iStockphotoAdvertisement - Continue Reading BelowSpanish fly. Rhinoceros horn. Phallic-looking foods. Throughout history, people have gone to a lot of trouble—not to mention putting their health in danger, in some cases—trying to find libido boosters to improve their sex lives. Today pleasure seekers have it easier because, as it turns out, the grocery store is the perfect place to find natural aphrodisiacs. Bonus: In addition to making sex a little steamier, nearly all these foods have health benefits beyond the bedroom.
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Chocolate
This dark, delicious dessert has long been associated with indulgence, but that's not the only reason chocolate puts you and your guy in a sensual mood. The treat contains caffeine, which helps perk you up and also boosts serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness, according to Kerry Neville, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
"Chocolate brings on feelings of euphoria—like in the movie Chocolat," says Jennifer Berman, MD, a urologist and director of female urology and sexual medicine at the Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center in Beverly Hills, Calif. "It's a psycho-stimulant so it has an arousal effect." That's because chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a chemical with an amphetamine-like affect that temporarily mimics feelings of falling in love. In fact, a 2007 British study found that letting chocolate melt in your mouth is more stimulating and raised heart rates more than kissing. Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, is also loaded with antioxidants that improve circulation and lower cholesterol. Photo: iStockphoto
2. Pumpkin Pie
The next time you want to seduce a guy, bake a pumpkin pie. A study that measured blood flow south of the border in men ages 18 to 64 found that the scent of pumpkin pie rated the highest response—a 40 percent increase to be exact, according to Alan R. Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago and author of Scentsational Sex. Lavender rated equally high, while close runners-up included donuts and black licorice, which boosted blood flow to men's nether regions by more than 31 percent. As surprising as it may seem, when it comes to sex, scent offers a greater libido lift than ingestion: "Ninety percent of what people call taste is actually smell," notes Hirsch. "The scent of these foods may reduce anxiety, which helps remove inhibitions." Photo: iStockphoto
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