Size Matters:
The Hard Facts About Male Sexuality That Every Woman Should Know

By: Harry Fisch, MD and Kara Baskin

The following are exerpts from "Size Matters."

Is there any link between food and sexual performance?

Absolutely! This is a big topic, of course. I'm going to focus here on a few of the key food nutrients that have a clear link to sexual performance. First are foods that promote the production of a chemical in the body called nitric oxide. This is actually a gas that is released in minute amounts and is vital to both health blood vessels and the ability to get an erection. Nitric oxide is made from an amino acid called arginine. The following foods are rich in arginine:

• Beans
• Walnuts
• Cold-water fish such as salmon and tuna
• Soy products
• Oats
• Almonds

Another class of nutrients important for sexual health are the bioflavonoids. These are plant compounds that work like antioxidants, scavenging by-products of the body's metabolism or harmful molecules resulting from exposure to environmental pollutants like smog, cigarette smoke, or pesticides. Fruit and vegetables are the main sources of bioflavonoids. The table shows the types of bioflavonoids and some of the best food sources for each.