Do you know the most important factor in good sexual health? It's your mind. Studies involving men and women have shown that it is the mind that determines sexual performance and drive more than anything else. Men and women were given a placebo and told that it would increase their libido and performance; the majority stated that they saw a significant increase in those areas which show us that it is the mind more than a pill that is responsible for the change.

So what does food have to do with sexual and emotional health and how the mind works to help us have better health?

For women, the addition of soy in the diet will help in vaginal lubrication because soy adheres to the estrogen receptors, which are responsible for determining how much lubrication the vagina needs. It also helps to reduce the occurrence of hot flashes that happen during menopause. For men, soy is beneficial to helping the prostate healthy. Adding chili peppers and ginger to your diet will help improve your circulation and stimulate nerve endings, which will improve your sexual pleasure.

Another added benefit to eating heart healthy foods is that they also help a man's sexual health by keeping the blood flowing properly through the arteries. If you have problems such as high blood pressure and coronary artery disease this can affect the function of the male organs due to the inability of the blood flow to reach the genital area, which can cause erectile dysfunction.

There are also a number of foods that are said to directly affect sexual performance due to their aphrodisiac influence. These foods include ginseng, bananas, figs, asparagus, eels, oysters, and rhino horn which supposedly increases sexual appetite.

There are many myths that pertain to food and sexual health that date back thousands of years, such as eating certain roots that are phallic shaped will increase a man's performance but there are some true benefits from certain foods and beverages.

The consumption of alcohol relaxes you and gives you a short term artificial boost in self confidence. Caffeine and sugar are the solution for a quick energy fix. These are just some quick short term things, it is the diet we follow daily for a long time that will go far to creating better sexual health. Eating lean foods like fish along with fruits and vegetables are not just good for your sexual health but for your heart as well.