Top 8 sexiest vitamins & minerals and their secret benefits

This (not) just in: getting your daily dose of vitamins isn’t just good for your overall health—when you’re getting properly nourished, your sex life benefits too. Who knew that turning the heat up in your proverbial bedroom could happen so….organically?

And the best part is, you don't need a cabinet full of supplements to get your daily dose. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, popping a pill is no substitute for a well-balanced diet and, well, a well-balanced life. 

Here are the top 8 sexiest vitamins and minerals, their best natural sources, and their sexy benefits to boot, baby.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble nutrient that helps your body form healthy teeth, bones, soft tissues, skin, hair, and nails. It also helps you ward off bacterial and viral infections.

Where to get it: eggs, milk, meat, carrots, sweet potatoes, winter squash, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach, kale, and collard greens. Some spices are also high in vitamin A, including paprika, cayenne, and chili powder.

Why it’s sexy: vitamin A helps regulate the production and function of sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone by supporting the endocrine system and promoting healthy reproductive tissues. It also helps maintain healthy mucous membranes, which are vital to reproductive health, and enhance immune function, which can prevent infections affecting sexual organs. For men, vitamin A is vital to sperm production. Vitamin A+, more like.

2. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. It helps protects your cells from damage. It also helps your body repair muscle cells.

Where to get it: avocados are loaded with vitamin E. You can also get it in oily fish, eggs, and dairy products. Foods that are particularly high in vitamin E include sunflower seeds and almonds, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, bell peppers, and asparagus. Mmm.

Why it’s sexy: vitamin E can help improve your body’s production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone alike. Key to boosting stamina and energy, it's also good for blood circulation—translation: it increases blood flow and oxygen to your genitalia, which in turn increases sexual sensation.

3. Zinc

Zinc is an essential mineral that supports immune function, wound healing, DNA synthesis, and cell division, contributing to overall health and development.

Where to get it: you can find this super mineral in pulses, whole grains, eggs, sea food, red meat, cheese, baked beans, pumpkin seeds, and fortified cereals. Fun fact: oysters, known for their aphrodisiac qualities, contain more zinc than any other food, with one serving providing 673% of your daily value.

Why it’s sexy: eating high-zinc foods could boost your sex drive by helping to improve blood flow and hormone levels. Zinc helps to increase stamina, regulate testosterone levels, and improve sperm quality. Lack of zinc can actually contribute to sterility or infertility. In a recent study of post-menopausal women, supplementing with zinc led to significant improvements in desire, arousal, sexual satisfaction and vaginal lubrication.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the health of your cells, promotes healthy teeth and gums, heals wounds, and helps you resist infection. It also improves your body’s capacity to absorb iron.

Where to get it: papaya, citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and dark leafy greens, such as kale, mustard greens, and chard. Basil too, in addition to providing magnesium, iron, and manganese, is a good source of vitamin C.

Why it’s sexy: vitamin C can improve sexual health by enhancing blood flow and reducing oxidative stress, which may contribute to better erectile function and overall sexual wellbeing. A powerful ally in the fight against stress and the corresponding oxidative stress that happens in our bodies, vitamin C can also help reignite the desire that was buried under all that worry, pressure, and tension.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in muscle and nerve function, blood sugar control, and bone health, while also helping to reduce inflammation and support the immune system.

Where to get it: nuts, seeds, eggs, whole grains, brown rice and dark green leafy vegetables, to name just a few.

Why it’s sexy: an adequate quantity of magnesium aids in getting quality sleep, which in turn, improves the quality of the sex we have. Magnesium also benefits sexual health by improving blood flow, supporting healthy hormone levels, and reducing stress, all of which can enhance libido and sexual performance.

6. B Vitamins

Vitamins B-6, B-12, and B-9 (AKA folic acid) are essential for proper nerve function, the synthesis of DNA, and the formation of red blood cells in your body. They also help maintain your brain function, prevent anemia, and support metabolism.

Where to get it: B vitamins can be found in brown rice, seafood, green leafy vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, milk, and wholegrain bread. Some breakfast cereals, fruit juices, and other products are fortified with folic acid.

Why it’s sexy: B-vitamins contribute to sexual health by boosting energy levels, supporting hormone production, and improving circulation, all of which can boost sex drive and heighten performance. Deficiency of vitamin B12 may contribute to lack of pleasure at the time of climax, and men with a B-12 deficiency can suffer from premature ejaculation.

7. Iron

Iron is an essential mineral that is crucial for producing hemoglobin, which transports oxygen in the blood, thereby supporting energy levels, cognitive function, and overall vitality.

Where to get it: iron can be found in red meat, egg yolk, green vegetables and dry fruits.

Why it’s sexy: Iron is critical for maintaining the level of your sexual arousal, and indeed, for maintaining enough energy to actually get it on. Anaemia could be one of the causes for lack of sexual desire and also quality of erection. Iron deficiency can contribute to both of these issues. If you experience any abnormal uterine bleeding (menstruating when you shouldn’t be, for longer than normal, or heavier than normal), consider getting your iron levels checked.

8. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is critical for the health of your bones and immune system, as well as calcium absorption. According to the National Cancer Institute, it may also help lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Where to get it: sunshine! While there is a time and a place to slather on the SPF, don’t be afraid of the sun. It is the source of all life, after all. Though sunshine is by far the richest source of vitamin D, foods that also provide vitamin D include salmon, herring, catfish, trout, oysters, milk, eggs, and shiitake mushrooms—who knew?

Why it’s sexy:  Vitamin D affects sex hormones by regulating the production of testosterone and estrogen, which are crucial for maintaining reproductive health and sexual function in people of all genders. According to one study, vitamin D bumped up sexual desire and improved orgasm and sexual satisfaction among women aged 20-40—while improving their mood, too.

Bottom line: be healthy, for all the reasons! And understand that when you eat well and feel the sun grace your face, your sexual health will be greatly improved, by extension. Hot sex is a right, so get yours. <3