If we said that your diet can boost your sex appeal, what would you think? You’d probably imagine the positive cumulative effect of thoughtful choices on your waistline, abs, skin, hair and mood. All that, of course, is true. But certain foods can also play a role in your attractiveness in a much more immediate way - we’re talking about food’s effect on pheromones: the chemicals we excrete in our sweat, saliva and other body fluids that have a social or sexual effect.
Yes, by eating certain foods, men may invisibly broadcast that they’re worth getting to know, in the biblical sense. The hormones androstenone and androstenol, which give off scents that may attract others, exist in a handful of foods that can be found at any supermarket or restaurant. If you’re a man, try eating the following three, and see if anything interesting happens. If you’re a woman who finds a man inexplicably irresistible, check what he just ate.
Truffles themselves are devilish pricey - selling for about $100 per ounce - but truffle oil also contains the pheromones, and it’s part of the esteemed Mediterranean diet. Give it a whirl yourself, but be warned: 25% of people can’t detect androstenone, and 40% of people are too sensitive to androstenol and find it foul smelling. The remaining 35% may find you wildly attractive. Research from Rockefeller University, revealed that this is mostly due to to genetic variations in a single odorant receptor called OR7D4. So now you know.
The third food with high concentrations of androstenol are parsnips, the long, ugly, light brown veggies that taste like a carrot-potato hybrid. Far cheaper than truffles, parsnips have the added advantage of containing boron, which has been shown to help the body metabolize and use estrogen and enhance blood levels of testosterone. Plus, root vegetables like parsnips are rich in folate, as well as vitamins A and C, and studies have found they boost blood flow to the brain.
The secret to healthy sperm? Carrots! Or so suggests a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility that analyzed the effect of various fruit and vegetables on sperm quality discovered carrots had the best all-round results on sperm count and motility - a term used to describe the ability of sperm to swim towards an egg. Men who ate the most carrots saw improved sperm performance by 6.5 to 8 percent. The Harvard researchers attribute the boost to carotenoids, powerful antioxidative compounds in carrots that help the body make vitamin A.
2. Tomatoes
Double down on the marinara to protect your manhood. Men who eat over 10 servings of tomatoes each week have an 18 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer - the result of lycopene, an antioxidant which fights off toxins that can cause DNA and cell damage - a study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found. A previous study found the garden vegetable could also improve sperm morphology (shape); men with the highest tomato intake contributed to between 8 and 10 per cent more ‘normal’ sperm.
3. Coffee
A cup of morning coffee certainly has its, er … perks. Men who consumed between 85 and 170 milligrams of caffeine a day - the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee - were 42 percent less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers attribute the benefits to caffeine's relaxing effect on the arteries, which improves blood flow to the penis. Make it two cups of joe tomorrow morning. How hard is that?
Some like it hot, and the guys that do tend to be more virile, or so suggests a recent study by French researchers. They found that men who eat the most spicy foods tend to have higher testosterone levels than those with milder palates. Study authors attribute the T-boosting effects in part to capsaicin, a compound in chilies that previous research has associated with increased testosterone levels. Seriously spicy serrano peppers are also packed with quercetin, a nutrient shown to boost testosterone levels in the body by reducing the amount that's otherwise flushed out by the kidneys.
6. Fish
Forget the meet market and the meat market. Men looking to boost their sperm quality should head to the fish counter instead, research suggests. Sperm size and shape - one marker used to evaluate male infertility - was better in men who ate the most white meat fish as compared to men who ate the least, a study published in The Journal of Nutrition showed. And total sperm count was about 34 percent higher among men who ate the most dark meat fish, like salmon and tuna, than men who ate the least amount of fish. Meanwhile, men who reported eating one to three servings of processed meat had worse sperm morphology (shape) than men who ate the fewest servings.
We couldn’t run a list on virility foods without at least one aphrodisiac. And it turns out celery, of all things, is one seriously sexy stalk. “Celery contains the androsterone, a male sex pheromone released through perspiration, which limited research has shown to increase flirty behavior among females,” explains registered dietitian Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet. Ingesting the androsterone can boost also boost male arousal, and cause a dude’s body to send off scents and signals that make him more desirable to women, according to Alan Hirsch, M.D., author of Scentsational Sex. Me-ow. Crudités, s’il vous plait.
