Aphrodisiacs help to intensify or arouse sexual desire. Although there is no conclusive scientific evidence supporting aphrodisiac properties, many cultural traditions believe that certain foods, like fruits, can increase and stimulate your sexual appetite. Fortunately, fruits are also beneficial to your overall health and may dually improve your sex life as well as your well being.

Figs are among the most notable fruit aphrodisiacs, according to Spencer Walker in his book “Cook to Bang.” The flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants are concentrated in this fruit, which help to put you in a euphoric haze to prolong sexual desire and intercourse. Besides these compounds of arousal, the physical appearance of figs, strikingly similar to male testicles, is supposed to be a visual stimulant for sexuality, Walker says.

Lychee has a long-standing tradition in Chinese culture as an aphrodisiac, according to Nick Ray in his book “Cambodia.” Lychee is often pressed into a sweet-tasting wine to procure its sexual enhancement abilities, Ray says. These strange fruits resemble oversize chestnuts with a milky, soft interior that has a subdued sweetness. Although there is no definitive compound in lychee that can account for its aphrodisiac status, it has a plentiful amount of vitamin C, potassium and copper conducive to a healthy body.

Bananas may be thought of as aphrodisiacs as they are often considered phallic symbols. Debbie Mandel says in her book “Addicted to Stress,” that the act of simply eating a banana can be sensual but more importantly the high levels of B complex vitamins may be responsible for increased sexual desire. B vitamins help to manufacture sex hormones, according to Mandel, and therefore provide long-term benefits for sexual health.