We examine foods that can kick-start your sex drive and find out which treats will get you in the mood

FROM magic ingredients in ice cream to tea used in ancient sex rituals, there are plenty of products said to give your libido a boost.

But how accurate are their claims to get you going in the sack?

Here, nutritionist KIM PEARSON separates the sex-drive saviours from the libido lies.

Sibberi Pure Natural Birch Water (250ml), £1.99,

Used by the Sambia Tribe in Papua New Guinea for centuries, the sap from the birch tree claims to heighten sex drive and has been used in rituals for centuries.

Kim says: Like any water, birch water is good for hydration and is low in sugar.

There are claims it can boost libido, reduce cellulite, flush out toxins and cure bronchitis and arthritis, which would put you in a better mood for sex. But, like any new superfood, there is little evidence to back up the claims.

Yee Kwan Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream (500ml), £4.99,

Green tea is rich in a compound called catechin which boosts sex drive by promoting blood flow to the nether regions.

Kim says: Green tea also has L-theanine, which can increase dopamine levels in the body putting you in a better mood. However, this ice cream only contains two per cent green tea.

Its second highest ingredient is sugar so you would be better off drinking a good quality green tea.

Green tea has a host of health benefits though so it’s worth drinking – and if you get a libido boost, all the better.

Fresh stir-in basil pesto (145g), £2.29,

People with higher levels of zinc in their system generally have an increased sex drive – and the pine nuts found in basil pesto are packed full of the stuff.

Kim says: Zinc is vital in the production of testosterone and there is a link between erectile dysfunction and zinc deficiency.

However, if you were looking to boost your zinc levels, you wouldn’t find sufficient amounts in a few spoonfuls of pesto sauce.

A much better option would be oysters, which are an aphrodisiac.

Starbucks double-shot iced espresso coffee (200ml), £1.60,

Several US animal-based studies have found caffeine contains a stimulant, which puts females in the mood for sex.

Kim says: The University of Texas found that people who consumed between 85mg and 170mg of caffeine a day were 42 per cent less likely to report erectile dysfunction – but too much coffee can cause other health problems.

Pom Wonderful 100 per cent Pomegranate Juice (710ml), £3.56,

The Middle Eastern fruit juice has a positive effect on erectile dysfunction, research has found.

Kim says: Participants in a study that drank a glass of pomegranate juice a day, experienced a surge of testosterone, according to researchers at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh.

However, it’s packed with sugar so limit yourself  as, while your sex drive might thank you for it, your waistline won’t.

Guinness (4x440ml), £4,

Guinness is rich in probiotic properties and contains plenty of vitamins and minerals. A pint a day has also been found to improve heart health.

Kim says: Phytoestrogens are found in dark beers and have a host of health benefits.

Studies into breast and ovarian cancer have found phytoestrogens improve health during menopause.

There’s some evidence linking them with delayed orgasm too so, while they might not boost libido, they could make you last longer.

Tesco Finest Green Jasmine Pyramid Tea, £2.89,

Jasmine tea – used medicinally in China for centuries –  has been found to be beneficial during pregnancy. It contains caffeine though so shouldn’t be consumed in large quantities.

Kim says: Jasmine tea is packed with antioxidants which boost the immune system and reduce high blood pressure. But whether it directly boosts libido is yet to be scientifically proven.

Sugar cane syrup (70cl), £4.49,

Sugar cane syrup is promoted in certain parts of Africa as a libido-booster and general health tonic.

Kim says: While it may be popular in certain African countries, there’s no science to back this claim up and generally, sugar is a libido killer.

Men with blood-sugar imbalances may find maintaining an erection difficult, and crashing moods from sugar highs and lows will do little to enhance your efforts.

Beet It beetroot juice (1litre), £2.48,

As well as being full of vitamins C and B, potassium and fibre, beetroot contains a compound that causes blood vessels to dilate.

Kim says: The Roman empire used beetroots to boost bedroom activity and research has found the juice contains dietary nitrate which improves blood flow over the whole body, including extremities.

But if you want to get the most from beetroot, roast it instead of drinking the juice which is fairly high in sugar.