Foods that are good for you -- and your sex life.

Amy Paturel

Mood Enhancers

Foods like oysters really can ignite passion in the bedroom. How? They're good for your heart. And what's good for your heart is good for your libido, too. After all, if your arteries are clogged, getting blood to flow down south can be problematic, says Bonnie Dix, M.A., R.D., of the American Dietetic Association. Here are some more romance-enhancing wonders:

Oysters

Since the tale of Aphrodite emerging from the sea on an oyster shell, this sexy shellfish has been hailed as an aphrodisiac. Oysters and other fatty fish such as salmon, scallops and sardines are loaded with healthful monounsaturated fats called Omega 3s. And they carry a hefty dose of testosterone-boosting zinc.

Champagne

So you've already heard the buzz that a daily glass of wine raises good cholesterol and helps prevent arteries from clogging. But alcohol, especially champagne, can also improve your health and your sex life. Like many mind altering substances, a glass or two of champagne will lower inhibitions and help ease any couple into an amorous mood.

Pine Nuts

Pine nuts have more protein than any other nut. Besides providing protein to help increase stamina, pine nuts are heavy in healthful monosaturated fats, zinc and other nutrients that are linked with increased sexual desire. Sexier than your average peanut, pine nuts are often present on many fine-dining menus.

Artichoke

This nutrient-dense, peculiar plant was once considered such a powerful aphrodisac that women were banned from eating it. According to Martha Hopkins, co-author of 'Inter-Courses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook,' part of the appeal of the artichoke may be that you have to work hard to "get past the spiked leaves to get to the velvety-smooth heart."

Spices

The right spices not only heat things up on the tongue, but also in the bedroom. "Chili pepper and ginger help improve circulation," says Dix, "and hot spices like cayenne, curry and cumin help warm the body." The intoxicating aromas of exotic spices help infuse romance into the atmosphere.

Avocado

According to the Doctrine of Signatures, food aids the part of the body it resembles. In fact, the Aztecs valued the avocado as an aphrodisiac and named it ahuacale or testicle because they grow in pairs. Though science can neither confirm nor deny that this fruit will get your fire going, it will give you fuel in the form of healthy fats, protein and potassium.

Chocolate

Don't skip dessert: Eating chocolate causes the release of mood-boosting, stress-reducing serotonin. The sweet stuff also causes a release of phenylethylamine, which causes changes in blood pressure and blood-sugar levels leading to feelings of excitement. Just make sure to choose antioxidant-rich dark chocolate.

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