Forget oysters and powdered rhino horn; oysters? Pleh. Improving your romantic life is a lot simpler than tracking down esoteric, disgusting—not to mention mostly unproven—aphrodisiacs. In fact, you’re probably eating many of the vitamins and nutrients that support a robust romantic life right now, just not in sufficient quantities.

These dos and don’ts will not only improve your romantic life, they’ll improve your overall health as well.

1.  Do: Eat a balanced breakfast
Your meal should include protein and fiber, such as yogurt with fresh berries or peanut butter on whole wheat toast. This combo takes longer to digest, so you’ll have steady energy all morning, which in turn prevents you from making unhealthy choices later on, More energy means you won’t be a moody grump when you get home from work, so you can enjoy time with your partner.

2.  Don’t: Load up on carbs
Eating carbohydrate-rich meals, like a bagel with cream cheese, is a disaster. Your blood sugar will spike and then plummet, leaving you sluggish. You won’t be in the mood for anything—except a nap.

3.  Do: Drink plenty of liquids
Keeping hydrated helps you stay mentally and physically alert all day and helps you go the extra distance at night. “Drink a couple of cups of water when you rise in the morning after your overnight fast; this is the most dehydrated time of the day.”

4.  Don’t: Overdo the lattes
Sure, coffee or tea in the morning gets your engine going and helps you focus, but quaffing caffeinated beverages like energy drinks, iced tea, coffee, and cola all day long can leave you jittery and in no mood for R&R. “Too much caffeine is a central nervous stimulant,” and not the good kind..

5.  Do: Flavor veggies with olive oil and munch on nuts
Fats are necessary to produce the hormones testosterone and estrogen. If you adhere to a very-low-fat diet, you won’t have adequate levels of those hormones—both of which are important for women—and your desire will suffer. However, be sure to eat the healthy fats—the kind found in olive oil, fatty fish, and walnuts.

6.  STAY LEAN:  I’m not talking about being slim. That has nothing to do with it.  I’ve always said, nobody wants to get with a stick.  I’m actually talking about lean protein.  Do: Eat chicken, fish, and lean protein
When you don’t have enough protein in your diet, the brain’s level of dopamine—the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and romance—drops, which is probably why everyone on a diet is typically grumpy all the time. “An active person should have at least 0.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight daily,”. “Divide your body weight in half, and that is the least amount of protein that you should have in a day.”

7.  Do: Enjoy a glass of wine with dinner
A small cocktail or glass of wine at night can help get you in the mood for intimacy by giving you a sense of relaxation and calm—perfect precursors for lovemaking, says Reichman.  Any more than one or two and you’re useless.. also true for women because we just fall right to sleep..

Some studies indicate a link between excessive alcohol consumption and breast cancer. (ScienceDaily)

10. Do: Nibble on dark chocolate after dinner
Chocolate makes you feel happy—for real! A few squares in the evening can be the perfect segue to a bedroom rendezvous. that boost stays for about 90 minutes.  Keep a bar of high-quality dark chocolate in your bedside table. And men, if she’s happy, you’re happy, right? Who’s with me?

11.  Don’t: Have a big meal before bed
Typically, a large meal increases blood flow …. to the stomach ,” However, don’t starve yourself just to have a flat stomach. A grumbling stomach isn’t romantic, either.

-Claire Kats

Disagree? Comments? Questions? Want to rant? Feel free to shoot your kind (or not so kind) words to the author of this article by checking out our Contact Us page where you can e-mail the author.