Oysters, chocolate-dipped strawberries, spicy foods – these are only some of the aphrodisiacs you heard of and perhaps tried, just to give your libido a boost. In fact, “been there, done that” has probably been your mantra for as long as you can remember. With crazy lifestyle and tons of responsibilities under your belt, it’s not surprising when your sex drive has gone M-I-A.
You may have always blamed stress, lack of sleep or too much work in the office for your libido gone wrong situation. The good news is there are many ways to give your sex drive a boost. However, it’s not as simple as eating aphrodisiacs or taking libido-boosting pills everyday. The truth is you also need to work on your inner body issues to enable libido-boosting foods to do their jobs properly.
Here are 10 simple but surprising tips to pump up your sex drive.
1. Go For Red Wine
Let’s face it. Alcohol helps you relax and gets you in the mood for some action. However, too much alcohol can ruin your mood and even disrupts your sleep in the middle of the night. The solution? Red wine.
It might sound as a cliché, but having a bottle of Pinot Noir or any other brands of red wine can put a twist to your romantic dinner. According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine, women who drank a glass of red wine daily had higher levels of sexual desire and made them more wet down there, compared to women who didn’t take a sip.
You have to thank the high levels of polyphenols found in red wine. This type of antioxidant can help widen the blood vessels and eventually increase blood flow in your body, particularly in areas down south. However, make sure to stick to just one glass. Too much red wine can kill your sex drive, too.
2. Consider Adrenaline-Pumping Activities
Yes, you read that right. Adrenaline-pumping activities, such as zip lining and bungee jumping can be sexually exciting, well at least according to a study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
Based on the said study, doing something exciting gets your heart pumping, thereby activating your nervous system.
When this happens, you are more likely to get aroused than just lying down or doing nothing. You can even use this energy inside the bedroom once you and your man are ready for some action.
This doesn’t mean you should do heart-pumping activities all the time, since that would be rough on your heart, too. Set aside some time for this type of activities instead of going for the usual dinner-movie dates. It’s fun and can add more life to your relationship.
3. Maximize Your Nose
Did you know that a guy’s scent could turn you on? This is because men emit certain scents that can trigger your brain to feel sexy and get in the mood.
Apparently, going to the gym or a random visit to men’s shower room is not exactly how you want to get aroused. However, your man’s post-workout might just do the trick.
Based on a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, a man’s sweat increases cortisol, aka the stress hormone, and eventually boosts arousal. This is why many sex experts advice working out together – and hitting the showers after – as one of the best ways to get you in the mood for sex.
Yes, the human brain really works in mysterious ways.
4. Get Your Hands Dirty
Figuratively speaking, ladies. Of course, getting your hands dirty is the last thing you have to worry about.
Plus it’s not exactly the perfect recipe for sexual desire. The truth is the sense of touch and other little acts of touching can trigger arousal in surprising ways.
Take the case of holding hands. It may seem like a simple but sweet gesture, but this act already releases a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone boost closeness and yes, it can lead to arousal. Aside from holding hands, get your hands working. Touch your man in other areas of his body to trigger oxytocin and other neurotransmitters responsible for sexual response.
The key here is spontaneity. It keeps everything exciting. Just be discreet, especially when you make use of your hands in public. Oh, come on, you get the picture.
5. Try Yoga
When looking for ways to help you lose weight, some people will say, “Try yoga.” Aside from keeping you lean and more flexible, did you know that yoga could also help boost your libido?
Based on a review published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, yoga helps you more familiar with your body. As a result, you get more in touch with your sexuality, too. It can also increase blood flow down there, which in effect improves your orgasm. The good news is this can benefit all women, not just those with sexual issues.
What are you waiting for? Head over to the nearest studio that offers yoga classes and enroll. You will surely enjoy it, too. The positions can be fun to experiment with inside the bedroom.
6. Kick The Pills
Isn’t it ironic when that one thing that helps you not to get pregnant is also the same thing that robs you of your sex drive?
Pills are okay. However, it alters the body’s production of testosterone, an important hormone to keep your libido up and running. Birth control pills put your ovaries to sleep, thereby affecting ovulation.
Once your ovaries are conked out, there will be issues with testosterone production, too. Plus, the remaining testosterone in your body is useless, no thanks to the potent synthetic estrogen in your pills.
Still, this doesn’t mean you should not use birth control pills. You can switch to other birth control methods, such as condoms or patches, so your libido won’t have to suffer. If you really want pills, then ask your doctor for other brands with lower synthetic estrogen content.
7. Have An Anti-Stress Bucket List
You might have read about this countless times already but it’s worth noting once again: stress is one of the major libido killers for both men and women.
It alters your body in the most destructive way and ends up burning your sex drive deep down.
What is the best way to get away with this? De-stress of course. Here is a simple task for you. On a piece of paper, make a list of your favorite things to do to get rid of stress. It could be whole body massage, or a movie night with your man, or even as simple as baking. Every time stress bothers you, refer to your list and do one or two things to get away from it.
The truth is, stress is something you can’t avoid, or at least difficult to get away with. It’s just a matter of finding ways to handle it and not allow it to take over your body – and your life.
8. Include Green Leafy Veggies In Your Diet
Leafy greens are one of the most important foods to include in your everyday diet. Aside from the many health benefits, did you know that it could give your libido a boost, too?
Green, leafy veggies such as kale, spinach and arugula has high amounts of chlorophyll, which purifies the blood and increases blood flow in important areas, such as what’s down south.
They are also excellent sources of vitamins and minerals that help improve your energy levels. This can be beneficial, especially when you need added push during sexy time.
More importantly, leafy greens keep you healthy and your weight in check, too. It’s a win-win situation for everybody.
9. Ooh, Chocolate
Admit it. You’ve always loved to eat chocolate, for as long as you can remember. The good news is, if you are looking for ways to boost your libido, then chocolate might be of great help.
For centuries, chocolate has served as a symbol of desire. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition posted a study that said chocolate releases serotonin and phenylethylamine, which are capable of producing mood-lifting and aphrodisiac affects.
Some experts argue that the effects of chocolate to your libido is more of psychological rather than biological. Still, it won’t hurt if you take a bite or two before the act itself, don’t you think?
10. Keep Your Relationship In Check
Seriously, are you in the mood for some action when you’re mad at your man? Heck, no. Women are emotional and value emotional closeness before sex. Hence, any unresolved conflicts can take a toll on your sex life, too.
It won’t hurt if you take time to sit down and discuss your issues to air them out and get rid of them. In order to build trust, you need to keep communication lines open, too. This prevents resentment building up towards each other, since you discussed your issues as an adult and in a mature manner. Eventually, communication can breed better relationships, and yes, an improved sex life.
There are tons of ways to keep your sex drive in check. It may be a trial and error process since what works for others may not work for you. In case you need to give your libido a boost, just take note of these tips. One – or more of them – may be helpful.