28 foods to put you in the mood

Boost libido with these natural aphrodisiacs

Sex drive taken a nosedive? It's only natural for libido to dwindle with age, as levels of testosterone - men's main sex hormone - start to dip. Throw in hectic work schedules, kids, relationship problems and general day-to-day stress, and it's little wonder between-the-sheets motivation takes a knock.

Luckily, alongside plenty of exercise and less stress, the world of food can provide a libido lift. So take the following ingredients and get ready to cook up a storm...

1. Saffron

Supplements can be used if you struggle to fit it into your diet, but either way this is one ingredient worth seeking out. "A group of men who took 30mg of saffron every day for a month," says Alex Glover, senior nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, "noticed greater improvements in erectile function than the group given a placebo."

2. Maca

Traditionally ground down to maca powder - which can be added to smoothies, bakes and porridge - this root can have a powerful effect on a man's hormones.

"In 2002," Glover explains, "researchers from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia in Peru reported that men taking at least 1,500mg of maca per day for 12 weeks had increased sexual desire after just eight weeks."

Consume up to three teaspoons per day, or take maca in supplement form. (Though Arina Kuzmina, a certified integrative health coach and nutritionist, warns that it's best taken in the morning, as it acts as a stimulant.)

3. Burdock

Dandelion's sidekick, this root is considered a natural aphrodisiac. "Burdock root extract is found in a variety of forms," says Glover, "including carbonated drinks, herbal teas, powder formulas and oils." If you get your hands on the whole food ingredient itself, roast it as you would other root vegetables.