Watermelon just got juicier. Researchers say the summer staple contains an ingredient that can trigger blood vessels to relax much like Viagra does. It’s called citrulline, a compound found in both the flesh and rind of the melon that, once ingested, is converted into an amino acid called arginine that’s shown to widen the blood vessels and improve circulation. Experts say you’d have eat quite a lot to reap the benefits - at least six slices. But Dr Bhimu Patil of Texas A&M University who led the research believes that the juicy fruit could serve as a novel and natural antidote for erectile dysfunction.
Got a news tip? Want to share your story? Email us.
Yes, by eating certain foods, men may invisibly broadcast that they’re worth getting to know, in the biblical sense. The hormones androstenone and androstenol, which give off scents that may attract others, exist in a handful of foods that can be found at any supermarket or restaurant. If you’re a man, try eating the following three, and see if anything interesting happens. If you’re a woman who finds a man inexplicably irresistible, check what he just ate.
1. Truffles
Pardon the visual, but there’s a reason that pigs hunt for truffles: They’re especially affected by androstenone and androstenol. In 1981, German researchers discovered that androstenol is produced by many varieties of the subterranean fungus considered a delicacy. (In fact, The New York Times reported that people who use sows to hunt for truffles “often find it hard to prevent a sex-crazed animal from eating the truffle she has found, and may lose fingers in the attempt.”)
Pardon the visual, but there’s a reason that pigs hunt for truffles: They’re especially affected by androstenone and androstenol. In 1981, German researchers discovered that androstenol is produced by many varieties of the subterranean fungus considered a delicacy. (In fact, The New York Times reported that people who use sows to hunt for truffles “often find it hard to prevent a sex-crazed animal from eating the truffle she has found, and may lose fingers in the attempt.”)
Truffles themselves are devilish pricey - selling for about $100 per ounce - but truffle oil also contains the pheromones, and it’s part of the esteemed Mediterranean diet. Give it a whirl yourself, but be warned: 25% of people can’t detect androstenone, and 40% of people are too sensitive to androstenol and find it foul smelling. The remaining 35% may find you wildly attractive. Research from Rockefeller University, revealed that this is mostly due to to genetic variations in a single odorant receptor called OR7D4. So now you know.
2. Parsnips
The third food with high concentrations of androstenol are parsnips, the long, ugly, light brown veggies that taste like a carrot-potato hybrid. Far cheaper than truffles, parsnips have the added advantage of containing boron, which has been shown to help the body metabolize and use estrogen and enhance blood levels of testosterone. Plus, root vegetables like parsnips are rich in folate, as well as vitamins A and C, and studies have found they boost blood flow to the brain.
3. Celery
And Four More Scents That May Have An Interesting Effect:
Lavender And Pumpkin Pie
Neither of these items contain androstenone or androstenol, but the aforementioned Dr. Hirsch found that their combined scents increased penile blood flow in study participants by 40%. The second most arousing scent combo was black licorice and doughnut, which increased penile blood flow by 31.5%. (We can’t recommend the last two, but pumpkin is a legitimate superfood: Here are 8 amazing ways to eat it this fall.
Guys, don't miss out on the secret to a strong sex drive and knock-your-socks-off bedroom performance. Here’s a list of the best foods for virility. The pleasure is all yours.
Nutritionally, there’s a lot to be said for celery. It’s high in fiber, and digesting it causes your body to work harder and expend more calories than most foods. It’s also a great source of vitamin K, folate, potassium and manganese. But beyond all that, every stalk is packed with androstenone and androstenol. “When you chew a stalk of celery, you release androstenone and androstenol odor molecules into your mouth. They then travel up the back of your throat to your nose," says Alan Hirsch, MD, author of Scentsational Sex. "Once there, the pheromones boost your arousal, turning you on and causing your body to send off scents and signals that make you more desirable to women." Men, you could do worse than ordering a Bloody Mary at brunch, and you won’t have to wait long before the celery takes effect. The pheromones are released immediately, says Hirsch.
And Four More Scents That May Have An Interesting Effect:
Lavender And Pumpkin Pie
Neither of these items contain androstenone or androstenol, but the aforementioned Dr. Hirsch found that their combined scents increased penile blood flow in study participants by 40%. The second most arousing scent combo was black licorice and doughnut, which increased penile blood flow by 31.5%. (We can’t recommend the last two, but pumpkin is a legitimate superfood: Here are 8 amazing ways to eat it this fall.
