Superfoods to Increase Your Energy And Libido for Valentine’s Day

Perfect additions to your favorite meals and beverages for the romantic, cozy season

So you eat your leafy greens, berries, and the pasture-raised, organic eggs. You drink the green juice and take vitamin D, magnesium, and zinc.

But you want a little extra…oomf.

I get it.

You want to really enjoy life with your partner or partners rather than overeat and get intoxicated for one annual romantic night. While there are several ways to spruce up your sexual life, the most effective way to do that is to maintain the vigor and vitality in your sexual health.

That is why I’m making this list. These super foods are wonderful additions to your food and beverage regimen to give you the extra super nutrients that you need!

That being said, if you feel like you need extra guidance navigating a healthy eating habit, check out my Medium article about that here!

Maca

This Peruvian plant grows in the Andes and considered to be a cruciferous vegetable, a cousin to broccoli, believe it or not. It has a nutty flavor that makes a delightful addition to lattes, smoothies, soups & stews, tonics.

Maca naturally increases libido compared to a placebo according to a double blind study done at Peruana Cayetano Heredia University.

In fact, maca also may help sexual dysfunction in post menopausal women.

If you’re not experiencing any fertility or libido issues, then maca can still be of use! In another double blind study, maca was shown to improve mood and energy levels.

Sometimes called “Peruvian Ginseng,” maca is a powerful, nutrient-dense adaptogen high in essential amino acids, phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Maca is growing in popularity as protein powders and smoothie shops add it to their ingredient list. It typically comes in powder form and blends well with liquids.

Ashwaganda

This adaptogen is widely used in Ayurveda and is used as an herb to protect the body from stress as well as help the body handle stress.

According to a double blind study, this herb has been shown to decrease cortisol levels in persons under chronic stress, restore adrenal function, and normalize the sympathetic nervous system.

On the other side of the coin, ashwaganda has been used to improve erectile dysfunction in men as well as increase sexual desire and improve sexual dysfunction in women.

Basically…less stress, more sex.

Typically, ashwaganda comes in supplement form alone or infused with other vitamins and minerals.

Green Tea

Green tea contains substantial levels of catechins, which are flavanoids (also referred to as a type of polyphenol). Catechins are wonderful compounds that can reduce mortality from cardiovascular disease and improve gut health due it its anti-inflammatory effects.

While too much green tea over time may diminish testosterone levels, the polyphenols in green tea work as “anti-androgens” in women, which is especially beneficial for postmenopausal women and birthing-age women who are struggling with hormone issues.

Polyphenols have actually been proposed to be an alternative hormonal replacement therapy for postmenopausal women, but more research is needed.

In a balanced quantity, green tea naturally improves energy and alertness due to its caffeine levels, though it certainly has a lower caffeine content than its counterpart morning beverage, coffee.

You can find green tea in the form of loose leaf tea as well as a concentrated matcha powder.

Spinach

Rich in folate, spinach can aid in improving blood flow. Since low folic acid in men may lead to erectile dysfunction, maybe Popeye was onto something with all that cooked spinach.

Spinach is also rich in magnesium, a mineral that stimulates blood flow within the blood vessels and may even boost testosterone levels.

All men and women (and the genders in between), have both estrogen and testosterone in varying amounts. This hormone fuels sex drive, but the Goldilocks paradigm remains: it must be just the right amount.

While green juices are great, opt for consuming the full spinach leaf, preferably organic.

Natural Aphrodisiacs: Are these a legitimate thing?

It’s been rumored that there are these sexual stimulants found in nature, and their legitimacy has remained in question.

Aphrodisiacs typically refer to stimulating sexual desire or the sexual organs themselves.

Dark chocolate, oysters, and strawberries are the popular ones that are frequently mentioned in pop culture in our TV shows and movies.

There is actually no evidence regarding the efficacy of aphrodisiacs.

In the early 1980s, researchers thought they found something on chocolate, particularly the chemical phenyl ethylamine (PEA). PEA is a stimulant for the central nervous system that is thought to help arouse emotions.

However, what was discovered later was the fact that humans absorb very little PEA from chocolate.

There are simply stories embedded within our culture.

The best we can do is support our sexual health with lifestyle, diet, and stress management.