Though we all know academic studies aren’t necessarily without flaws, there’s research that shows meat eaters have more sex than vegetarians. One in particular suggested 42 percent of regular meat eaters have sex once a week or more, compared to 16 percent of vegetarians.
Take it with a grain of salt, however, certain foods are known to increase your libido, due to their nutritional value, and specifically to their role in helping increase blood flow.
Here are 7 of them:
They’re rich in Vitamin B5 and B6. These vitamins are helpful for both balancing hormone levels and reducing stress, both of which are linked to a healthy sex drive.
Slurp back those oysters: They’re aphrodisiacs.
You’ve probably heard that one before, but if raw oysters aren’t your thing, other seafood like clams and scallops are have compounds in them that raise both testosterone and estrogen levels in the body.
Chicken has carnitine in it, an amino acid, that’s helpful in improving blood flow—a key to sexual arousal in both men and women.
It has fatty acids and Omega 3s, both useful in promoting a healthy heart and stopping plaque from building up in your arteries. This goes a long way in helping promote a healthy libido. Not only that, but Omega 3s are also known to increase dopamine levels in the brain, which is linked to sexual arousal.
OK vegans, we’ll give you a couple: Many nuts, like almonds are high in zinc, which boosts blood flow in the body. Meanwhile other nuts like walnuts and sunflower seeds have arginine in them, which are known to help with erectile dysfunction. Walnuts are also known to improve sperm quality.
It might give you more than just liquid courage: It has been shown to increase sexual desire in women specifically. And it has antioxidants known to improve blood vessel health.
A stimulant, coffee can help stimulate the brain to heighten arrousal. As a humorous anecdote, one rat study found coffee to heighten the sexual motivation in female rats…
And if you don’t believe any of the above foods will make a difference in your libido, there’s another proven way: Working out—the whole boosting endorphins and testosterone and mood idea, and reducing depression and stress, and generally just helping your body function the way it should.
So yeah: The gym. And eggs and chicken and walnuts, and guilt-free red wine. And boom!