Banana Aphrodisiac & Health Benefits

Its shape makes this phallic, yellow fruit a shoo-in for the world’s most suggestive food. But aside from resembling a male member, banana has a lot to offer to the world of romance. That’s why we’re exploring banana aphrodisiac and health benefits.

RELATED: What is an aphrodisiac food?

Some banana aphrodisiac history

Bananas originated in Asia, where they are known as one of the earliest cultivated fruits. (And one of the earliest aphrodisiacs.)

In India, where many of the earliest references to banana as an aphrodisiac were made, the yellow, phallic fruit was known a favorite food of sages. And in a ritual that started centuries ago and carries on even today, bananas are included in Indian offerings to the fertility gods.

But this sexy reputation extends to many other cultures. In Islam, the banana, not the apple, was believed to be the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden. And according to Temptations: igniting the pleasure and power of aphrodisiacs, at one time the yellow fruit was off-limits to women in native Hawaiian culture simply because of shape.

RELATED: The aphrodisiac potential of a Hawaiian mushroom 

The fruit was introduced to the Caribbean and Central America by early Portuguese and Spanish explorers. And the link between banana and sex quickly took hold and still remains today. In fact, in Central America, the sap of the red banana tree is sipped as an aphrodisiac elixir.

Did you know you can grow your own bananas indoors or outdoors? Click here to buy your own banana plant.

The health benefits of bananas

Behind that slick peel, the slender banana’s fruit is packed with nutrients. Many of these nutrients are essential to sexual hormone production, including potassium and manganese.

RELATED: Why Potassium is Important for Sexual Health

(Incidentally, did you know the fruit of the banana plant–that’s right it’s a plant, not a tree–is classified as a berry?)

Some key banana nutrition facts

An average banana is only around 110 calories but offers 3 grams of fiber.

So eating a banana can help you feel full but also help prevent bloating and the uncomfortable feeling that comes with a lack of fiber in the diet. Fiber may also have a benefit specific to your sex life. It is believed that a high fiber diet can lead to a healthy level of sex hormones.

A snack packaged by nature in its own vibrant yellow peel, a banana also provides the body with a dose of vitamin C, an important nutrient for fighting the effects of aging. This is obviously beneficial to both men’s and women’s health.

Bananas are also a source of copper, biotin. And they offer 25% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin B6.

And it is also believed that the pectin and resistant starch in bananas can help control blood sugar levels.

It’s also worth keeping in mind that bananas contain tryptophan, an amino acid know to promote relaxation.

Banana benefits for men

But one of the best banana nutrition benefits when it comes to a man’s sex life is that the fruit offers 14% of the recommended daily intake of manganese. This mineral is a nutrient noted for its ability to support men’s sexual health and libido.

In other good news for men, the potassium in bananas may be an aid in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease. This is not only good news for the heart but also for anyone suffering from erectile dysfunction because a healthy heart and good blood flow are essential for sexual arousal.

Bananas for testosterone production

And there are even more benefits of bananas for men. Bananas also contain a protein-digesting enzyme called bromelain. This enzyme is one of the main nutritional benefits of pineapple that gives it a reputation as a superfood for men’s sexual health.

RELATED: The Benefits of Pineapple for Men

But bromelain is also found in bananas.

Bromelain is best known for helping with muscle recovery in athletes. But studies like this Tasmanian research experiment, have found that bromelain also appears to spark the production of the male sex hormone testosterone. In other words, eating bananas can potentially increase testosterone levels.

Sex and banana benefits for women

An amusing 2009 health article declared, “Sex and Bananas Shown to be Good for Women’s Health.” And although it’s true that the fiber, vitamin B6 and tryptophan in bananas are great for supporting women’s overall health and stress levels, these attributes are equally important for men.

The article might have been better to point out that the B6 in bananas is remarkably good for pregnant women as it helps support a healthy fetus. (You can find a version of the article posted to Facebook.)

One more of the benefits of bananas sexually

Aphrodisiac bananas have a wealth of benefits to sexual health. And in addition to the many nutrients mentioned above, these tropical fruits also contain magnesium. This essential mineral is involved in the production of sex hormones.

The magnesium in bananas may also help women by reducing the symptoms of PMS.

Do we really need to talk about banana sex?

There’s one last topic to cover if we’re going to thoroughly explore the relationship between bananas and sex. I’m loathed to talk about it because none of the uses of bananas in sexual acts are particularly aphrodisiac nor are they healthy. But the reality is, they exist. So in case you were wondering…

According to the urban dictionary, the term “banana sex” refers to when a man feigns interest in having sex with a woman only at the last minute, substitutes a banana for his member.

Please do not try this.

Another sexual banana act that should never be attempted by any human being, ever, is a solo act. A man will discard the fruit and use the banana peel to masturbate. This can lead to infection and painful allergic reactions.

If the appearance of a banana really turns you on, you can always invest in a safe and hygienic banana-shaped sexual aid, like this one sold on Amazon.com.

But I say, the best way to enjoy the sexual benefits of bananas is to eat them!

TO TRY: Easy, vegan banana bread

For a sexy, year-round treat, try freezing bananas, then dip in hot fudge and feed to your lover.

Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods

This article was written in 2010 and most recently updated in May 2021.