Each food we eat has an impact on the health and overall living. Some healthy foods boost your stamina and improve the way you look and smell, whereas some unhealthy foods have the exact opposite effect.
Since foods also influence the hormonal balance, eating unhealthy food can have a negative effect on the levels of testosterone and estrogen. This may result in low libido levels.
We have heard about aphrodisiacs, but there are foods that do the exact opposite. So, it is always better to plan what you eat before having sex.
Foods to Avoid Before Having Sex
Let’s explore foods that you must avoid eating before sex:
Sugar-Laden Foods
Gifting a box of sweets to your loved one is a great idea or even you may love to have a piece or two of sweets, but do not go overboard on sugar. Sugar is your body’s sweet enemy, which may create havoc in your body.
The reduced concentration of testosterone, the male sex hormone, which enables the males to produce sperms and reproduce may impair the reproductive functions. Eating sugar-laden foods decrease the level of this important hormone in the body.
Some findings suggest that a high intake of sugar-laden foods may impact fertility. It was further found that the immediate effects of glucose ingestion also include a decrease in total and free testosterone levels in men.
High sugar intake is inversely associated with low sperm motility. Hence, it is better to keep a check on your overall sugar intake.
Replace sugar with other healthy options like:
- Organic honey
- Coconut sugar
- Date Paste
- Natural fruits
- Dried fruits
- Dark chocolate
Refined Foods
Eating foods rich in refined carbohydrates, high fructose corn syrup and soft drinks can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in men, says research.
A refined carbohydrate-rich diet causes altered carbohydrate metabolism, which induces endothelial dysfunction. Such dysfunctional endothelial cells lining the penile arterial system cannot produce sufficient nitric oxide, a vasodilator that helps the smooth muscles to relax and induce an erection.
Refined carbohydrate foods have a high glycemic index that can raise blood glucose levels quickly. This, in turn, sends signals to the pancreas to release more insulin in order to normalize the blood glucose levels.
Hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress and causes the production of reactive oxygen species. These dangerous compounds scavenge nitric oxide, which leads to vasoconstriction, poor blood supply to the penile region and erectile dysfunction.
Wrong and unhealthy dietary habits may not have a negative impact on sex life immediately, but they lead to slow and asymptomatic progression of erectile dysfunction. Therefore, it is advised to eat healthy foods that boost the stamina and pump up your energy levels.
As foods containing refined carbohydrates contain calories and little or no nutrients, they may make you feel tired and lethargic. This can impair your performance and make your sex life dull.
Avoid Eating A Heavy Meal
Eating a heavy meal before sex may not be a good idea. Consuming a large meal can put pressure at the bottom of the esophagus or lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This allows the acid to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus, resulting in heartburn or pain in the chest.
Hence, overeating can make your stomach expand and put pressure on your lower esophageal sphincter. The speed at which you eat your food can also trigger heartburn.
Make sure you eat slowly and be wise about your portion size. Eat well, but do not overeat.
Foods Rich In Trans Fat
It is very important to correctly choose the type of fat you eat and add to your food. Trans fat, a type of fat found in fried foods and bakery products can tremendously lower libido in males, says research.
While monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with positive hormonal balance and testicular volume, trans fat has exactly the opposite effect.
Studies have found that intake of trans fat has a deleterious effect on the testicular function and it is also linked to lower sperm count in males.
One interesting study found that males who consumed trans fat had 37% lower sperm count, 15% lower testosterone levels and 4% lower testicular volume than males who consumed lesser or no trans fat at all.
Another interesting study has suggested that the intake of red and processed meat is related to poor semen quality. Hence, make sure your diet contains healthy fats that promote good sexual health.
Foods containing trans fat include:
- Biscuits, cookies and crackers
- Cakes and pastries with frosting
- Margarine
- Vegetable shortening
- Cream filled candies, buns and biscuits
- Doughnuts
- Fast foods
- Fried foods
- Pre-cooked or pre-prepared food products
Spicy Foods
Some studies have found that eating spicy foods may boost the sex drive but overeating spicy foods before sex may just not be the right thing to do.
It is very well-known that anything in excess is not good. The food you eat has an impact on the way your vagina smells.
A strong and unpleasant vaginal odor can be due to the intake of spicy curries and dips or foods with strong flavors like onion and garlic.
Women can prevent such bad odors by avoiding the intake of spicy and strong flavored foods just before sex. Switch to fresh fruits, vegetable salads and yogurt for a healthy vagina.
