Food has long been used to increase sexual desire (hey, a healthy pour of wine never hurt, either), but did you know there are foods that can actually improve your performance?
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
Let us put it this way, your mom knew the benefits of green vegetables way before you did. If you are diagnosed with low test levels, you should have listened to your mom when she tried to feed you some healthy cruciferous vegetables.
Increasing the amount of broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower in your diet rids the body of excess estrogen, thus increasing testosterone. A study found that diets high in indole-3-carbinol, a component of cruciferous vegetables, increases the excretion of estradiol (one of the most important estrogen hormones) in men by up to 50 percent.
Crucifers are also high in fiber, which can help with weight control, and losing weight can also increase your body’s production of testosterone.
SPINACH
Come to think of it, Popeye and Olive Oyl were always chasing one another around. Eating spinach puts you in the mood by increasing blood flow below the belt. "Spinach is rich in magnesium, a mineral that decreases inflammation in blood vessels, increasing blood flow," explains Cassie Bjork, RD, LD of Healthy Simple Life. "Increased blood flow drives blood to the extremities, which, like Viagra, can increase arousal and make sex more pleasurable," says psychotherapist and sex expert Tammy Nelson Ph.D. "Women will find it is easier to have an orgasm, and men will find that erections come more naturally." So, you could reach for one of these heart-shaped boxes of chocolates from our list of Best and Worst Valentine's Day Candy in America, or you can make each other swoon with spinach! Or both, because...see the next one!
DARK CHOCOLATE
Chocolate increases both serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, making us happy and lowering our stress level—both "mood" boosters if you know what we mean. Another theory is that cocoa increases blood flow through the arteries and relaxes blood vessels—sending blood to all the right regions. Whatever the reason, chocolate is never a bad thing.
EGG YOLKS
Eggs yolks aren’t given their fair share of credit as compared to the egg whites when it comes to their benefits. Egg yolks are another rich source of vitamin D. While cholesterol has a bad reputation, egg yolk contains more nutrients than egg whites.
The cholesterol of egg yolks may even help people with low testosterone levels. As long as you don’t have any preexisting cholesterol issues, you can safely eat one egg per day. If you ever questioned it, eggs really do have a sunny side.
GARLIC
The allicin compound found in garlic lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, in turn allowing testosterone to do its stuff. Eat it raw for best effects.
BANANAS
The bromelain enzyme in bananas helps boost testosterone levels. And it’s a slow-release energy source too… perfect for a night of passion.
POMEGRANATE
Some say it was the Biblical forbidden fruit, and old Adam could have done a lot worse. The International Journal of Impotence Research reports that 47% of impotent men found their condition improved after a daily glass of antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice.
WATERMELON
Scientists at Texas A&M University discovered that watermelons contain an amino acid called citrulline, which is converted into arginine in the body. The result? Boosted blood flow, making this tasty fruit a natural Viagra alternative.