If you’re looking to have a steamy night between the sheets without any unexpected hiccups, wave “goodbye” to these anti-aphrodisiac treats. For those who don’t know, an aphrodisiac is food believed to increase desire, sexual attraction, and arousal before, during, or after consumption. You may have heard about the magical qualities of aphrodisiac foods like delectable chocolate-covered strawberries, oysters, and asparagus that will rev up your engine. You know about the foods that will treat you right, what about the foods that will spin your sex life in a negative direction?

Here’s a list of goodies you should avoid and why.

  1. Say no to the all-you-can-eat buffet. Pasta may be romantic while living a Lady and the Tramp fantasy, but the carb intake will get you absolutely nowhere in the bedroom. This heavy carb treat is a red flag for your night of fantasy. It can cause an insulin spike, leaving you feeling bloated and tired. Thank you, next.
  2. Microwave Popcorn. Surprised? We are too. This fan favorite treat has perfluoroalkyl acids in the lining of the popcorn bag. Some experts believe this acid can limit the male sex drive and even reduce their sperm count. In the end, your microwave snack choice might lead you to an unsuccessful, maybe even disappointing, night of “Netflix and chilling.” If you want to avoid this sexual disaster, try making popcorn the “good ol’ fashion way.”
  3. This dietary supplement won’t hurt your sex drive if eaten inconsistently, but if you are a vegan or vegetarian looking to fill up on nutrients, you may want to spice up your eating habits and take a break from the tofu on date night. Soy contains phytoestrogens know as isoflavones. Experts say this specific pathogen lowers testosterone in the body. In fact, it’s an old wives’ tale that in Japan, women constantly fed their disloyal husband’s soy to lower their sex drive and keep them at home.
  4. While alcohol may give you an ounce of liquid courage, if you have too much of it, your night won’t be going anywhere. Don’t use alcohol as your crutch if you’re planning for a lively encounter. Alcohol affects how well men can get erect due to its depressant qualities. There are two specific things to avoid if you plan on drinking during date night.
    • If you’re out bar hopping, stay away from drinks that are made with hops, like an IPA. Hops are believed to be similar to soy, in that they can “gum up your gears,” so to speak.
    • Planning to order another round of Gin and Tonics for you and your friends? You might want to rethink that. Tonic contains quinine and… you guessed it; quinine also lowers testosterone levels! There are a lot of rules to look out for in the drinking world. If all else fails, have a drink or two. Don’t overdo it. Your libido will thank you.
  1. Remember how our friend, pasta, was jampacked with carbs? Sugar is too. Eat too much birthday cake, drink three cosmos, or treat yourself to your favorite ice cream, and you’ll be out snoring for the rest of the night. Simple sugar puts you to sleep because it is such an expendable source of energy. Your energy level will spike immediately after eating it, but your energy is sure to plummet just as quickly not long after. Plus, sugar feeds off bacteria and yeast, resulting in you being bloated. Feeling like you’re about to go all “Alien” and burst is a surefire way to feel less sexy than you are.
  2. Caffeine! Our dear friend takes care of us when we need a little jolt, whether it comes in coffee, matcha, chocolate, or ice cream form. This anti-aphrodisiac can cause adrenal fatigue when consumed too frequently throughout the day. Sadly, it won’t only burden your sex drive, but it will also make you too tired to perform your very best. Avoid the crash and burn.

Anti-aphrodisiac or not, you deserve to get it on until the sun comes up! Try adjusting your diet to these few rules and track how your sex life is different.

Vivien Fisher

Vivien Fisher

social media coordinator
Vivien Fisher (she/her/hers) is a social media coordinator and blog writer for Pure Romance. She loves covering topics like sexual health, lifestyle trends, and anything related to television and film. Her interests include spending time with her pet rabbit Bernard, creating amusing and educational content for the Pure Romance platforms, and exploring all that Cincinnati has to offer.