Mushrooms Aphrodisiac & Evidence-Based Sexual Health Benefits

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Humans have eaten mushrooms for health throughout all of recorded history. Cherished by cultures around the world since the people of ancient Egypt, mushrooms were once believed to bring immortality. But what we’re here to talk about are mushrooms aphrodisiac benefits and the potential to boost sex.

Some cultures considered them the bringers of super-human strength. And of course, there were those throughout history who celebrated mushrooms for their hallucinogenic effects. But will these mushroom benefits improve your sex life? Let’s take a closer look!

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Are mushrooms an aphrodisiac?

While there is little to substantiate mushrooms’ aphrodisiac effects, there is an ancient legend repeating itself through several South Pacific cultures. And the legend offers some substantiation to the mushroom’s sexy reputation.

In each of these cultures, a story has been told of women wandering through forests in search of sustenance.

After snacking on wild mushrooms, the women feel more than full. They are said to experience fits of sexual ecstasy. Scientists suspect that hormone-like compounds present in the forest fungus may have some similarities to human neurotransmitters released in females during sexual encounters.

Unfortunately, the theory also implies that the effects are neutral in men.

Discover the 10 Best Foods for Men’s Sexual Health

Incidentally, did you know that mushrooms are related to truffle, one of the sexiest aphrodisiacs of them all?

A study on Hawaiian mushrooms

There was an obscure study that caught mainstream media attention a few years ago. It claimed that the scent of a rare, Hawaiian, aphrodisiac mushroom caused women to spontaneously climax. (The results were at one time published online but they’ve since disappeared.) Anyway, the results have never been replicated in a controlled study. So…who knows!

But mushrooms may not just be a female aphrodisiac. According to UrologyWeb, shiitake mushrooms can improve men’s sperm quality. Learn more ways mushrooms may be able to help you conceive in our article on 5 Foods to Improve Fertility.

The minerals and vitamins in mushrooms

Now, while we don’t really know if mushrooms can offer women spontaneous satisfaction, we do know that there are many reasons to eat mushrooms for health.

For starters, they offer the body zinc. In fact, they are among the lowest-calorie sources of zinc you can find. And zinc is key to blood flow. Without blood flow, you can’t experience sexual climax, spontaneous or otherwise.

Although the vitamins in mushrooms vary slightly by variety, a cup of button mushrooms offers a significant amount of riboflavin. (One serving has about 17% of your daily need). They’re also a source of vitamin B6, vitamin D, niacin and folate.

Another advantage of mushrooms is that they contain several minerals besides zinc. They’re a source of potassium, magnesium, copper, iron and selenium. Although some of these minerals are only found in trace amounts, it’s easy to see why many nutritionists promote mushrooms for health.

If you’re looking to increase your intake of a particular mineral, check the nutrition of each variety. For example, one of the benefits of Maitake mushrooms is that they are high in potassium. And Chanterelle mushrooms are high in fiber.

In addition, mushrooms are frequently promoted as an alternative to red meat. This is, of course, because of their hearty texture. But there’s an even better reason to eat mushrooms as part of a meatless meal.

Are mushrooms high in protein?

You might be surprised to learn that you’ll get protein from eating mushrooms for health. Again, the amount varies by type but according to FoodData Central, a serving of portobello mushrooms offers a couple of grams of protein.

No, it isn’t enough to come close to filling the daily requirement. But eating a meatless meal with mushrooms in place of red meat will probably provide you with the energy you need for a night of unbridled passion.

Additional health benefits of mushrooms

Whether or not your grocery store button mushroom promises a sexual tickle, there are so many reasons to eat mushrooms for health. The fungi are proven to offer antibiotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

In addition, there are mushroom benefits for the skin. The antioxidant content in mushrooms is believed to help fight free radicals and slow the aging process.

And there is also some talk of phytonutrients in mushrooms improving heart health. And since mushrooms are low in calories and cholesterol-free, you can see why they make a great part of a healthy diet – not to mention a great food to eat for sexual health!

Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods

This article was written in 2010 and most recently updated in March 2022.

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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.