Dr. Walt Larimore

Walt Larimore, M.D. has been called “one of America’s best known family physicians.” He is a nationally-known and nationally sought after speaker and health expert. read bio

9 Foods That Will Give You a Better Love Life

Here’s some advice for our married readers, adapted from my friends at Health.com, on how you can improve your diet and your sex life at the same time. Knock out two birds with one stone:

Here are some of the food ingredients that have been major players in aphrodisiac history and lore—and also have modern-day science to back up their claims.

1. Avocado

The scientific reason why avocados make sense as an aphrodisiac is that they are rich in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat, making them good for your heart and your arteries.

Anything that keeps the heart beating strong helps keep blood flowing to all the right places.

Chicken Enchilada Tacos with Avocado

2. Almonds

Almonds have long been purported to increase passion, act as a sexual stimulant, and aid with fertility. Almonds are nutrient-dense and rich in several trace minerals that are important for sexual health and reproduction, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamin E.  Zinc helps enhance libido and sexual desire.

3. Asparagus

It is rich in folate, a B vitamin that helps increase your production of histamine, a promoter of sex life. Proper levels of histamine play an essential role in sex drive for both men and women.

Oven “Fried” Zucchini or Asparagus

4. Strawberries

 The color red is known to help stoke the fire: A 2008 study found that men find women sexier if they’re wearing red, as opposed to “cool” colors such as blue or green.

Strawberries are also an excellent source of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps ward off birth defects, according to a University of California, Berkley study, and may be tied to high sperm counts in men.

Hawaiian Fruit Salad

5. Dark Chocolate

This Valentine’s Day, try making dark chocolate–dipped strawberries. And while we’re on the subject, there’s a reason we give dark chocolate on Valentine’s Day: it’s full of libido-boosting methylzanthines.

Quick and Easy Chocolate Fondue

6. Seafood

 Despite their slippery and slimy texture, oysters may be the most well-known aphrodisiac. They’re also one of the best sources of libido-boosting zinc. But other types of seafood can also act as aphrodisiacs.  Oily fish—like wild salmon and herring—contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy heart.

Fish Tacos

7. Arugula

 Arugula has been heralded as an arousal aid since the first century. Today, research reveals that the trace minerals and antioxidants packed into dark, leafy greens are essential for our sexual health because they help block absorption of some of the environmental contaminants thought to negatively impacting our libido.

Watermelon and Argula Salad

8. Figs

 These funny-shaped fruits have a long history of being a fertility booster, and they make an excellent aphrodisiac because they are packed with both soluble and insoluble fiber, which is important for heart health. Plus, high-fiber foods help fill you up, not out, so it’s easier to achieve that sexy bottom line—or belly.

9. Citrus

Any member of this tropical fruit family is super-rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and folic acid—all of which are essential for men’s reproductive health. Enjoy a romantic salad that incorporates citrus, like pink grapefruit or mandarin oranges, or use a dressing made with lemon and lime.

Adapted from Dr. Walt Larimore's blog on Seven Foods for Better Sex