What to eat to improve your sex life and feel sexier, from berries to whole wheat bread

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What to eat to improve your sex life and feel sexier, from berries to whole wheat bread
Crystal Cox/Business Insider
  • Eating a healthy diet can have major benefits for your sex life, according to experts.
  • Getting enough fiber, fruits, and veggies can improve digestion and blood flow for better orgasms.
  • There's no one size fits all for either healthy diet or good sex, so focus on what works for you.
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With hot vax summer around the corner, many people are sprucing up their Tinder profiles or hitting the gym to kickstart their sex lives.

It's less common for people to focus on sexing up their diet. But what you eat can have a major effect on your overall wellbeing, which includes your sex life. That's regardless of whether you're trying to lose weight, said Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, a sex therapist with two decades of experience.

"The fact that you feel healthy and good in your body makes such a difference in your ability to be physical with someone else," Marcus told Insider. "That doesn't mean you have to be thin."

While a healthy diet can vary, experts say that getting enough fiber, fruits, and vegetables, enjoying your meals, and avoiding extra supplements is a smart strategy for better sex via the kitchen.

Dietary fiber will help you to feel light, and stave off bloating

Fiber, a type of carbohydrate from plant based sources, is not exactly considered sexy.

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However, it's key for the bedroom.

Fiber-rich foods like whole grains (such as whole wheat bread, oats, bulgur), beans (chickpeas), and leafy greens (chard, spinach) help keep energy levels stable by controlling your blood sugar. They also moderate your appetite - essential, since being hangry or full of food can distract from intimacy.

"If you're getting enough fiber, you feel better, you don't feel too full, but also not like you're going to eat somebody's arm," Marcus said. "Think of it as exercising your digestive system so your body is functioning better overall."

Getting enough fiber can also prevent bloating, which can kill the mood.

"Talk about something that's not sexy: it's being constipated," Marcus said.

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Get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies in your diet

Fruits and veggies - high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients - are great for a pro-sex diet.

For erectile performance, urologist Dr. Premal Patel is a fan of the Mediterranean diet, which is full of leafy greens, colorful veggies and antioxidant rich fruits such as berries and grapes. It also features whole grains, lean meats, and healthy fats, which promote a healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels - essentials for men to get and maintain an erection.

Good cardiovascular health is important for people of all genders, too.

"If your blood is flowing well, it's easier to get aroused and have an orgasm," Marcus said.

That's also why sex is often better after exercise, she added.

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Eat foods you enjoy

Be mindful of what foods make you feel sexy, and foods that don't.

For instance, Marcus said she loves a hearty steak dinner, but feels too tired for sex after a good T-bone.

"Focus on what you love that is good for you. Make a list of foods that make you feel happy but also keep you satiated and feeling good," Marcus said.

Don't scrimp on food, though: you want to have the energy to get physical when the mood strikes.

"If you limit your fuel too much, it makes you feel tired and hungry and you're not going to feel like having sex," Marcus said.

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There's no magic food or supplement for great sex

Despite the prevalence of pills, powders, and aphrodisiac foods promising a hotter love life, both Marcus and Patel agreed that none of them are particularly helpful or effective for most people.

"I often don't recommend supplements because I find people are getting enough nutrients in their food that it's not going to make a difference," Patel said.

As for herbal or chemical concoctions, there's just not enough evidence that they work for it to be worth your money. It can also be risky: supplements aren't well regulated, and it may be hard to know what you're actually taking.

Instead, it's best to focus on what works best for your unique needs. Good sex comes from feeling healthy and confident in your body, which varies from person to person.

"Saying there's a one-size-fits-all diet is about the same as telling people there's only one way to have sex. It's bullshit," Marcus said. "The more you can learn about yourself and how you respond, the better."

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