Forget Viagra—just eat watermelon! Or skip the lube and get your juices flowing the natural way by consuming more avocados. That’s just part of the surprising advice offered up by Doctors Anna Maria and Brian Clement, authors of the new book 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality.

The Clements say a diet rich in raw foods positively affects our sex drive and reproductive systems because they contain nutrients that boost hormone production and blood flow. So get ready to stock your fridges with these sexually-charged superfoods…

Here are eight surprising facts about raw foods and sex!
Whole-grain bread
1. Grains Help Hormones

Forget that low-carb diet. Need a reason to eat more bread? “Sprouted grains and whole-grain breads help your hormone production because they contain b-complex vitamins that relax all systems in the body, increase your libido, and are important to the production of hormones in both women and men,” the Clements say.

2. Niacin Heightens Sensitivity

Foods such as avocados, artichokes, cantaloupe, and spinach heighten sensitivity during sex because they contain niacin, otherwise known as vitamin B3. According to the Clements, “Niacin allows blood flow to all organ and glandular systems and increases cellular activity, heightening sensitivity during the sexual experience.”

3. Vitamin E: The "Sex Vitamin"

Sweet potatoes, raspberries, alfalfa sprouts, carrots, and most nuts contain the so-called ‘sex vitamin.’

“Vitamin E is known in the world of nutrients as a sex vitamin because it increases the libido for both sexes and heightens desire, sensitivity, and longevity. These foods should be consumed two to three hours before sexual activity,” the Clements advise.

4. A Super Salad for Sexual Pleasure

“Germinated nuts, seeds, grains, and beans can aid in sexual pleasure because these foods contain essential fatty acids, which are vital for sexual desire, sensitivity, and pleasure,” the Clements say.
Since the average person’s diet includes less than 20 percent of the necessary essential fatty acids, the Clements suggest incorporating these nutrients into your diet with a salad that’s chock full of beneficial ingredients:

    Base: A mix of ‘super’ greens like mustard greens, spinach, baby kale, and pea greens
    Toppings: Chopped scallions, dried apricots, avocado, zucchini, chopped broccoli, walnuts, chia sprouts, pumpkin seeds
    Dressing (combine in blender): 4 Tbsp. lemon juice, 1 garlic clove

5. D is for Desire
 

Vitamin D is a necessary part of every sexually healthy person’s diet, as the nutrient is important for the development of all cells, protects against mutagenic factors, and regulates moods, the Clements say. “Snacking on dry shiitake mushrooms and chicory weed will give you the boost of vitamin D needed to restore your sexual vitality.”

6. Sprouts for Stimulation

Did you know that dill can increase egg production and the desire for intimacy? The Clements say consuming three to five ounces an hour before sex will help stimulate hormones. The same can be said for lentil sprouts, black raspberries (eat 10 about two hours before sex for increased endurance), Acai fruit, Brazil nuts, broccoli, figs, Goji berries, kale, and sprouts.


7. Zinc for More Sensation

Leafy green vegetables, wheatgrass, and pumpkin seed sprouts aid in clitoris sensitivity because these foods contain Zinc, which is an essential nutrient for immune system function. “Zinc deficiencies are widespread today due to stress levels, so it’s important to incorporate zinc-rich foods into your diet,” the Clements say. And less stress will also lead to better sex!


8. Watermelon: The New Viagra

While about 92 percent of watermelon is made up of water, the remaining eight percent is loaded with rich nutrients for sexual health. “Watermelon contains a compound called citrulline, which the body converts to arginine. Arginine relaxes blood vessels in the body in the same way Viagra does, ultimately increasing libido,” the authors say.