Are Some Foods Killing Your Sex Drive?

Are Some Foods Killing Your Sex Drive?

Aphrodisiacs get plenty of airtime, but not enough is said about foods that could kill your sex drive. These foods influence the balance of sex hormones in your body and could even interfere with normal physiological functions, causing blood pressure to rise and depriving you of a great sexual experience. Watch out for these if you’ve been experiencing some trouble with “getting in the mood.”

Bottle The Water

The bisphenol A (BPA) found in plastic bottles can wreak havoc on your sex life without your even realizing what’s responsible. Researchers have found that excessive exposure to the material, resulting in increased urine BPA levels, can create reduced sexual desire, erectile difficulty, ejaculation problems, and lower satisfaction with sex life.¹ Another study concluded that increased exposure to BPA during a test that lasted 6 weeks caused the count of Leydig cells (responsible for testosterone production) to drop, resulting in a significant dip in levels of the hormone.²

Can The Processed Foods

Salty snacks and brine- or salt-based tinned foods, with high sodium content, can cause your blood pressure to go up. This can adversely impact blood flow to the genital region and dampen your sexual experience. Which is why high blood pressure is implicated as one of the causes of erectile dysfunction.³ When you pick canned foods, look for those where the foods are preserved in their own juices or fresh water instead.⁴

Mind Those Veggies

Try feeling sexy when you’re all windy or feeling bloated – now, that’s a tough ask for anyone! While fiber-rich vegetables are great for digestion and gut health, some vegetables could actually increase bloating or that feeling of gassiness. The National Health Services (NHS) advises against consuming too much cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts, beans, broccoli, and even onions (which could also double up as potential bad breath triggers if they are eaten raw) if you want to cut down wind or bloating in the body.⁵

Trade In That Coffee

The caffeine in a cup of coffee might seem like the ultimate sinful indulgence, but the beverage, especially when consumed in large quantities, can make you anxious. If you have a history of anxiety disorders, avoiding coffee becomes even more important.⁶ And when was the last time someone anxious and jittery made a great partner in bed? Remember, coffee stays in your body for several hours (it takes about 5–6 hours to wear off just half of what you’ve drunk), so it may be wise to skip the coffee on a day you plan to indulge your sexual fantasies.⁷

Bury That Bread

Bread lovers might struggle with being sexually driven in bed, and that’s because of the testosterone-lowering effects of the phytoestrogens in it.⁸ What makes the case against bread even more potent is that all the carbohydrate content (especially if it’s processed grain based) in it can make you feel slow and sluggish.⁹ Pasta, too, has similar effects. So swap your go-to date night favorite of pasta with something healthier and lighter and more libido friendly like a healthy salad.

Avoid Alcohol

Your drinking habit could be impacting your sexual life. If you are a heavy or chronic drinker, alcohol consumption could lead to sexual dysfunction and distress that interfere with your sexual life and libido.¹⁰ As the NHS cautions, what might begin as “brewer’s droop” could escalate into erectile problems, in the long run, so mind how much you drink.¹¹