Guys, don't miss out on the secret to a strong sex drive and knock-your-socks-off bedroom performance. Here’s a list of the best foods for virility. The pleasure is all yours.
1. Carrots
The secret to healthy sperm? Carrots! Or so suggests a study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility that analyzed the effect of various fruit and vegetables on sperm quality discovered carrots had the best all-round results on sperm count and motility - a term used to describe the ability of sperm to swim towards an egg. Men who ate the most carrots saw improved sperm performance by 6.5 to 8 percent. The Harvard researchers attribute the boost to carotenoids, powerful antioxidative compounds in carrots that help the body make vitamin A.
2. Tomatoes
Double down on the marinara to protect your manhood. Men who eat over 10 servings of tomatoes each week have an 18 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer - the result of lycopene, an antioxidant which fights off toxins that can cause DNA and cell damage - a study in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention found. A previous study found the garden vegetable could also improve sperm morphology (shape); men with the highest tomato intake contributed to between 8 and 10 per cent more ‘normal’ sperm.
3. Coffee
A cup of morning coffee certainly has its, er … perks. Men who consumed between 85 and 170 milligrams of caffeine a day - the equivalent of two to three cups of coffee - were 42 percent less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a recent study published in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers attribute the benefits to caffeine's relaxing effect on the arteries, which improves blood flow to the penis. Make it two cups of joe tomorrow morning. How hard is that?
4. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are one of the best dietary sources of zinc and magnesium-essential minerals shown to boost testosterone levels and growth factor hormone, especially when combined. In fact, college football players who took a nightly zinc-magnesium supplement showed a 30 percent increase in testosterone levels and a 13 to 16 percent increase in leg strength, one eight-week trial found. The seeds are also a rich source polyunsaturated fatty acids shown to boost prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that play a key role in libido.
5. Serrano Chilis
Pumpkin seeds are one of the best dietary sources of zinc and magnesium-essential minerals shown to boost testosterone levels and growth factor hormone, especially when combined. In fact, college football players who took a nightly zinc-magnesium supplement showed a 30 percent increase in testosterone levels and a 13 to 16 percent increase in leg strength, one eight-week trial found. The seeds are also a rich source polyunsaturated fatty acids shown to boost prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that play a key role in libido.
5. Serrano Chilis
Some like it hot, and the guys that do tend to be more virile, or so suggests a recent study by French researchers. They found that men who eat the most spicy foods tend to have higher testosterone levels than those with milder palates. Study authors attribute the T-boosting effects in part to capsaicin, a compound in chilies that previous research has associated with increased testosterone levels. Seriously spicy serrano peppers are also packed with quercetin, a nutrient shown to boost testosterone levels in the body by reducing the amount that's otherwise flushed out by the kidneys.
6. Fish
Forget the meet market and the meat market. Men looking to boost their sperm quality should head to the fish counter instead, research suggests. Sperm size and shape - one marker used to evaluate male infertility - was better in men who ate the most white meat fish as compared to men who ate the least, a study published in The Journal of Nutrition showed. And total sperm count was about 34 percent higher among men who ate the most dark meat fish, like salmon and tuna, than men who ate the least amount of fish. Meanwhile, men who reported eating one to three servings of processed meat had worse sperm morphology (shape) than men who ate the fewest servings.
7.Celery
We couldn’t run a list on virility foods without at least one aphrodisiac. And it turns out celery, of all things, is one seriously sexy stalk. “Celery contains the androsterone, a male sex pheromone released through perspiration, which limited research has shown to increase flirty behavior among females,” explains registered dietitian Keri Gans, author of The Small Change Diet. Ingesting the androsterone can boost also boost male arousal, and cause a dude’s body to send off scents and signals that make him more desirable to women, according to Alan Hirsch, M.D., author of Scentsational Sex. Me-ow. Crudités, s’il vous plait.
8. Watermelon
Watermelon just got juicier. Researchers say the summer staple contains an ingredient that can trigger blood vessels to relax much like Viagra does. It’s called citrulline, a compound found in both the flesh and rind of the melon that, once ingested, is converted into an amino acid called arginine that’s shown to widen the blood vessels and improve circulation. Experts say you’d have eat quite a lot to reap the benefits - at least six slices. But Dr Bhimu Patil of Texas A&M University who led the research believes that the juicy fruit could serve as a novel and natural antidote for erectile dysfunction.
Got a news tip? Want to share your story? Email us.
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