 fatty acids help with sexual response, by helping to raise dopamine levels in the brain that trigger arousal.  They are important for energy, memory, mood, and libido.  Not a fan of fish? Try taking 1,000 milligrams (or 1 gram) of fish oil supplements daily and be sure the supplement includes the omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

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7. Avocados

The deep green fruit contain vitamin B6, which helps produce serotonin, the feel-good hormone. Another bonus for you and your partner: avocados are also loaded with vitamin E, which enhances circulation and is believed to stimulate the production of passion-stimulating testosterone.  Recent research showed that vitamin E helps improve semen quality and motility.

8. Garlic

Although you’d think garlic would ruin, rather than improve, your love-making sessions, it turns out that it contains allicin, an ingredient that increases circulation, including down south, which “helps improve sensation.”   The action of finely chopping garlic releases allicin, so be sure to crush the garlic first and then add it to pasta sauce or garlic bread. The key to not getting knocked out by garlic breath? Level the playing field by eating a garlic-heavy meal with the object of your affection.

9. Seeds and Nuts

Like oysters, pumpkin seeds and pine nuts are rich in zinc, which help the body produce testosterone—and, in your man’s case, sperm. Added attraction: nuts, including almonds, are also good sources of the aforementioned omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent plaque accumulation in the arteries and improve blood flow throughout the body (including to the genitals). What’s more, nuts and seeds are powerhouse foods, full of protein and healthy fats, which give you a boost of energy both in and out of the bedroom.

10. Mint

Popping a mint before kissing your partner is not only courteous; it’s also a turn-on.   Married couples, as well as single men and women, have agreed on what they want kisses to taste like in a mate or a date. The overall sensual conclusion: the scent of mint makes people makeout-worthy, fresh, clean, and minty, like toothpaste.

Spice Up Your Night

You do not need to go to the ends of the earth to find solutions to improve your sex life. The all natural aphrodisiacs you need to improve your libido is found in a grocery store near you.  So grab a bottle of wine, your loved one and try the romantic dinner menu below. Then, retire to the bedroom!

Romantic Dinner Recipes

• Appetizer:Oysters Rockefeller
• Salad: Tossed greens with avocado and pumpkin seeds
• Entrée: Pasta with salmon, garlic, pine nuts and creamy Alfredo sauce
• Dessert:ChocolateMint ice cream

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Oyster Rockefeller

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 dozen oysters in their shells, freshly shucked and drained, the deeper bottom shell rinsed and reserved for baking

Sauce

• 6 ounces spinach, stems removed and rinsed
• 1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter
• 2 3/4 cups finely chopped yellow onions
• 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons Herbsaint or other anise-flavored liqueur, such as Pernod or Pastis
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup cracker meal or cracker crumbs

Directions for Sauce

1. Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a medium pot. Add the spinach and cook until very tender and the water is green, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain the spinach in a colander set over a large bowl and reserve 2 3/4 cups of the cooking liquid. Let the spinach sit until cool enough to handle, then finely chop, and set aside.
2. Melt the butter in a medium pot over moderately high heat. When the butter is foamy, add the onions, celery and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the reserved spinach water, bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Add the chopped spinach, liqueur, salt and pepper and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reduces slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cracker meal and food coloring, and stir well to combine. Cool completely before using.

Directions for Oyster Rockefeller

1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Spread a 1/2-inch-thick layer of rock salt on a large baking sheet and across the bottoms of 6 large plates.
2. Arrange the reserved oyster shells on the baking sheet. Put 1 oyster in each shell and top with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the sauce, spreading the sauce evenly out to the edge of the shell to completely cover the oyster. (Alternatively, transfer the sauce to a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip and pipe the sauce over the oysters.)
3. Bake until the sauce is lightly browned and the oysters begin to curl around the edges, about 20 minutes.
4. Using tongs or a spatula, carefully transfer the hot shells to the salt-covered plates and serve immediately.

Tossed Greens With Avocado And Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients

• Baby greens
• 1 avocado
• 2 tbls pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbls feta
• Balsamic vinegar

Directions

1. Slice avocado
2. Place greens in a bowel and toss in pumpkin seeds, feta and vinegar.
3. Serve and place avocado slices on top of salad.

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Pasta With Salmon, Garlic And Pine Nuts With Creamy Alfredo Sauce

Ingredients

• Salmon
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Pine nuts
• Alfredo pasta

Sauce

• 4 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 stick butter
• 1/4 c. Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 c. milk
• Garlic, fresh crushed to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Place fillets in aluminum foil, brush with olive oil and salt and pepper to taste, then seal. Place sealed salmon in the glass dish, and bake 35 to 45 minutes, until easily flaked with a fork.
3. While the salmon is backing, prepare pasta noodles as directed on package.
4. Soften cream cheese and butter. Add cheese and milk and garlic over low heat. Serve over 8 ounces cooked thin spaghetti noodles.
5. Soften cream cheese and butter. Add cheese and milk and fresh garlic over low heat.
6. To serve. Mix pasta and sauce, place a piece of salmon over pasta and garnish with pine nuts.

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David Randall, diagnosed at the age of 15 with type 1 Diabetes, started to learn everything he could about living healthy. With a love for cooking, he made his way through college teaching young diabetics how to manage the disease. He then turned his ambitions towards spreading what he knows and loves to others, having ghost written for over 10 years on nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplements, as well as cooking and healthy lifestyle. David spends his free time with his family in Northern Michigan sailing, cooking and volunteering.