Apples are often said to be healthy snack and a good low-calorie food - but could they also be a promising aphrodisiac?

That’s the case according to a study that says the fruit can boost sexual pleasure in women.

The researchers found a link between enhanced sexual function in healthy women and regular daily apple use.

In the study published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics they analysed 731 healthy Italian women aged 18 to 43.

All of the participants were asked to report on their daily apple consumption and their eating habits.

They were then split into two groups, one that ate apples regularly - more than one a day - and another that ate less than one a day.

The participants were then also asked to fill out the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).

The FSFI required them to answer 19 questions about their sexual activities including frequency and overall satisfaction, reports Huffington Post.

It was found that eating an apple a day was linked with higher FSFI scores, suggesting it increased their sexual pleasure.

Eating more apples apparently increased their lubrication and sexual function, enhancing the experience according to the study.

The researchers think the reason for this may be because apples contain phloridzin.

This is a compound that is quite similar to the female sex hormone called estradiol, which plays a large role in sexual arousal.

‘This study suggests a potential relationship between regular daily apple consumption and better sexuality in our young women population,’ the researchers conclude.