Check Out Nature's Amazing Viagras!

#1 Sex Does A Body Good!

Dr. Mercola reminds us that having sex as little as one to two times per week can:

Boost immunity

Improve heart health

Lower blood pressure

Burn as many as 3-4 calories per minute

Release pain-reducing hormones

Reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men

Improve sleep

Release hormones to ease stress

But sometimes we're just not in the mood. It can be hard to relieve the pressure. Here's some food to help boost that libido!

#2 Watermelon!

Some studies suggest people have more sex on the brain in the summertime and we wonder if this warm-weather favorite fruit might have something to do with it. Researchers at Texas A&M University found a nutrient contained in watermelons, citrulline, can have a Viagra-like effect on the body. Citrulline is converted into arginine in the body. "Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it," Dr. Bhimu Patil said in a release.

#3 Saffron

"Not only does saffron appear to have aphrodisiac properties for both men and women," Marcone says, "but it helps with anxiety, insomnia, PMS and insulin resistance."

The seductive spice, whose red-gold threads come from a type of crocus that is native to Mediterranean Europe and Southwest Asia (not the same variety that pokes its pretty head through Canadian snows in early spring), contains antioxidants including crocin, crocetin and safranal. These are believed to be responsible for increasing sexual desire and arousal, according to studies Marcone reviewed that measured blood flow to sexual organs and frequency of sexual encounters after consuming the spice.

Nutmeg, cloves, garlic and ginger also look promising for sexual potency, Marcone says, but more research is needed. Don't hold your breath, though; none of these natural products can be patented, so drug companies aren't racing to sponsor such a study.

#4 Oysters

Zinc is thought to be good for sexual health (it can help testosterone and sperm production in men) and the No. 1 source is oysters. A lot of shellfishincluding oysters, clams, crabs, lobsters and musselsare high in zinc, which can trigger a surge in the production of sex hormones. If you can't eat the shellfish there is another source of zinc that can help! Try Sesame seeds or breakfast cereals that also contain zinc, such as Kellogg's All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes. One serving (3/4 cup) has more than 100% of the recommended daily intake.

#5 Raspberries

Sweet black raspberries or their seeds alone can help both men and women stay in the mood for an extended period of time. This phytochemical-rich food enhances both libido and sexual endurance. It's recommended to eat 10 berries or a tablespoon of their seeds a couple of hours before getting intimate.