With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, you may be planning a special date night with your partner. If you’re looking to include some enticing foods to boost the romantic vibe, you’ve come to the right place. Forget the slimy, gooey oysters; there are plenty of vegan aphrodisiacs to spice up your Valentine’s day.

It’s Mostly in Your Head

When it comes to sexual arousal, most of it is truly in our head. Although some foods do contain compounds that may increase libido, the effects are limited and not well researched. What we do know is that sexual arousal is very closely related to the senses, primarily vision. Therefore, just about any food can become an aphrodisiac when prepared and presented in a tantalizing way.

Before we get to specific foods, here are some general guidelines to creating a sexy menu:

• Heat it up. Choose foods that create warmth and moisture, such as spicy dishes with cayenne pepper, jalapeños, or chili powder.
• Take your time. A meal that takes time to eat allows more opportunity for foreplay. Dipping foods in rich sauces or fresh fruit in chocolate is enticing and builds the arousal.
• Exotic equals erotic. Look for unusual or rare fruits and vegetables. Trying new things can be exciting and add a mysterious vibe to a meal.
• Stimulate the senses. Select visually appealing foods with a variety of colors and textures. Aroma is also important. It’s a good sign if your mouth is watering before you even begin eating.

Vegan Aphrodisiacs

In order to qualify as an aphrodisiac, a food must either increase libido (desire or arousal), improve sexual function (lubrication, blood flow), or enhance sexual performance (pleasure). Check out these vegan aphrodisiacs to spice up your Valentine’s Day.

Asparagus

Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin E, which is sometimes referred to as the “sex vitamin”. This powerful antioxidant helps to balancing sex hormones, which may result in increased sex drive for both men and women. It also contains vitamin B12, an important chemical for a healthy libido in both sexes. As an added bonus, asparagus is a good source of folate, which is important for male and female reproductive health. Looking for a unique recipe with asparagus? Try this Risotto.

Avocados

Because they often grow in low-hanging pairs, the Aztec word for avocado is ahuacatl, which means “testicle”. In addition to the folklore, avocados contain several vitamins that boost sexual health. Like asparagus, avocados contain vitamin E, as well as potassium, which helps with stamina and testosterone production. Get your avocados in with these Beyond Meat Taquitos!

Chili Peppers

Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which can cause a release of endorphins. When we consume spicy foods, our brains respond by releasing these neurotransmitters as natural painkillers. Ok, so in reality it would take a lot of chili to induce a true endorphin high. But look at it this way. Even a pinch if cayenne pepper can raise body temperature and get you in the mood to tear off your clothes. Turn up the spice with these Buffalo Maitake Mushrooms.

Dark Chocolate

Those heart-shaped boxes of chocolate may do more than you expected. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), which promotes the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which enhances feelings of happiness and pleasure.

Chocolate also contains l-arginine to encourage healthy blood flow. Blood flow is everything when it comes to sexual arousal and pleasure. The more blood flow, the better the erection and the more sensitivity. The body uses arginine to make nitric oxide, which helps increase blood flow during sexual arousal.

So get the blood moving with these delectable Vegan Cacao Truffles!

Figs

Most of the aphrodisiac power of figs can be attributed to its moist, pink flesh which vaguely resembles the female genitalia. (Just check out the poem Figs by D.H. Lawrence!) Couple that imagery with figs’ pleasant, sweetly floral aroma, and you have an exotic fruit that tantalizes the senses. Get your figs in this sweet and savory Caramelized Onion, Fig and Arugula Pizza.

Ginger

In traditional Eastern medicine, ginger has long been used to increase blood circulation to the hands, feet, and loins. The warming effects of ginger, as well as the inviting aroma, can add the right kind of spice to a dish. Or try this Ginger Lime Mocktail.

Maca root

Maca root is gaining popularity as one of the sexiest superfoods. Also known as Peruvian ginseng, maca root powder may help with hormone balance, as well as improve libido. In one study of eight athletic men, all of the men experienced increased sexual desire (and athletic performance) after 14 days of supplementation with maca root. In another study involving women, test subjects noted a decrease in sexual dysfunction and an increase in libido.

Mangoes

Across Southeast Asia and India, mangoes are synonymous with male sexual vitality. In fact, physicians in these countries often prescribe mangoes for impotence and other sexual issues. While scientific proof of mangoes’ ability to cure impotence is lacking, they are packed with vitamins that may help improve reproductive health.

Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds, or pepitas, contain 7 grams of arginine per cup. In addition to that, they contain a healthy dose of zinc, which is necessary for testosterone production. In one interesting study of 31 men, researchers found that the aroma of pumpkin pie increased penile blood flow by 40%.

Saffron

Saffron is one of the most expensive and exotic spices available. In addition to earning points in the exotic category, this spice may provide an added after-dinner boost as well. One study noted improvements in erectile dysfunction in men after 4-weeks of saffron consumption. Fortunately, saffron isn’t just good for him. Another study evaluating female sexual dysfunction, revealed improvements in sexual pain, arousal and lubrication.

