People don’t often think about how the food they’re eating may be affecting their sex drive, but there are foods that can make your libido plummet.

1. Soy

This one is particularly applicable to men. A study down at Harvard University showed a direct link between how much soy a man consumes and how much testosterone he has. The more soy he ate, the less testosterone he produced! Testosterone is a vital hormone linked to sex drive.

2. Mint

Mint produces menthol, which has a cooling effect on the body. However, it can also have a cooling effect on your sex drive! Chewing ginger will do the opposite, so next time you want to freshen your breath, try ginger to heat things up.

3. Microwaveable popcorn

For this one, it’s not actually the food that causes the decreased libido, but the packaging. The chemicals on the non-stick lining of microwave popcorn bags contain perfluoroalkyl acids, which can kill sexual desire. Instead, try using a popcorn maker.

4. Fried foods

Although tasty, these foods are very high in trans-fats, which can kill sexual desire. They’ve actually been shown to lower testosterone in men, which greatly decreases libido. A better alternative would be a baked potato, which increases dopamine and sexual desire.

5. Alcohol

Regular drinking actually leads to a chemical reaction in the nervous system, which can decrease sensitivity. While it may increase confidence, it could lower sensitivity in the bedroom.

6. Coffee

The caffeine in coffee has the potential to be a serious stressor on the body. Hormonal imbalances can affect a person’s sex drive drastically. Coffee may help you in the morning, but not at night!

Eating a healthy diet is a part of functioning well, and that applies to sexual functioning too. Make sure you are giving your body what it needs to keep you healthy, active and sexually fulfilled.