The Surprising Ways Food May Be Affecting Your Sex Life

Food is a significant part of overall health, making it no surprise that your diet may have an effect -- good or bad -- on your sex life. While adjusting your eating habits may not be a cure-all for sexual issues, it is worth learning about the different ways food may be affecting your sex life.

How Can Food Affect Your Sex Life?

Here, we'll break down three areas to pay attention to when it comes to food and sex.

1. Diet

Fueling your body with a well-balanced diet and nutrient-dense foods can help boost your energy and mood and support a healthy sex life.

For otpimal health, try eating a diet that is:

• Focused on whole, unprocessed foods

• Rich in fruits and vegetables

• Rich in a variety of whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes

• Low in added sugar and sodium

• Low in trans fats

2. Supplements

Certain supplements are believed to play a role in enhancing sexual performance. Arginine, an important amino acid, also known as L-arginine, is used by the body to make nitric oxide and relax blood vessles, promoting good blood flow. For a man, good blood flow is important for a healthy erection.

When taken as a supplement, L-Arginine is broken down in the intestines before reaching the bloodstream. Another amino acid, L-citrulline, gets converted to arginine in the body and may be worth researching as well.

Both of these amino acids naturally in foods. L-citrulline is found in foods such as watermelon. Arginine is also found in foods such as:

• Leafy vegetables

• Walnuts

• Fish

• Whey

• Fruits

• Almonds

Zinc is another important nutrient to consider in the role of sexual function. The link between sexual health and zinc needs further study, but zinc appears to have an effect on testosterone production. It is also a crucial part of semen and sperm development in men.

Oysters are nature’s richest source of zinc, making them a well-known natural aphrodisiac.

*Always check with your healthcare provider before consuming any supplements.*

3. Alcohol

Drinking alcohol can produce negative effects when it comes to sexual acitivity such as:

• Lowered sexual inhibitions

• Increased susceptiblity to risky sexual behaviour

• Increased risk of chronic or acute erectile dysfunction

• Decreased genital response and sensation

While this doesn't mean you have to avoid alcohol entirely, it is important to be aware of its potential effects and do not rely on it to improve your sex life.

4. Food-Related Conflicts and Habits

You and your partner may see mealtime as a time to relax, unwind, and bond, but for some couples different food habits or preferences can be a source of stress in a relationship.

To work on building trust and intimacy, talk openly and gently with your partner about any potential issues surrounding your views on food. Sources of potential food-related conflicts in couples incude:

• Tensions between an adventurous and a picky eater

• Religious dietary restrictions or beliefs

• Cultural differences

• Tension between a vegetarian or vegan and an omnivore

• Disordered eating

5. Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is tied to self-esteem for many people. While I deeply believe in embracing and loving your body *exactly* as it is, I also believe in respecting, nourishing, savoring, and treating your body with love through a nutrient-dense diet and regular exercise.

Eating a balanced diet, participating in regular physical activity, and maintaing a healthy weight can all have a postive impact on your sex life and overall health.

If your partner is trying to lose weight, offer them support, do not criticize their food choices, and help them get active by participating in fun phsyical activities together. Don't forget - sex can be a fun way to get a dose of activity!

6. Diet-Related Health Conditions

Many diet-related health conditions can have a negative impact on your sex life, as well as your overall quality of life and health. Pay attention to your health, work with your doctor, and take the necessary steps to prevent and treat diet-related health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Your health and your sex life will thank you!

6 Tips For Using Food Into the Bedroom

And, of course, this article wouldn't be complete with adding some ways to use food IN the bedroom to add some fun and creativity to your sex life.

So how do you get started using food in the bedroom? Here are our top tips for using food as the sexiest foreplay ever.

1. Have Fun

When incorporating food in the bedroom, get creative, let go, and have some fun with it! Don't be afraid to get a little messy, laugh, and experiment with what you and your partner like best. And, most importantly, check in with your partner often and communicate openly with each other if something just isn't working or feeling comfortable.

2. Keep It Light

When using food in the bedroom, think of the food as the appetizer and sex as the main course. Stick to light, sweet foods that are easy to work with and avoid savory or spicy foods.

Also, remember that a little goes a long way and eating too much may cause sluggishness or a sugar crash.

3. Protect Your Sensitive Areas

Unless you are using plain ice, it is generally safest to keep food away from genital areas to avoid the potential for skin irritation or infections.

4. Engage Each of Your Senses

Think food in the bedroom is all about tasting? While that is certainly a benefit, don't forget about other senses such as smell and touch.

Pay attention to how something feels on your skin, enjoy the smell of fresh cut strawberries, or focus on the invigorating sensation of an ice cube being lightly rubbed down your inner thigh.

Along with running food items over sensitive zones such as the lips, nipples, neck, and earlobes, don't forget to massage, caress, and stroke your partner (all over) with your hands.

5. Get Creative

While licking food off of your partner is a common -- and fun! -- way to use food in the bedroom, try other techniques as well. Suck cream or honey off your partner's finger, nibble gently, and use your hands to sensually feed each other goodies.

6. Come Prepared

Here are some tips for preparing your space before getting sexy with food:

• Lay down towels or use old sheets you won't mind getting messy

• Have wet wipes on hand for easy clean up (or consider taking a shower together after)

• Prepare any food or fruit beforehand (i.e. have fruit cut up and on hand in a bowel)

• Keep other sexy must-haves on hand such as your favorite sex toys, lube, and condoms

The Healthiest Foods To Use in the Bedroom

Along with including healthy foods in your diet, some healthy foods also make a sexy addition to the bedroom! Here are some of our favourite foods to use in the bedroom.

1. Strawberries - Naturally sweet, compact, delicious, easy to feed to your partner, and perfect for pairing with other sexy foods such as melted chocolate. Make sure to prep them beforehand by washing them and trimming off the stems.

2. Dark Chocolate - Yes, it's a bit messy, but melted chocolate is sexy and perfect for drizzling over your partner, licking off your partner, or dipping fruit in. Bonus points for using dark chocolate as it contains antioxidants and is naturally lower in sugar than its milk chocolate counterpart.

3. Bananas - With their phallic shape, bananas are definitely a sexy addition to the bedroom. They also require almost no prep work, are delicious, and can provide a healthy boost of energy for a long session in the bedroom!

5. Cherries - Cherries are a superfood - and super fun in the bedroom! Take turns with your partner trying to tie the stem with your tongue. The only drawback to be considerate of with cherries is the pits. Make sure to prep them beforehand by de-pitting them.

6. Melons - Prepped beforehand, melon can be a juicy, hydrating, delicious snack to feed your patner. Basically anything bite size that you lean back and open your mouth for your partner to feed you can be sexy.

7. Whipped Cream - Okay, whip cream may not the healthiest, but we are including it anyway since whipped cream is one of the sexiest foods of all time. Plus, if you pair it with fruit, you can still get a dose of vitamins and minerals -- so we'll count it as healthy in that case!

Whipped cream is perfect for licking off your favourite spots on your partner such as inner thighs, fingers, mouth, nipples, lips -- whatever suits your fancy! On a side note, whip cream is best to use up rather quickly as it doesn't take long for it to get watery and odd smelling - not exactly a mood enhancer!

Final Thoughts

Do you notice a difference in your sex life based on your diet or activity level? Have you ever used food in the bedroom?

I'd love to hear from you in the comments or you can ask questions or post about your experience with food in the bedroom in my private, free Facebook group dedicated to all things sex, women, and empowerment.

Wishing you self-love and wellness!