By Donna Moore

Just because your mind is in the mood for sex doesn’t mean your body is ready. Libido is affected by many factors, including diet and overall health. With these foods and recipes, however, you and your partner can sync up your sex drives by eating indulgent and exotic foods like caviar or oysters, or everyday foods like almonds and avocados that secretly work overtime to get you in the mood.

Romantic Recipes

For date night, try out these romantic recipes and ingredients that are ideal for getting your mind and body ready for bed.

1. Foie gras: Foie gras is often associated with decadence, and it’s also a natural libido booster.
2. Wild salmon: Wild salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for circulation and the brain.
3. Caviar: Impress your date with caviar, a first-class food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A, which work together to stimulate testosterone.
4. Low Fat Recipes: Meals that are low in saturated fat are good for overall sexual performance, especially in men, who want to keep their erections.
5. Olive oil: Cook with olive oil, a healthy substitute for saturated fat that still gives your body enough cholesterol to produce testosterone and estrogen.
6. Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes contain Vitamin E, which is a vitamin that is excellent for the heart and libido because it prevents cellular waste, slows down menopausal symptoms and is a source of estrogen.
7. Brown rice: Brown rice contains protein, Vitamin E and is good for your heart, too.
8. Halibut: Fish like halibut are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are good for sexual health in general.
9. Chicken broth: Here you can find a recipe for chicken broth that is loaded with libido-enhancing ingredients like cayenne pepper, onion, chives, tumeric and more.
10. Strawberries: According to this article, strawberries are rich in fiber, which helps blood flow, and vitamin C, which keeps erections strong by fighting free radicals. They’re also a romantic food that go well with chocolate and champagne.

Sources of Zinc and Protein

Protein is one of the main ingredients of the heart-healthy sex diet. It boosts sperm production in men and is also great for increasing your stamina.

11. Oysters: Oysters are rich in zinc, which boosts sperm production, as well as dopamine, which can increase your libido.
12. Avocado: Make guacamole or add avocado to your salad, because this vegetable metabolizes proteins and increases stamina and energy. Avocados also contain potassium and B6, which are good libido-boosters.
13. Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are great sources of zinc, so lay some out as snacks before bed.
14. Oats: Holistic nurse practitioner Ellen Kamhi reveals that oats are wonderful for increasing your sex drive because "they contain zinc, proteins and minerals needed to produce healthy seminal fluids."
15. Figs: Figs are rich in amino acids, which can increase libido.
16. Pine nuts: Pine nuts are another great source of zinc.
17. Dried peaches: Dried peaches have the most Vitamin E of any fruit.
18. Peanut butter: Peanut butter contains dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E and folate.
19. Almonds: Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, protein and zinc, which are all good for helping blood flow, stamina and overall libido.
20. Turkey: Make yourself a turkey sandwich or your date a whole turkey dinner. Turkey is a good source of zinc.

Spices

Add spices like curry, cumin and cayenne pepper to your meals for an instant boost to your blood flow and for heightened sensitivity.

21. Cayenne pepper: You can add cayenne pepper–a warming spice that increases blood flow–to almost any dinner dish, as long as your date is used to hot foods and won’t suffer from indigestion.
22. Chili pepper: Chili pepper improves circulation.
23. Curry: Curry is another spice that warms up your entire body and can make sexual organs more sensitive.
24. Cumin: Cumin is a warm spice that has long been associated with boosting libido.

Beverages

These drinks can also work as aphrodisiacs. Just be careful not to overindulge, or you might feel gassy or lethargic.

25. Skim milk: High in Vitamin E, skim milk can easily be added to cereal, coffee or drunk on its own.
26. Red wine: Red wine promotes blood flow and can instantly boost your desire. Too much can make you sleepy and sloppy, though, so drink in moderation.
27. Champagne: Besides being romantic, champagne is also good for circulation and blood flow.

Easy Snacks

From hard-boiled eggs to granola, this group of snack foods has some surprising aphrodisiacs.

28. Asparagus: Asparagus sometimes gets a bad reputation for making urine smell bad, but if you eat it well ahead of time, it helps with histamine production, which men and women need for orgasms.
29. Bananas: Bananas can instantly boost energy, and they contain the bromelain enzyme, which helps increase men’s libido.
30. Artichokes: Artichokes were apparently considered to be a strong aphrodisiac in the 16th century, and women weren’t even allowed to eat them.
31. Celery: Celery contains androsterone, the same hormone that is released through male perspiration and attracts women.
32. Hard-boiled eggs: Eggs contain B6 and B5, which are especially useful in boosting libido on men and help reduce stress
33. Chocolate: Besides being delicious and a sexy food staple, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, containes antioxidants, serotonin and theobromine, which are stimulants that can improve your mood.
34. Granola: At first, granola doesn’t sound like a sexy food, but mixes full of walnuts, cashews, root vegetables and oatmeal are rich in L-Arginine, which helps male sexual performance.
35. Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon on your yogurt or make your date some cinnamon cookies. Cinnamon is said to be another warming spice.
36. Fruit salad: A Vitamin E-rich fruit salad contains apples, blackberries, apricots, grapes and mangoes.
37. Caffeine: For women, caffeine is being studied as a possible libido booster.
38. Sardines: Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are especially good for increasing male libido.

Herbs

Cook with herbs like maca, basil and ginger to add extra libido enhancers to any meal.

39. Maca: Maca is an herb that improves stamina and endurance, elevates your mood, reduces menopausal symptoms and reduces erection problems.
40. Ginger: Ginger increases circulation in the genital area.
41. Basil: Basil is a warming herb, promotes circulation, and was once considered by the Greeks to be their royal herb.
42. Korean ginseng: Korean ginseng is a natural stimulant and when taken over long periods of time, increases testosterone levels.
43. Yohimbe: This West African herb increases circulation in the genital area in just one hour.
44. Garlic: Garlic, or garlic capsules, works to increase blood flow to your genital area.
45. Saffron: Saffron is rich in picrocrocin, which makes sexual organs more sensitive.

Miscellaneous

For even more aphrodisiacs, check here. You’ll find foods and ingredients like soy, Goji berries and more.

46. Soy: Soy helps women stay lubricated and can lower or even prevent some signs of menopause.
47. Goji berries: According to NaturalNews.com, goji berries "are known as a strong sexual tonic" in Asia, and "they increase testosterone levels, which stimulates libido in both men and women."
48. Ho shou wu leaves: This plant is supposedly high in Lecithin, "which is known to help produce the sexual juice and fluids," according to RaiseLibido.com.
49. Bee pollen: Bee pollen increases sperm count.
50. Raw foods: Raw foods can improve energy, promote weight loss and digestion, and boost your mood.

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