Besides this, if you are prone to heartburn and hyperacidity, its best to withdraw spicy foods from your diet. You may not want heartburn and hyperacidity to ruin your sex life.
Onions And Garlic
A stinky and bad breath can be a major turn off for many people. Besides the way you look, your body and breath odor play a huge role when it comes to sex.
Consumption of raw garlic and onion affects the breath odor and gives rise to changes in the body odors, says research.
Garlic particles get trapped in the oral cavity, which may give rise to bad breath. Besides this, allyl methyl sulfide, a compound, which originates in the gut after eating garlic can cause an unpleasant body odor. Hence, avoid eating raw garlic and onion before sex.
Moreover, broccoli and cauliflower also influence human breath and axillary odor, since they emit high amounts of sulfur compounds when boiled. Choose foods that are well-cooked and the ones, which do not have a strong flavor.
Gas-Causing Foods
Eating gas-causing foods can lead to stomach cramps, flatus and tummy troubles. This can be embarrassing as well as it can ruin your night.
Legumes like soy and other beans contain dietary fiber and complex polysaccharides in large quantities. Gas is produced within the digestive system by the action of bacteria on dietary fiber and polysaccharides that escape digestion in the intestine. This triggers gas formation and increases the pungency of the flatulence.
Though beans are a good source of plant protein and antioxidants, they may not be an ideal food before sex. Opt for other protein options like stir-fried tofu and low-fat cottage cheese or grilled fish or lean meat.
Low Water Intake
Low fluid intake can cause dehydration, which results in temporary erectile dysfunction. The flow of blood through the veins and arteries is efficient when the body is well-hydrated.
A low blood volume and red blood cell volume can cause poor blood flow to the penile region, which may impair erection and lead to erectile dysfunction.
Besides this, low fluid intake produces a hormone in the body that causes constriction of the arteries and prevents adequate blood flow throughout the body, including the penile region.
Furthermore, dehydration causes dry mouth, bad breath, headache, tiredness and lack of stamina. All these factors can affect your mood as well as impact your sex life.
Note: Do not replace water with other beverages like tea, coffee, juices and aerated drinks. Plain water is the best beverage on this planet.
Excess Alcohol
Having a small drink before sex may improve your sex life but having excess alcohol can make it difficult. It reduces sexual sensitivity in both males and females.
Inducing and maintaining an erection in men becomes difficult due to excess alcohol intake, whereas in women, vaginal dryness is a common problem.
Light to moderate alcohol intake increases vasorelaxation, but heavy alcohol intake may cause constriction of the arteries and smooth muscles, which may obstruct blood flow to the penile region and vagina.
Insufficient blood flow to the vaginal area may contribute to orgasmic and arousal problems. Hence, too much alcohol may dampen your sex drive.
Final Verdict
Through this article, you can learn about foods that may have an immediate negative impact on the sex life if you consume them just before sex as well as foods that slowly impair your reproductive system and hormonal balance.
In both ways, the loss is yours if you do not eat a balanced and wholesome diet. Be smart and wise about the foods you choose to eat before having sex with your partner.
References
- Chen, L., Xie, Y. M., Pei, J. H., Kuang, J., Chen, H. M., Chen, Z., Li, Z. W., Fu, X. Y., Wang, L., Lai, S. Q., Zhang, S. T., Chen, Z. J., … Lin, J. X. (2018). Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and serum testosterone levels in adult males 20-39 years old in the United States. Reproductive biology and endocrinology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6015465/
- Adamowicz, J., & Drewa, T. (2011). Is there a link between soft drinks and erectile dysfunction? Central European journal of urology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3921721/
- Halseth, A., Shan, K., Gilder, K., Malone, M., Acevedo, L., and Fujioka, K. (2018) Quality of life, binge eating and sexual function in participants treated for obesity with sustained release naltrexone/bupropion. Obesity Science & Practice. https://doi.org/10.1002/osp4.156
- MInguez-Alarcón, L., Chavarro, J. E., Mendiola, J., Roca, M., Tanrikut, C., Vioque, J., Jørgensen, N., … Torres-Cantero, A. M. (2016). Fatty acid intake in relation to reproductive hormones and testicular volume among young healthy men. Asian Journal of Andrology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312216/
- Jan Havlicek, Tamsin Saxton, The Effect of Diet on Human Bodily Odors, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/338e/97c846eed3387e19b99169db76df713be13a.pdf
- Kudo R, Yuui K, Kasuda S, Hatake K., Effect of alcohol on vascular function, Nihon Arukoru Yakubutsu Igakkai Zasshi. 2015 Jun. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26502571