Benefits of Nuts: Aphrodisiac for Men

Our articles may contain affiliate links. This means we receive commissions for purchases made through those links, at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying Amazon purchases.

Nuts are among my favorite aphrodisiac ingredients. Why? The benefits of nuts are unparalleled.

Table of Contents

Are nuts good for you?

You may be wondering, “Are nuts good for you?” Because you’ve heard that nuts are high in fat. It’s true that they do have a lot of fat but they are also like tiny treasure chests of nutrients. The answer is complex but you might discover that nuts are the health food you’ve been looking for. Read on to discover if nuts have what you need.

The nutritional benefits of nuts

First of all, they’re packed with protein. Protein helps provide sustained energy for any type of exercise, including bedroom calisthenics if you know what I mean. But there’s much more to nuts that can benefit your health, including sexual health.

Are nuts a good mood food?

And, as a plant-based source of protein, nuts promote the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain. What does that mean in plain English? Well, neurotransmitters are your body’s chemical messengers. They’re used by your nervous system to regulate a wide number of functions. (Here’s a more in depth explanation of neurotransmitters.)

Two of these neurotransmitters, dopamine and norepinephrine are associated with alertness, motivation and the ability to experience pleasure. We need to get the building blocks for these neurotransmitters from our food. And nuts offer us what we need.

Nuts are a source of fiber

Not all nuts are created equally but they all are considered fiber rich. For example, one of the health benefits of almonds is that they offer about 3.5 grams of fiber per serving. Learn more about almonds and why they’re among the best foods for men.

Nuts contain healthy fats

Returning to the subject of the fat content in nuts…Don’t worry about that fat in your arteries (too much). You see, nuts are packed with monounsaturated fats. You might have heard them referred to as “healthy fats.” (However they do contain some saturated fat. So if you need to stick to a low-fat diet, you’ll want to track your nut intake.)

Can nuts aid in weight loss?

Interestingly, the combination of nuts’ healthy fats, protein and fiber can help suppress appetite and prevent overindulging. But if you’re wondering which are the best nuts for weight loss, unfortunately, the answer is none. Studies show that nuts do not significantly impact weight loss or gain.

How nuts support sexual health

Many of the nutrients in nuts have the potential to specifically support your sexual health. Nuts are a source of vitamin E, magnesium and l-arginine. (L-arginine facilitates blood flow and is considered a potential aid to erectile dysfunction.) This is one of the reasons nuts are considered a good food for men’s sexual health. Women can appreciate many of nuts’ benefits, but as far as the health community is concerned, when it comes to many types of nuts, it is food for a man’s sexual system more than a woman’s.

Best nuts for testosterone production

Nuts, several varieties in particular, like Brazil nuts, are associated with testosterone production. The belief is that a high selenium content that makes Brazil nuts beneficial to testosterone production. However, I found studies with actually proven evidence on the subject to be limited.

Click here to shop for Brazil nuts

One of the benefits of macadamia nuts is that it, too, is believed to benefit testosterone production. I have read similar assertions about pine nuts boosting testosterone although I have yet to find a controlled study to back up this assertion.

Could some nuts have a negative impact on testosterone?

Now to confuse things, some experts believe that nuts like walnuts and pistachios may have the opposite effect. Again, this is an area that requires more research. So don’t add mixed nuts to your diet thinking that every nut in the bowl is going to improve testosterone production.

Nuts as aphrodisiacs around the world

Every different variety of nut has its own unique folkloric history as an aphrodisiac. For example, in India, coconuts were the regional symbol of fertility. In ancient Greece, almonds were tossed at weddings in place of rice as a sendoff for a successful honeymoon. To the Native Americans, at one time, pine nuts were the Viagra of the day.

This article was first published in 2010. The most recent update was on February 2, 2021.

Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods

Author
Recent Posts

Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide. She is also a Certified Nutrition Coach awarded by the International Sports Sciences Association and she is a California Certified Massage Therapist.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.