How to spice up your sex life with foods

*From watermelon to ginger, seven foods to get you in the mood

WHAT TO AVOID
1. ALCOHOL
It may be a go-to option for a date night, to boost confidence. But Flower warns to keep tipples to a minimum. “Whilst alcohol can remove any inhibitions, it can also affect our performance. A drink or two can relax and get us in the mood, we don’t want to get too inebriated!”

2. CAFFEINE
One of the worst culprits for a crushed libido is tension. When we are dehydrated we get irritable, lethargic, and hungry. Too much coffee and you’re setting your body up for just that. “This is very dehydrating but can also affect your adrenal glands,” Flower warns.

3. SMOKING
Blood flow is key for men and women, as sexual stimulation sends blood rushing to the sexual organs. Cigarettes, however, make everything move a bit slower. “This not only damages our lungs but also affects blood flow and general repair of the body,” Flower warns. She adds: “It is also a big turn off to kiss a smoker if you don’t smoke!”

FOODS TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD
1. DARK CHOCOLATE
Chocolate-lovers rejoice, there is a whole world of reasons to eat dark chocolate ahead of your intimate night in. “As well as boosting blood flow, dark chocolate also increases the feel-good hormones serotonin and dopamine,” Flower explains. “This helps to lower stress and relax us. The two combined make this chocolate the ideal choice for a great night in.”

2. BEE POLLEN
It is an unusual ingredient that can increasingly be found in bourgeois restaurants, cafes, and bakeries, sprinkled on acai bowls or blended into granola. But the breakfast-y food could also help detox you of energy-draining toxins. “Bee pollen is shown to help increase sexual activity and boost energy,” Flower says. “It is packed full of protein, carotene and flavonoids which can help remove free radicals from the body.”

3. OYSTERS
Oysters have a reputation of being a libido booster. And for good reason. According to Flower there is much to be said about the shape and texture of oysters, which can be stimulating alone. From a nutritional standpoint, they contain the magic ingredients for boosting libido: zinc, as well as amino acids D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate. For men, zinc helps with the production of testosterone, and scores of studies have linked zinc deficiency with erectile dysfunction. For women, zinc deficiency has been tied to vaginal dryness. A boost in D-aspartic acid helps men to boost their testosterone levels. It is naturally found neuroendocrine tissues, and signals to the brain when there is a decreased level of testosterone in the blood stream. The testes and pituitary gland will then trap the D-aspartic acid circulating in the blood stream, and then trigger the release of testosterone.

4. WATERMELON
You wouldn’t have thought it, but this large red fruit has a similar effect on the male body as the all-important small blue pill. As well as being rich in lycopene, watermelon also contains citrulline, which converts to the amino acid Arginine. This helps relax blood vessels, similar to the way Viagra works, Flower explains.
It is also hydrating, which helps fight lethargy. Try finishing off your date-night dinner with a watermelon salad to get your blood moving.

5. GINGER
“Known more to help with nausea and to aid circulation, ginger also increases sex drive,” Flower says. Try some ginger tea, or grate a little ginger into a spicy curry alongside chili.

6. CHILI
Turn up the heat by adding some spice to your meals. Chilies help speed up the metabolism, increase blood flow, plump your lips and releases feel good endorphins. Combine chili with dark chocolate to get the ultimate stimulation.

7. FIGS
“These are said to stimulate fertility and the secretion of pheromones,” Flower says.