If you find you're more eager to sleep than have sex regularly, your sex drive may need a booster shot. Here are 10 foods that make women sweeter in bed by increasing your libido.
1. Black Raspberries:
Both the berries and the seeds will transform your mindset when you're trying to get in the mood. "This phytochemical-rich food enhances both libido and sexual endurance," says Anna Maria Gahns-Clement, Ph.D., and Brian Clement, Ph.D., the authors of 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality and directors of Hippocrates Wellness in West Palm Beach, Florida. Consume some black raspberries or a tablespoon of seeds a few hours before you plan to get busy.
2. Broccoli:
Raw, sauteed, or cooked, broccoli in your salad or alongside your steak can help to increase your libido. "I suggest it here because of the high vitamin C content," says Keri Glassman, R.D., C.D.N., a registered dietitian and founder of Nutritious Life. Broccoli is one of the best foods to make you sweet in bed and increase your libido. 'Vitamin C aids in blood circulation to organs and has also been associated with an improved female libido,' she adds.
3. Cloves:
This sex superfood is versatile when it comes to cooking: It can be brewed in hot apple cider, infused into your favorite dish, or added to a chai tea latte. Just make sure to share it with your partner, too. 'In India, cloves have been used to treat male sexual dysfunction for centuries,' says Glassman. Research published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine agrees, discovering that clove extracts produced an increase in the sexual activity of normal male rats.
4. Figs:
Want to be completely irresistible the next time your partner sees you? There's a simple food solution: Figs. "They're considered excellent stimulants of fertility and enhance the secretion of pheromones," say Gahns-Clement and Clement. Feast on the fruit before getting it on and find out if you're a little sweeter in bed.
5. Watermelon:
Chocolate has the reputation of being the aphrodisiac of choice for those with a sweet tooth, but researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada found that this is most likely just a myth. Though ingredients such as phenylethylamine in chocolate may boost serotonin and endorphin levels, there is no link between chocolate and improved sexual performance or arousal. So if you're really looking for a sweet libido-booster, stick to a slice of watermelon.
Although it's 92 percent water, that remaining 8 percent of fruit is jam-packed with vital nutrients for sexual health. Watermelon 'has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body's blood vessels and may even increase libido,' according to research from the Texas A&M Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center. More specifically, "watermelon contains a phytonutrient called citrulline, which the body converts to arginine, an amino acid that boosts nitric oxide levels in the body, which relax blood vessels in the same way a medicine like Viagra does," say Gahns-Clement and Clement.
6. Eggs:
Poached, scrambled, fried, deviled. No matter how you make them, a couple of eggs will rev you up after a long day so you can go the distance in the dark. "Eggs are high in protein, which is a source of stamina, and they're also low in calories," says Glassman. In addition, they're a good source for the amino acid L-arginine, which has been shown effective in treating types of heart ailments and erectile dysfunction.
7. Ginseng:
Ginseng is one of the scientifically proven foods that increase libido in women: Researchers at the University of Hawaii found that women who took a ginseng-rich supplement showed a significant increase in libido in a month, and 68 percent also said their overall sex life improved dramatically.
"Add ginseng into your diet or try one of the many ginseng teas available. Just don't jump at the sight of ginseng, though. Many energy drinks that claim to have ginseng in them also contain chemicals and tons of sugar," advises Glassman.
8. Lettuce:
A small salad with oil and vinegar as dressing might amp up your sex drive. "Iceberg lettuce contains an opiate that helps to activate sex hormones," say Gahns-Clement and Clement. Nosh on a bowl at dinner and you'll be ready to go by the time you turn in for the night.
9. Ginger:
"King Henry VII and the ancient [Asian cultures] were astute when using ginger for medicinal purposes: In the 21st Century, those of us who know about botanical-ceuticals know that ginger helps circulation, temperature adjustment, and mucoid detoxification (mucus-like residue that can coat your GI tract), and is also a libido enhancer," note Gahns-Clement and Clement. Whether raw, in supplement form, or added to your favorite recipe or drink, ginger also lends itself to defense against winter's hard cold and flu season, which is good because trying to get frisky with a runny nose never ends well.
10. Saffron:
If you want to splurge on foods that make women sweet in bed and increase libido, look no further than saffron. Though on the pricey side, saffron is a treat for your stomach and sex life: Researchers at the University of Guelph found that saffron can improve sexual performance. To use, soak the threads in hot liquid for 15 minutes then add to any grain such as rice, quinoa, or barley — or use it in a soup or stew, suggests Glassman.
