Seen on 'Today': For better sex, eat this not that!

Indulge! The chocolate-topped strawberries has earned
its reputation as an aphrodisiac. Flickr photo/Veritas Lux

The Today show had a fun and informative feature this morning (July 21) with David Zinczenko, author of the hugely popular -- and hugely helpful -- Eat This Not That book series, as well as editor of Men's Health, on foods that improve your sex life.

Zinczenko, with Today's Meredith Vieira and Lester Holt, discussed six groups of foods, and which had the best effect on the libido. "These are foods for your sexual health,"  Zinczenko said. "Over time they'll make you healthier." 

These 10 nutritious foods will boost your sex drive:

1. Bananas? Yes! Besides their suggestive (and sometimes useful!) shape, bananas contain B vitamins that help produce sex hormones, and potassium, which helps regulate your blood pressure, and also helps you avoid an untimely charley horse!

Eat healthy, be happy: Asparagus are little green
sex machines!                                Flickr photo/Muffet

2. Oysters? Contrary to popular myth, oysters are not a rock star of sexy foods. True, they contain beneficial zinc and iodine (which boost body temperature and testosterone), but you'd have to eat 50 of them to garner the adequate benefit. Instead, choose pumpkin seeds, which, Zinczenko said, "are cheap, readily available, and easy to prepare." He suggested toasting them and adding them to your popcorn (while watching an erotic movie, perhaps?).

3. Chocolate-covered strawberries? Of course! The vitamin C in the berries boosts your energy, iodine, and the dark chocolate (at least 60 percent cacao) contains well-known sex-releasing chemicals called phenyl ethylamine. Plus, they're oh-so-sexy to eat!

4. Hot peppers? Not really. There's no research that suggests a link to boosting the libido, Zinczenko said. Instead, try the spice saffron, which acts as an anti-depressant and pain blocker, plus contains picrocrocin, a chemical that makes your body more sensitive to the touch. Now, that's hot!

5. Pomegranate juice? Yup. It has powerful antioxidants for your overal health, and also boosts blood flow to your body parts -- including the genitals.

A glass of wine is fine!  But any more, your lover will abhor!
                                                                Flickr photo/Ralphunden

6. Asparagus? Absolutely. "Asparagus spears are hotter than Britney Spears," Zinczenko joked. This veggie is packed with vitamin E, which relaxes the blood vessels and helps boost sexual stamina.

Alas, the time-stickler Today ran out of time before they could cover the rest of the foods during the segment, but here's the lowdown on the remaining four foods, according to the Men's Health story:

7. Sirloin steak? Hot stuff!  The protein in a 6-oz. sirloin boosts dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals that heighten sensitivity. It's also packed with zinc.

8. Vanilla ice cream?  Eat it! Not only has the scent of vanilla been found to put people in the mood, the calcium and phosphorus in the ice cream build muscles' energy reserves, boost libido and make orgasms more powerful.

9. Tomatoes? No! Their lycopene and phytofluene can decrease testosterone levels. Instead, eat coconut, a rich source of fatty compounds that increase the activity of testosterone in your body.

10. Half a bottle of wine? No, no, no! Stick with one glass, which will take the edge off and cause your blood vessels to relax; but more than that will reverse the effects, and impede your arousal. Instead, turn to dark chocolate, whose beneficial properties -- including being an aphrodisiac -- continue to make the news.