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“Superfoods” such as honey, oysters, watermelon, and ginger may boost testosterone, sperm quality, and erectile function, according to a biochemical review.

Nutritional aphrodisiacs—such as honey, watermelon, oysters, and ginseng— and aromatase inhibitors may benefit male libido and fertility, according to a recent review of the biochemical and pharmacologic evidence of their active constituents and mechanisms of action published in Current Research in Food Science.

The review’s coauthors, Haitham Al-Madhagi of Dhamar University and Abd Alraouf Tarabishi of the University of Aleppo, pointed out that “many men seek natural and nutritional remedies that can enhance their sexual performance and reproductive health. These remedies are based on the consumption of aphrodisiac foods that have proven benefits for libido and fertility.”

According to the authors, clinicians often treat erectile dysfunction (ED) with oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5i), which are considered safe and effective. They also use intracavernosal injections, hormonal replacement, vacuum erection devices, and penile prosthesis implants for patients who have organic ED or do not tolerate PDE5i.

The researchers stated that these interventions offer short‐term benefit, may carry a risk of addiction, and can cause serious adverse effects—including dysrhythmias, penile lesions, and pain—that may ultimately necessitate re-operation and removal.

As an alternative to these interventions, natural and nutritional remedies are widely favored because they are essentially foods and presumed to pose minimal harm, according to the authors.

“Therefore, the goal of this paper is to provide a review of the most common nutritional aphrodisiacs [that may enhance] libido and fertility, highlighting the potential active constituents as well as the underlying mechanisms, the researchers wrote.

“Superfoods” Affecting Testosterone & Spermatogenesis

After an extensive review of existing literature, the authors composed a list of “superfoods” that may increase testosterone synthesis, secretion, and spermatogenesis:

• Honey: According to the authors, honey improves men’s libido by increasing circulating testosterone; promoting luteinizing hormone, which leads to testosterone synthesis and secretion; halting aromatase activity, which degrades testosterone and converts it to estradiol; and providing antioxidants that scavenge free radicals in testicular tissues.
• Watermelon: Watermelon improves semen quality, reverses ED, enhances testicular redox status, and improves gonadotropin secretion due to its vitamins, including E and C, and phytochemicals such as phenols and flavonoids, the authors stated. Watermelon also contains citrulline, which is metabolized to arginine, a precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide, which leads to vasodilation and increased blood flow to the testes.
• Ginger: The researchers reported that ginger can enhance libido by neutralizing reactive oxygen species, diminishing systemic inflammation, increasing serum luteinizing hormone levels, and decreasing the levels of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, and 17β-estradiol. Ginger reportedly boosts circulating testosterone concentrations. Also, 6-gingerol, the active component of ginger, activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate and enhances the synthesis and liberation of nitric oxide to increase blood flow to the testes.
• Seafood: Zinc in oysters reportedly drives testosterone synthesis and leads to the production of nitric oxide and increased blood flow to the penis. Retinoic acid (vitamin A) in fish and fish oil can enhance semen quality, the authors noted.
• Ginseng: Ginseng elevates estrogen receptor beta levels in the brain, potentially counteracting stress through antiapoptotic and antioxidative actions. The authors discovered that ginseng saponins have been shown to enhance libido and sexual potency by modulating the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway.
• Nuts: Walnuts are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid. The researchers found that, in one study, 117 men who consumed 75 g of walnuts daily for 12 weeks showed improvements in sperm health, motility, and morphology, which were apparently related to increased blood levels of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and alpha-linolenic acid. In a separate study, 119 men who consumed 60 g of a mix of almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts daily showed significantly increased quantity, health, motility, and morphology of sperm versus men who did not consume nuts.
• Probiotics: Probiotics appear to increase testosterone levels by modulating the gut microbiome and its interactions with the endocrine system, the researchers stated. They noted a randomized, controlled trial of 100 men who were infertile in whom supplementation with a probiotic strain of Lactobacillus plantarum improved sperm motility, morphology, viability, and concentration compared with placebo. The mechanisms by which probiotics improve semen quality are not fully understood, but they may involve reducing sperm cell oxidative stress and DNA damage, the authors explained.
• Avocados: The researchers reported that the high phytonutrient content in avocados likely promotes sexual desire, attraction, and pleasure. Due to their abundant vitamin E, avocado consumption may enhance sperm quality. In addition, the zinc in avocados may boost testosterone production and fertility.
• Aromatase inhibitors: Aromatase, produced in the testes and epididymis, converts androgens, including testosterone, into estrogens, such as estradiol. The authors stated that inhibiting this enzyme can help increase testosterone levels and improve semen parameters. In addition to pharmaceutical aromatase inhibitors, natural aromatase inhibitors have been studied for their potential to treat male infertility. These include nettle root or nettle leaves, maca extract, grape seed extract, chrysin, epigallocatechin gallate, and resveratrol.

Future Research

The authors recommended further related research, including clinical trials that explore the mechanisms of action of nutritional aphrodisiacs.

“Moreover, the synergistic actions of antioxidants and testosterone boosters or aromatase blockers should be examined in vivo setup,” they concluded.