There are many ways to spice up life in the bedroom, and one of them is through food. Your senses of smell and taste are closely tied to what you feel and want. Some foods actually influence sex hormone levels and heart rate.
Oysters
Oysters are perhaps the most well-known aphrodisiac. The 18th century lover Casanova was said to have eaten them every day for breakfast, and a 2009 study published in the "Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences" by DMAB Dissanayake and colleagues found that the zinc that oysters contains boosts sexual activity in male rats. According to an article published in the Australian newspaper "The Age," researcher George Fisher chemically analyzed raw oysters and found that they contained rare amino acids called D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate. When researchers injected these compounds into rats, they increased the production of the sex hormone testosterone in males and progesterone in females. Both hormones can increase sexual desire.
Chili Peppers
Capsaicin is the compound responsible for the "zing" that chili peppers add to curries and other spicy dishes. This compound increases heart rate and triggers the release of endorphins, which give you a natural high. They may also boost libido, according to Discovery Health.
Chocolate
Many people think that chocolate boosts sex drive because it contains a chemical called phenylethylamine, which boosts mood and creates a sense of excitement that could be conducive to lovemaking, according to Discovery Health. However, an article published in the "New York Times" noted that a 130-pound woman would have to eat 25 pounds of chocolate to significantly boost her libido.
