Study: can hot drinks before sleep boost your libido?

Hot chocolate is the most popular pre-sex drink

We are probably all well aware that certain foods can positively affect health. Some of them help to maintain youthful skin, others reduce the risk of cancer, and others are associated with a better functioning digestive system. But did you know that there's a rather common drink that can help improve your sex life if you drink it before bed?

According to experts, enjoying a cup of hot chocolate with your partner before bedtime can have a positive impact on your sex life as it can increase stamina. In addition, a survey showed that hot chocolate is probably the most popular pre-sex drink among all adults^[1].

Almost 1 in 5 (i.e. 19%) of people surveyed said they like to have a hot chocolate drink before sex. The same proportion of respondents said that they do not start love play until they have had a cup of tea.

Illicit Encounters, a dating site for married couples in the UK looking for adventure, collected this data. The site surveyed 2,000 adults to find out if they drink a favorite beverage before sex.

Alcohol was the most popular drink before sex

The most popular answers were hot chocolate and English breakfast tea, with 19% of respondents choosing both. 12% of respondents said they enjoy an alcoholic drink before sex. And every fourth respondent (i.e. 10%) mentioned a cup of warm milk, as they admitted that it helps them relax.

Five per cent of respondents said they prefer peppermint tea, chamomile tea and coffee before sex. Also, 5% of respondents said they like to hydrate before sex or any other strenuous activity and drink a glass of water.

Even 5% of respondents reported a rather strange choice—a cup of rich broth made from Bovril meat extract paste, which UK residents call beef tea.

Chocolate is a natural aphrodisiac that can help create intimate moments

"Jessica Leoni, a spokeswoman for Illicit Encounters, said she was not surprised to see that hot chocolate came top of the poll. There is "something deliciously erotic" about the drink, she said^[2]. Leoni added:

"Chocolate is an aphrodisiac, so a late-night cup [of hot chocolate] is a perfectly understandable choice."

Leoni is right - chocolate is certainly considered one of the aphrodisiacs that can improve sex life. This sweet treat contains an amino acid known as L-arginine.

In fact, L-arginine is one of many essential amino acids for the proper functioning of the body. L-arginine plays an important role in the formation of proteins, which are needed to build muscles and repair tissues.

The body converts this amino acid into nitric oxide, which helps to open blood vessels. So, chocolate can actually improve blood circulation and help direct nitric oxide to the erogenous zones, thus increasing sensitivity to touch during intimate moments.

Although most hot chocolate mixes are made from milk chocolate powder, if you want to maximize your sensations and sexuality with chocolate, you are better off eating dark chocolate. After all, dark chocolate has a higher L-arginine content. This means that black chocolate can be more effective in helping to lower blood pressure and improve heart health. The latter can give you more stamina for longer intimate moments^[3].

Benefits of dark chocolate: helps heart, blood vessels and cholesterol

Chocolate has a tradition dating back to Mayan times and has been enjoyed since 2000. In those days, however, chocolate was drunk cold: coffee seeds were ground into flour and then mixed with water and cornflour. The Mayans liked to flavor the chocolate drink with chili pepper and honey. The thick, rich-tasting chocolate drink was served at the end of traditional celebrations, rituals or simply to close transactions.

Chocolate has been known to give energy and act as an aphrodisiac since Aztec times. The Aztecs even believed it was a gods drink for the upper classes^[4].

Nowadays, chocolate still plays a key role in human health. After all, scientific studies show that chocolate is good for the human body.

It is true that the high fat and sugar content of chocolate makes it seem like an inappropriate snack to many. Its consumption is often linked to acne, obesity, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease and diabetes. However, according to scientists, chocolate is not just a negative food. Eating chocolate in moderation can help your health.

Some researchers explain that eating dark chocolate in moderation can help:

• lowering cholesterol,
• preventing cognitive decline,
• reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems.

Although more research would be needed to prove the benefits of chocolate more conclusively, one study published in The Journal of Nutrition suggests that eating chocolate may help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, also known as 'bad cholesterol'. The authors concluded that chocolate can be an excellent addition to a low-fat diet. They say chocolate can support cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol and improving blood pressure.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School say that drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day can help keep the brain healthy and slow memory decline in older people. The hot chocolate helps improve blood flow to areas of the brain that need more energy^[5].

Another laboratory experiment conducted in 2014 showed that a cocoa extract called lavadam could reduce or prevent nerve damage in Alzheimer's patients. The extract can help slow down disease symptoms, such as cognitive decline.

As far as heart disease is concerned, one study has shown that eating chocolate can help reduce the risk of heart disease by up to a third. Canadian researchers found that people who ate chocolate were 22% less likely to suffer a stroke than those who did not.

Chocolate is also thought to positively affect the fetus growing in the womb, possibly promoting fetal growth and development.

Of course, it is important to realize that chocolate contains not only beneficial substances but also substances that should be avoided. For example, chocolate products contain sugar and fat. Therefore, chocolate should be enjoyed only occasionally and in small quantities^[6].

Chocolate is thought to have a positive effect on mood

Chocolate is not only scientifically proven to have health benefits but also to improve sex life and general well-being. It is often claimed that sweet treats can also positively affect a person's mood. And a good mood is also important for having a good time in the bedroom or just feeling great.

Chocolate contains many compounds linked to mood-elevating chemicals in the brain. Phenylethylamine, a natural antidepressant and one of the chemicals the brain produces when we fall in love, is often mentioned.

Chocolate also contains low levels of tryptophan, an amino acid involved in the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that causes feelings of happiness. A handful of other substances also contribute to chocolate's positive effects on our mood—for example, theobromine can increase heart rate, and caffeine is a well-known 'wake-up' drug^[7].

However, most of these compounds are in really small amounts in chocolate. In addition, some scientists believe that compounds that have a positive mood are probably almost completely digested before they even reach the brain. The benefits of chocolate for mood are, therefore, still quite controversial.