Sexual health is not only a state of social, emotional and mental well-being tied to your sexuality. It has a physical component as well, and a large part of your physical health is connected to the foods you eat. While there may not be a specific diet that can enhance everyone's sex life, you can enhance the way you feel with food, which often translates into better sexual health.
Balance
One of the most important facets of diet in relation to men's sexual health is balance. A well-balanced diet improves your strength, energy and physical condition. All of which can affect your sexual health, according to the Mayo Clinic. Just think about how you feel after eating foods that are high in saturated fats, sugars and calories while low in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. After the initial spike in energy, it isn't uncommon to experience some level of discomfort and sluggishness. It should stand to reason that these same feelings will manifest in the bedroom. To combat this, a diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy is your best bet. Not only does it make you feel better, but it inevitably helps your overall health as well as your sexual health.
Heart Health
There's also some indication, according to Robert Fried and Lynn Edlen-Nezin, authors of the book "Great Food, Great Sex," that foods important to heart health can impact your sexual health. The idea is that better health of the heart suggests better health of the blood vessels. When your arteries aren't clogged with fat and cholesterol, your blood flow remains normal, which keeps the genitals in good working order. This means a diet low in fat, cholesterol and salt should help to maintain your sexual health.
Zinc
Besides the importance of a well-balanced diet, your sexual health can also be influenced by your intake of specific minerals. The Mayo Clinic suggests that a deficiency in zinc can contribute to lowered sexual health, namely in regard to erectile function. Before ever turning to sexual aids or supplements, talk to your doctor about increasing the amount of zinc in your diet. But instead of taking zinc in pill form, choose to get this mineral in foods like lean beef, poultry, fish, nuts, bran cereals, bananas, cucumbers, avocados, cauliflower, spinach, sweet potatoes, legumes and low-fat dairy products.
L-Arginine
Another aspect of diet that could affect men's sexual health is l-arginine, according to the Mayo Clinic. This amino acid is said to relax the blood vessels of the body, improving blood flow and thereby allowing more blood to fill the penis at the time of an erection. It's a common ingredient in natural erectile aids. But you can also improve the levels in your body by supplementing your diet with protein-rich foods. Many nuts contain this amino acid, such as Brazil nuts, walnuts and peanuts. It can also be found in beef, pork and poultry as well as seafood, oats, wheat and legumes.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants can play a significant role in men's sexual health. According to Robert Fried and Lynn Edlen-Nezin, the free radicals that can plague the body eventually take a toll on your blood vessels, reducing blood flow and eventually impacting sexual health. By increasing your intake of the antioxidants found in bright colored fruits and vegetables, you clean the cells of your body and reduce the chances of vascular damage, which affects your sexual health.
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