If you want to add saffron to your Valentine’s Day menu, try my Mushroom, Artichoke, and Red Pepper Paella recipe!

I started the Clean Slate Cleanse to educate people about how clean eating affects our health and the way we feel. The goal is to hit the reset button. To learn how to look at what we are eating and how we are eating. To be more mindful of the food with which we nourish our bodies. Along the way, I’ve met people who think they can’t participate in the Clean Slate Cleanse for a variety of reasons. The truth is, the Cleanse is adaptable for literally everyone. Even if you have a food allergy, adapting the Clean Slate Cleanse is as easy as knowing how to modify recipes and make a few substitutions.

Healthy Food is For Everyone

I’ve heard the comment, “The Cleanse is just not for me.” This couldn’t be farther from the truth. For all of you health nuts, there’s definitely more to learn. The Cleanse incorporates loads of science behind eating and the foods we eat. Plus, you’ll discover lots of great new recipes to try. If you are a fast food junkie, the Cleanse is for you, too. This could be the first step to a healthier you, and my team and I will guide you the entire way. You CAN do this.

I understand that many people have legitimate food allergies or aversions. The Cleanse encompasses all plant-based foods, and you may choose to avoid some of them. Let’s break them down so you have some options.

Soy

Although some people think soy allergies are more common, the FDA estimates that only 0.2 – 0.4% of people are actually allergic to soy. Furthermore, most of these are children who outgrow the sensitivity by the age of three. The real problem, researchers believe, is the processed nature of most soy foods. Up to 93% of all commercially grown soy is genetically modified. Add to that the other non-favorable ingredients in a lot of processed foods, and you have the perfect disaster for many a sensitive digestive system. With this in mind, if you choose to eat the soy-containing foods on the Cleanse, be sure you purchase only non-GMO, organic soy.

Many people believe soy is a source of estrogen and can cause all kinds of health issues. Learn the truth about this in my post, Debunking the Myths About Phytoestrogens. Hopefully, after reading that article, you will be armed with research to give you confidence to try adding soy as a healthy option.

If you still don’t want to consume soy or truly have an allergy to it, here are some substitutions.

• For many recipes with tofu and vegetables, like Ramen, you can simply omit the tofu. The noodles and vegetables and broth are delicious with or without the crispy tofu chunks.
• To replace chunks of tofu in a dish, use your favorite kind of beans instead. (Chickpeas work nicely in many recipes.)
• For silken tofu used in sauces and soups, try a vegan yogurt – such as rice, almond or coconut milk-based yogurts. Soaked cashews also work nicely in some recipes, such as this Butternut Squash Soup.
• For miso, substitute vegetable broth.
• Instead of soy sauce, try coconut aminos.

Nightshades

Nightshades is a family of plants that includes potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, bell peppers, chili peppers, okra, and gogi berries. (There are others, but these are the most common.) Most people who can’t tolerate nightshades actually have a sensitivity to alkaloids, not an allergy. They lack enzymes needed to properly digest these foods. Sometimes a sensitivity to nightshades can be a sign of leaky gut or other digestive issues. In these cases, most people can tolerate the culprit foods after healing the gut issues.

Because so many recipes contain peppers in the form of spices and sauces, sometimes it’s just easiest to omit the spice. Anything derived from or containing a chili pepper or bell pepper falls into this family. Some common examples include chili powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salsa, sriracha sauce, and others. For other types of nightshades, try these alternatives:

• In place of eggplant, use portobello mushroom or zucchini.
• Instead of potatoes, try zucchini, squash, or sweet potato. For mashed potatoes, cauliflower is a good option.
• If you’re missing the spice of pepper in a dish, season it up with herbs instead! You can also safely use black pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and many others.

Tree Nuts

Tree nuts include walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pistachios and Brazil nuts. These are not the same as peanuts, which are legumes, or seeds, such as sunflower or sesame. Try these substitutions if you can’t eat tree nuts:

• Peanuts, if you can eat them
• Seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower, or sesame
• Dried fruit
• Roasted chickpeas for salad toppings
• Use tofu in place of cashews used to make cashew cream.
• For recipes that call for nut milks, try oat milk or coconut milk instead.

Peanuts

If you are allergic to peanuts but you can have tree nuts, the substitution is simple.

• In place of peanut butter, like in Vietnamese Summer Rolls, use a different nut or seed butter, such as almond or sesame butter.
• For peanut oil, substitute canola oil or grapeseed oil.

If you’ve ever felt like you can’t participate in the Clean Slate Cleanse because of a food allergy, I hope you now have the confidence and knowledge to give it a try!

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You can search our database of recipes according to your allergies! Check out our recipes in these sections: Nightshade Free, Nut Free, Soy Free.