“Tyomi, How can I boost my sex drive naturally?”

It’s a question I receive often from eager women and men looking to enhance their desire for sex.  Sex can be a tricky thing because the desire to get it on is controlled not only by physiological and psychological factors, but environmental factors as well.  How you feel mentally, how your body is maintaining physically and the environment around you can play a role on how high your sex drive is.

One area of improvement that I often receive requests for is in the area of diet. How one eats can have an effect on the libido naturally.  There are dozens of supplements and prescriptions on the market that advertise their ability to increase the libido by boosting hormone levels, inducing serotonin production or increasing blood flow to the genitals, but many are wary about putting these things into their bodies.  Fortunately, nature has provided everything we need to heal ourselves and to help our bodies function at their best.

If you’ve ever had a question about foods that can help with boosting the libido naturally, then you’re in luck.  There are several foods that can be eaten raw or cooked within a short amount of time that can help any healthy man or woman experience a difference in the levels of his or her sexual energy. I call this the “better sex diet.”  This way of eating incorporates fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, certain herbs and spices that have been proven to have healing effects on the body and sex drive.

Before getting into what we should be eating to help our bodies maintain normal levels of sexual energy, let’s take a look at the common foodie mistakes that maybe suppressing your sex drive.

Foods That Hinder Your Libido

The desire, and eventual implementation of great sex all begins with having good health, and good health begins with what you put into your body.  The processed, boxed foods that have overtaken the shelves of today’s grocery stores are filled with preservatives and refined sugars that often place the body’s systems into overdrive when trying to find nutrients to store away for energy and overall maintenance.

When your digestive system is working diligently to break down poor quality foods, the libido takes a back seat.  A diet rich in foods high in fat, preservatives, refined sugars, sodium and the like can hinder the body’s ability to function at its optimum level and drastically reduce the libido. So that ice cream you can’t get enough of, those Little Debbie snacks that call your name in the middle of the night, those Swanson dinners you take to work as your lunchtime meal and those sugary drinks you just can’t seem to live without could be dampening your sex drive.

Fruits From the Vine

Fresh fruit derived from organic sources help with moistening Yin (feminine) energy and enhancing the life-bearing properties of Yang (masculine) energy.  Both Yin and Yang energy composes life force energy that is essentially sexual energy. When this energy is fed with the enzymes, antioxidants and alkaline properties of these foods, balance can be established that is healthy for maintaining a normal level of sexual energy and intimacy.

Apples, bananas, berries, cherries, coconuts, mangos, peaches, plums and watermelon are just a few fruits that have been placed on the “better sex diet” list for their known aphrodisiac abilities to bring vitality to the kidneys (known as the control center for sexual vitality and mental energy).  By adding these fruits into your diet whether as standalone snacks, garnishes on salads or in morning smoothies, you can help the body obtain the nutrients it needs to maintain a healthy balance within your sexual energy.

Vegetables From the Garden

Not all vegetables are created equal, but the ones that have made it to the “better sex diet” list are praised for their detoxifying, alkalinizing and diuretic properties. Asparagus, cabbage, celery and leafy greens are potent diuretics that help with improving blood flow and circulation throughout the body and assist in bringing the body into the ideal alkaline state.  When the body is brought into the perfect alkaline balance, the immune system is boosted, the thyroid gland is able to function properly and all of the body’s systems work in harmony enabling the libido to take its rightful place in encouraging sexual desire.

Okra and carrots are vegetables that are known to help with balancing libido thanks to their high amounts of beta-carotene, and seaweed is abundant in nutrients and minerals that support the entire endocrine system, thereby supporting libido, boosting metabolism and strengthening the kidneys. Avocado in itself is a traditional remedy for erectile dysfunction and shitake mushrooms are regarded in oriental medicine as a super immune tonic food that can help open women up to love.  Try combining a few of these vegetables in natural fruit juices for a breakfast (carrot, celery, apple juice for example), or creating salads using leafy green veggies or slaw using cabbage and avocado.

Whole Grains

It’s a little known fact, but whole grains such as oats, barley, corn, millet and rice (including wild) contain both male and female energies and universally represent abundance and fertility.  Adding these grains to a daily diet will help with balancing blood sugar levels and reducing cholesterol.  Seed-like grains such as quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are also on the “better sex diet” list and are perfect alternatives for those with wheat sensitivity and are high in protein.  Quinoa can be used as the base of a protein-rich breakfast cereal topped with berries, and wild rice can be used as the perfect side dish.

Seafood

Salmon, herring, mackerel tuna, sardines and anchovies are fish rich in fatty acids that help build the body’s lubrication systems and promote the production of several hormones. Oily fish has been known to support the health of the kidneys that govern sexuality, so having a serving of any of the mentioned sea creatures can help with balancing sexual energy.  If seafood doesn’t sit well on your stomach or causes a food allergy, taking a fish oil supplement can work just as well.  Oysters are often regarded as an aphrodisiac because of their high levels of zinc, protein, phosphorus, selenium and mucopolysaccharides which improve tissue elasticity and aid in boosting the output of seminal fluids.

Herbs

Cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cumin and turmeric are spices rich in color and potent in their abilities to increase blood circulation and warm up the body to help increase sexual desire.  These spices can be used to liven up many dishes from breakfast cereals to hearty meat dishes that need a kick of flavor. These are just a few herbs that can help in boosting libido naturally.

There are dozens of other nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables and herbs on the “better sex diet” list, but the ones mentioned are common foods that can be found at any local grocery or health food store to get you started.  Many often complain about the high prices of organic produce and whole grains, but by simply adding a bowl of fruit, a side salad or a fresh juice into your daily diet, a healthy adult who also adds daily movement, proper rest and high water intake can experience the boost in his or her libido that is desired.  Say no to processed foods and begin feeding your body the “live foods” it craves.  Your sex life will be all the better for it.

Source: The Sexual Herbal: Prescriptions for Enhancing Love and Passion.

Glamazon Tyomi is a freelance writer, model and sex educator with a deeply rooted passion for spreading the message of sex positivity and encouraging the masses to embrace their sexuality. Her website, www.glamerotica101.com, reaches internationally as a source for advice and information for the sexually active/curious. Follow her on Twitter at @glamazontyomi