Fresh Food for Thought—and Sex

We're always trying to give you food for thought; this time we want to encourage you to think about the relationship between food and sex. It’s pretty straightforward: Eating healthy foods leads to feeling healthy and feeling healthy both increases the likelihood that you’ll be interested in sex—not to mention that you’ll enjoy it.

There’s no easier time to eat healthfully than harvest season, when fresh fruits and vegetables are plentiful. If you plan ahead, you can turn your quest for healthy eating into a fun activity that brings the two of you closer.

Take some time to choose a menu together, or, if your partner isn’t interested in that step, at least get buy-in for the menu that you’ve chosen. As you and your beloved stroll through the farmer’s market (or grocery store), talk about the associations you each have with fresh foods. In learning why your partner hates blueberries or loves Brussels sprouts, you might hear a childhood story that gives you new insight.

While any fresh fruit or vegetable is good for you, you may want to seek out specific ones. The folic acid in asparagus, for example, increases histamines, which are important to sex drive. Meanwhile, watermelon contains L-citrulline, an amino acid that increases blood flow to sex organs. Peaches do the same thing. And cold-water fish like salmon, anchovies, and oysters are high in omega-3, which improves everything from mood to memory. The avocado has two things going for it: its suggestive shape and the folic acid it contains.

When you have all the ingredients and have found your way home, the real fun begins: You cook together—in more ways than one.