Pineapple Aphrodisiac, Cure for Impotence & ED

As an authority on aphrodisiac foods, I get lots of questions about specific ingredients. But one that consistently comes up, particularly when I’m questioned by men is, “Is pineapple aphrodisiac?”

Everyone is pleased to hear that my answer is, “Yes!” Pineapple is known historically as an aphrodisiac for a variety of reasons.

Why is pineapple an aphrodisiac?

The earliest use I can find for pineapple beyond a tasty, tropical fruit is as a symbol of hospitality. The pineapple was introduced in European culture shortly after Columbus “discovered” the New World.

Foreign and exotic, the fruit was embraced as a status symbol because those who could afford it possessed a certain level of wealth. According to The Aphrodisiac Encyclopaedia, the fruit was sometimes rented out for the night as the topper to a fruit display and returned, whole and untouched, to the owner on the next morning.

As is often the case, this luxury food was also eventually labeled as a food of desire.

But those who consumed the tropical fruit discovered that it seemed to give the eater a boost in the bedroom. It wasn’t understood in pineapple’s early days of popularity but we now understand why this fruit is known for giving the sex life a boost. And it has to do with some important nutrients pineapple can provide in a very sweet package.

RELATED: Nutrition for Sexual Health

The benefits of pineapple sexually

It can’t be disputed that pineapple ranks among the world’s healthy foods. But if you’re looking for a food that is particularly good for your sex life, pineapple comes out near the top of the list.

For starters, the fruit is loaded with vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help strengthen your immune system. This antioxidant is also proven to fight inflammation.

How is this going to help you sexually? Well, this antioxidant power is linked with improving blood flow. And without healthy blood flow, sexual arousal and climax can be difficult if not impossible.

An anti-aging fruit

The antioxidants in pineapple not only help support good blood flow but antioxidants also fight aging. Which means they help us look and feel our most vibrant. This, in turn, will make you feel your sexiest. Don’t we all want to feel like our best selves?

Is pineapple a cure for impotence?

Beyond being a standout source of vitamin C, this tropical fruit is a very good food source of manganese. And this could be where pineapple gets its reputation for fighting impotence. Manganese is well known as essential for the health of human libido, particularly for men. In lab studies, manganese deficiencies caused loss of libido and a lack of seminal fluid.

So the fact that one cup of pineapple provides the body with 67% of the recommended daily intake of manganese is significant when it comes to men’s health.

But there are more reasons men may want to enjoy pineapple. In fact, there are enough reasons linking pineapple with men’s health that Eat Something Sexy nutrition director Delahna Flagg and I dedicated an entire article to it and even named pineapple one of the 10 Best Foods for Men.

Pineapple aphrodisiac for sex hormone production

One other nutrient in pineapple that can give your sex life a boost is thiamine. Thiamine stimulates sexual hormone production. A cup of fresh pineapple chunks will provide you with about 11% of your daily value of thiamine, which is not bad for a tasty treat! And this will go a long way toward ensuring you are producing the hormones you need for sexual health and pleasure. (Keep in mind that this is a benefit of pineapple sexually for women as well as men!)

Does pineapple make you horny?

When anyone starts to quiz me on the topic of pineapple as an aphrodisiac, this is one of the questions that most often comes up. As you can see above, pineapple offers a remarkable number of nutrients to boost sexual health and possibly even sexual pleasure.

But will eating pineapple turn you on? Probably not, unless tart and tangy fruits generally stir a fire in your loins. If you want an aphrodisiac food with an immediate, physiological effect, pineapple is not your fruit. Instead, look to foods like chile peppers, which make your lips plump and can raise your body temperature. Or even coffee, which also warms you up while it boosts energy and elevates mood.

But if you want an aphrodisiac food with a long list of nutrients known to support sexual health, pineapple is one of the best. When you add it all up from a nutritional perspective it’s easy to see why this tangy fruit is an aphrodisiac, particularly for men.

TO TRY: Homemade Cheesecake with Sauteed Pineapple

What do pineapples represent sexually?

There is one other interesting piece of pineapple lore. Although the fruit was known as a symbol of hospitality in the United States since the 17th century, it seems to have…err…sprouted a new symbolic meaning.

Though I wouldn’t exactly consider this a reason to classify pineapple as aphrodisiac necessarily, this exotic fruit is now the symbol of swingers. That’s right, the pineapple you once displayed outside your front door now announces you, at least to a small portion of the population, as celebrating a certain type of sexual freedom. Because this association lends nothing to sexual desire or your ability to perform sexually, I’m inclined to dismiss it as urban lore. But I suppose if you’re into swinging, seeing a pineapple lamp in a front window could be a turn-on.

What happens if you put a pineapple upside down in your shopping cart?

And apparently, if you put a pineapple upside down in your shopping cart, you’re sending the message that you’re looking for partners in the produce aisle. At least one radio station is convinced enough of this symbolism that they felt the need to warn their supporters on their website. I can’t say that I’ve ever tested the theory myself but it does make me wonder what you’re conveying if you show up at someone’s house with a pineapple upside-down cake!

Is pineapple juice aphrodisiac?

And as for that thing you’ve probably been wondering about since the start of this article…If a man drinks pineapple juice, will it improve the experience (or flavor) of the bodily fluids involved in one particular oral act?

Sadly, there is absolutely no scientific research to substantiate the claim that pineapple juice has this effect on sperm. That being said, everything a man eats will impact the pH of sperm, which ultimately will change what it tastes like, even if it is ever so slightly. According to Men’s Health, the acidity of pineapple may work to tone down the bitter flavor of sperm.

Some noted authorities in this area, including adult film actress Annie Sprinkle, have weighed in on the subject. Maintaining that the fruit impacts a woman’s pleasure during oral sex, Sprinkle recommends a man consume fresh pineapple or juice a few hours before this type of intimate exchange of body fluids. Seems like pretty sound advice and one that certainly adds up to proving that pineapple is an aphrodisiac.

Cooking and recipes

Pineapple is, of course, wonderful when eaten fresh and raw, just the way it is. But this is a great fruit for blending into smoothies and cocktails. Pineapple is also a fun fruit to grill. You can also broil it, sprinkled with a little brown sugar. And if you’re looking to increase your pineapple intake, don’t forget about Hawaiian pizza!

Here are more great cooking ideas for using pineapple:

Saffron Cheesecake with Sauteed Pineapple

Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce

Green Tea Rum Punch

Discover more of the world’s greatest aphrodisiac foods

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