Seafood Good for Your Sex Life

Is seafood the aphrodisiac it's cracked up to be, or is someone telling fish tales?

It appears that any seafood rich in omega-3 fatty acids may indeed help put you in the mood, according to RealAge experts Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD. Here's how it helps light your fire.

Bringing Sexy Salmon Back
The omega-3s in fish like salmon and herring may boost sex-related hormones that increase desire, write Oz and Roizen in their best-selling book YOU: On a Diet. Same goes for the zinc in oysters, crab, lobster, and shrimp.

Shrimp, High in iodine, shrimp and other types of seafood are vital to the thyroid gland, which is vital for energy.

Oysters! Myth has it that oysters are the food of love. Science may agree. Just two to three oysters deliver a full day's supply of zinc, a mineral critical for normal functioning of the male reproductive system. Scientists are divided over reports that sperm counts have declined over the last 50 years and that environmental factors are to blame. Nutritional deficiencies do seem to be the cause of certain cases of low testosterone. Getting adequate zinc is sometimes the answer (11 mg per day is recommended for men; more than 40 mg can pose risks). In one trial, 22 men with low testosterone levels and sperm counts were given zinc every day for 45 to 50 days. Testosterone levels and sperm counts rose.

Other Foods that stimulate sexual:

• Chocolate. Not only does chocolate provide a jolt of caffeine, the plant has a flower that looks like sex organs.

• Ginger. This root reportedly increases blood flow to the genitals in both men and women.

• Olives. Green ones are believed to make men more virile, while black ones increase women's sex drive.

• Tomatoes. Known as "love apples" by Puritans, they have a reputation as a sexual stimulant. 

• Read about 10 Foods for maximum orgasm

Tips: More Super Strategies

Some foods that resemble anatomical parts (think asparagus and artichoke hearts) have been linked to a stronger libido, too. But because it's hard to do a proper clinical study on this theme, we'll just pass along the limited facts and leave the rest to your imagination. In the meantime, here are some better-sex strategies with a bit more research behind them:

• Exercise regularly for better blood flow.

• Take it easy on the alcohol. Too much can shut down sexual response.

• Get rid of that gut. Besides helping you feel better about your body, losing weight if you're overweight can also reduce the risk of sexual problems like Erectile Dysfunction.