26 aphrodisiac foods to try that boosts your sexual desire

There are certain foods that you can consume that may just consume you with desire for a little friskiness between the sheets. Start munching on some of these lesser-known aphrodisiacs.

Pomegranate

Studies say that pomegranate juice helps erectile dysfunction. The fruit is rich in antioxidants. Power up with some pomegranate!

Artichokes

Artichokes are full of antioxidants and vitamins that are great for general wellness and blood flow.

Honey

Sweet for some honey? Where do you think the word honeymoon came about anyway? Honey actually has a chemical called boron that functions to regulate levels of testosterone and estrogen. Honey is also a natural energy booster.

Papaya

Papaya has compounds that act as the female hormone estrogen. It has been used as a folk remedy in promoting menstruation and milk production, and increasing the female libido.

Cucumber

Aside from its phallic appearance, a study by Dr. Alan Hirsch found that the scent of cucumbers, in combination with black licorice, is extremely arousing to women.

Nutritionally, cucumbers also provide Vitamin C and manganese which are essential to maintaining sexual health.

Basil - the love token

Many love customs revolve around the use of Basil. In Moldavian folklore, a man is destined to fall in love with a woman if he accepts a sprig of basil from her. In Romania, an engagement is marked by passing a twig of basil and in Mexico, keeping basil leaves in one's pockets ensure that a loved one will return their love forever. In the medieval days, it was believed that the scent of Basil would drive men wild, so women would in turn dust their breasts with dried basil.

Besides it's tradition and scent, Basil also helps promote circulation and is believed to stimulate sex drive by increasing your heart rate.

Heart strawberries

It is red, heart-shaped and linked to romance and Valentines. Besides it’s appearance, strawberries are loaded with vitamin C, potassium, iron and fibre—great for blood circulation—for you know what.

Feel that burn with chillies

Who wouldn’t be aroused by the heat chillies can induce? Our bodies react to the spiciness of these peppers in a good way. If you stuff your face with spicy food, take note that your body temperature will rise, you’ll start to sweat and your pulse rate speeds up—similar to a state of arousal.

Can't get enough of chocolate?

Don’t worry; it’s a good thing to indulge in if you would like to up the levels of sexiness in your game. Chocolate has two chemicals tryptophan which is linked to the release of serotonin and phenylethylamine which is linked to amphetamine – released when cupid strikes and people fall in love. Stories go that the Aztec ruler Montezuma drank 50 goblets of chocolate every day to enhance his sexual abilities.

Asparagus

Asparagus boosts folic acid which is said to aid histamine production—a necessary component in reaching orgasm. In fact, bridegrooms in 19th century France were served three courses of asparagus at their prenuptial dinner to prepare them for the big night ahead.

Almond of my eye

The tradition of having almonds at a wedding began during Roman times—guests would throw the nuts at newlyweds. It is also thought that the smell of almonds incites passion in women.

Ward off the evil eye with garlic

Garlic contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow. In Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, garlic is considered to increase desire, in addition to warming the body.

Go bananas

If you’re thinking that it’s the shape of the banana that gets people in the mood—think again! Apparently bananas has bromelain, which is an anti-inflammatory enzyme that actually induces the production of a higher volume of testosterone. That’s not all—it has vitamin B and potassium, which aids in producing sex hormones.

Whipped cream

Need we say more? Smear it on any part of the anatomy and you’re in for some naughty fun.

A glass of wine

Yes, this is a classic aphrodisiac. Say goodbye to shyness and feeling inhibited. Any form of alcohol will help loosen up nerves for a greater sexual experience.

Figs galore

Believed to have been present in the Garden of Eden, figs were also Cleopatra’s favorite fruit and the ancient Greeks associated them with love and fertility. That said, figs are a great snack and it is also chock-full of minerals and antioxidants that will give you the energy necessary to charge ahead and make all those sex fantasies come true.

Ceylon tea

Fancy a boost for the libido, just sit back and enjoy a cup of Ceylon tea. Tea has antioxidants, flavonoids and polyphenols that will help give your immune a boost as well as promotes blood circulation.

Guacamole anyone?

Creamy avocados are full of antioxidants that help fight off diseases. It is also packed with vitamin E which can help give you "Energy" for your bedroom romp.

Slurrrp… on an oyster

Want to make a mark in the bedroom? Go ahead and feast on this seafood that is known to make you horny. But on a more scientific tangent, these slimy mollusks are full of amino acids that promote a release of sex hormones in abundance—according to a team of American and Italian researchers. Eat raw for the best effect!

Juicy watermelons—yum!

Some say that consuming watermelons can give men a Viagra-like effect. Watermelons contain phyto-nutrients that can relax blood vessels similar to the effect of Viagra. Remember to have large quantities of it before any result is felt. We’re talking as much as six glasses of pure watermelon juice a day for a period of three weeks!

Would you like a cuppa?

Coffee is a poison some might say—yet they cannot function without it. It wakes you up, stimulates focus and increases the heart rate too. Studies have shown that there is an increase in dopamine after drinking coffee—meaning people can get high from caffeine. But do take note that coffee is only effective as an aphrodisiac if taken by women who do not drink it on a regular basis.

Nuts for some pine nuts

Zinc is apparently needed in the production of sperm and pine nuts, along with oysters have plenty of it. Arabian medical scholar Galen recommended eating 100 pine nuts before going to bed as he said it would stimulate the libido.

Rocket to ecstasy

Arugula, also known as rocket is supposedly known to increase libido since the times of Greek philosophers. The antioxidants and minerals contained in dark leafy veggies are said to block contaminants that may do a number on libido.

Grease up with some olive oil

Our diet these days contains too much saturated fat that can clog up our arteries, which can be horrible for the heart as well as the penis. However, fat is still essential to produce testosterone and estrogen, so olive oil is a good choice!

Chinese ginseng

This root does not come cheap. Almost every Chinese person knows that Ginseng is great for you as it helps to relax muscles and this in turn that will increase blood flow to the vital parts for making love.