For thousands of years, people have turned to aphrodisiacs to enhance sexual performance and experience greater pleasure. However, it’s worth noting that certain foods can have the opposite effect, diminishing libido and hindering sexual activity. Let’s explore which foods to avoid on days when we plan to engage in sexual activities.
Coffee
Enjoying a cup of coffee is not forbidden, and for many, a morning coffee is a daily ritual. However, excessive coffee consumption can potentially impact your sexual abilities. Caffeine elevates cortisol levels in the human body, a stress hormone that may hinder relaxation and lower libido, affecting your overall sexual experience.
Excessive Salt Intake
Indulging in overly salty snacks, such as french fries or movie popcorn, can lead to increased water retention and bloating in the human body. Adequate blood flow is crucial for orgasm in women and erection in men. Consuming too much salt can impede these processes, making it more challenging to achieve satisfactory results.
Consideration with Fruits
While fruits are among the healthiest food choices, rich in fructose, minerals, and vitamins, they digest rapidly, potentially causing cramping, gas, and general discomfort. It’s advisable to plan fruit consumption with care before engaging in sexual activities.
Alcohol
While alcohol is a widely used legal substance, its consumption for relaxation or inhibition reduction is effective only in moderation. In reality, excessive alcohol intake can adversely affect your sexual life. Wine and beer elevate melatonine levels, also known as the sleep hormone, leading to potential issues such as erectile difficulties, inhibited orgasms, and premature ejaculation.
Mint
Mint is delightful before a kiss, but studies suggest it may dampen desire and energy for a spontaneous encounter. Chewing peppermint gum exacerbates this effect, as swallowing air can lead to increased gas.
Carbonated beverages
If carbonation sensitivity is a concern, it’s advisable to avoid tonic water and sodas before a date. Belching is certainly not the ideal activity during a romantic evening.
Cruciferous vegetables
While cruciferous vegetables are excellent for overall health due to their abundance of phytonutrients, it’s wise to avoid them before intimate moments. Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, while beneficial otherwise, are known to produce methane and may result in excessive gas.
Soy
While increased testosterone boosts the sex drive in both men, excessive soy consumption can lead to hormonal imbalances. Men consuming over 120 milligrams of soy daily may experience a significant decrease in testosterone levels.
So, what should we eat before engaging in sexual activity? It’s crucial to understand how our bodies react to various types of meals so that we can plan our diet on days when we intend to be intimate. In general, eggs are a good choice as they help balance hormones and contribute to a healthier libido. Additionally, incorporating foods rich in zinc, such as oysters and pumpkin seeds, or those high in Omega-3s, like fish and nuts, can also be beneficial.