7 Paleo Foods That Increase Your Sex Drive

Move over, oysters: these seven Paleo foods are the strongest natural aphrodisiacs to increase your sex drive!

Sex hormones help regulate your libido. For women, the two major sex hormones are estrogen and progesterone; for men, the major sex hormone is testosterone. When these hormones are flowing through your body at imbalanced levels, they not only affect your sex drive, they also put you at higher risk for developing coronary artery disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and bone fracture. (1)

Did you know sex hormones are also responsible for regulating your immune system? (2) Your immune system is designed to be one of your first lines of defense against disease, and with today’s lifestyles we unnecessarily take shots at our own defense. Think – making a habit out of anything that gives you stress (3), inhaling all those processed foods you impulse-buy, not getting enough sleep (4), refusing to exercise, etc.

Struggling to lose weight? Unable to focus? Chances are, your hormones are out of whack.
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Unhealthy lifestyle and diet choices can attack your immune system and consequently, diminish your sex drive.

While your libido may thrive during your 20s and 30s with these poor lifestyle habits, the glitz and glam won’t last forever. Unhealthy lifestyle and diet choices can attack your immune system and consequently, diminish your sex drive. There’s no shortage of options when it comes to turning to the medical field for ways to raise your sex drive, but before modern medicine took up your shelves, Mother Nature had gifted us with quite a few edible aphrodisiacs:

1. Watermelon

This dreamy-eyed summer fruit has the power to relax your blood vessels and increase your blood flow, two extremely important factors in boosting your arousal. Watermelon contains an amino acid called citrulline. Citrulline gets converted into another amino acid called arginine which can raise testosterone levels (5), as well as dilate your blood vessels to benefit your heart and circulatory system.

Watermelon rinds have a higher concentration of citrulline than the flesh, so try including the rind the next time you use your juicer if you’re looking to get the citrulline boost. (6) Watermelon is also packed with vitamin B6. Your body puts B6 to work producing feel-good neurotransmitters, or brain communication chemicals, such as dopamine and serotonin.

2. Garlic

There’s nothing like going in for a kiss and getting a mouthful of garlic breath (kidding!). Garlic is a natural blood thinner and possesses high levels of allicin, a chemical compound known to improve blood flow directly to your sexual organs. To maximize these benefits, make sure to chop or crush the garlic into pieces and let it sit around for a while so it has time to release its enzymes. (7)

3. Avocados

Avocados contain vitamin B6, also known to boost progesterone levels and regulate estrogen metabolism in women. Monounsaturated fats found in avocados are known to naturally increase testosterone levels in men.

Another testosterone booster in the green testicle-like mix is vitamin E, which is additionally believed to enhance blood circulation and improve sperm quality and motility. (8) Additionally, avocados are packed with potassium and folic acid which enhance energy and stamina.

4. Meat

Get some meat on your plate to get a surge in your carnitine, arginine, and zinc intake. Zinc regulates estrogen, helps increase progesterone, and raises testosterone. Zinc is also a crucial player regulating dopamine, one of your neurological messengers for sexual desire.

Carnitine and arginine are important amino acids that get your blood flowing, boost your sexual responses, and have effectively treated erectile dysfunction. (9) However, be aware of your meat sources, as other components could outweigh these benefits. (10) Make sure you opt for grass-fed, organic meat that’s free of antibiotics and added hormones when possible. Moderation is also key.

5. Chocolate

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine or “PEA” – PEA is a psycho-stimulant that has the ability to imitate the feeling of falling in love or sensations of euphoria. PEA is the key to releasing norepinephrine and dopamine, chemicals that are imperative to pleasure and excitement. (11)

Methylxanthines found in chocolate increase your body’s sensitivity to help get your buttons pushed; arginine is present in chocolate as well. Eat with caution, however; not all chocolate is created equal. The more processed the chocolate (i.e. through alkalizing, fermenting, roasting, and other means), the more of the good stuff will have evaporated. Raw cacao and dark chocolate are the best in terms of minimal processing.

6. Figs

Voted favorite fruit by Cleopatra, figs are high in magnesium, a key ingredient in estrogen and androgen (testosterone is a type of androgen) production, as well as dopamine production. Figs are high in tryptophan, the precursor to serotonin, and aids increased pheromone secretion that trigger sexual attraction.

7. Honey

Honey contains boron, a mineral that helps increase testosterone levels in men and facilitates estrogen use in women. You can also find high vitamin B6 content in honey that’s good for your libido-related neurotransmitters and hormones. Try drizzling some of this sticky, sweet sensation onto your figs.

(Read This Next: The 10 Best-Hormone Balancing Foods)