You’re in bed with your partner, getting ready for some passionate love-making, and you notice a strange aroma. Suddenly all of that sexual energy is gone and you’re stuck in the middle of an awkward moment. Chances are relatively high this has happened to you, and if not you’re missing out on an important learning experience. The lesson to be learned is this: The foods we eat and the beverages we drink will have an effect on our sex lives.

First and foremost this pertains to both men and women. No one is safe when it comes to biology, regardless of what they say. Men are always complaining about how women can smell “down there,” but men are just as human and are capable of smelling “down there” as well. There are obvious consequences for this type of situation, the death of foreplay being the most obvious one. No one, and I mean no one, is going to want to partake in oral sex when their partner has a peculiar smell hovering around their nether regions. And when there’s a smell, it is safe to assume that there will be a taste that goes hand in hand with said smell.

If you have a diet that is filled with red meats, starchy vegetables and strong beer you are not going to find anyone, male or female, that is going to willingly explore your sexy areas. Granted there are exceptions to this rule and some people enjoy such smells and tastes from their partner, but the majority of the time this is not the case.

Growing up we were always told to have a balanced diet, to eat in moderation from every aspect of the food pyramid and from every food group. Not only is this healthy and will all but ensure a long life, but it will also ensure a happy and productive sex life for you and your partners. Fruits and water seem to be two of the most important factors when it comes to the smell, and taste, we can associate with sex. Both men and women who eat a good amount of fruit and drink water throughout the day can look forward to smelling cleaner and tasting sweeter.

Ask anyone who has every dated a vegetarian and chances are you will hear the same thing. I don’t know if the same can be said for vegans, but chances are the results will be similar if not the same. And to all those who think eating pineapples and other sweet tasting fruits days before having sex is a myth, I can assure you that it is not. I admit I was very skeptical when it was suggested to me by the woman I was seeing at the time, but it was most definitely worth it.

So to all the beer drinking carnivores out there, from both genders, if you want more foreplay then it’s time to make some changes to your diet. Who know, maybe this is exactly the kind of change you’ve been looking for?