NEW research shows that nearly half of all women have come away from sex feeling more down than before they got it on.

    Forty-six percent of young women say they have experienced the post-sex blues, or what scientists call postcoital dysphoria (PCD), according to a new study published in the journal Sexual Medicine. One in 20 report experiencing it more than once in the past four weeks.

    Why women feel sadness or anxiety after sex isn’t clear; researchers say that it might have an evolutionary function. But experts do know that specific foods can reduce anxiety, improve your mood, and enhance your performance in bed by increasing blood flow and levels of the pleasure hormone dopamine — leading to a healthier, happier you after sex.

    Eat these before date night and you’ll end the night pleased with your lover — and yourself.

    Pumpkin seeds

    Pumpkin seeds are like crunchy little nuggets of Prozac. They’re one of the best food sources of an amino acid known as tryptophan, which helps the production of serotonin in your brain. Antidepressants help the brain to circulate serotonin, so if you’re taking them now, these little pumpkin pick-me-ups may make them even more effective.

    Apples

    An apple a day may help keep the doctor away, but it can help bring one, and others, closer. Italian researchers divided more than 700 female subjects into two groups: those who ate apples daily and those who didn’t. They found that those who regularly consumed the fruit — which is rich in sex-boosting phytoestrogens, polyphenols and antioxidants — had more enjoyable and pleasurable sex than those who didn’t.

    Green tea

    More green tea makes you sexier, for the simple fact that it blasts belly fat with abandon. Its metabolism-boosting compounds, called catechins, increase metabolism and speed the liver’s capacity for turning fat into energy. But that’s not all: Catechins also boost desire by promoting blood flow to your nether region. Catechins kill off free radicals that damage and inflame blood vessels, increasing their ability to transport blood. They also cause blood vessel cells to release nitric oxide, which increases the size of the blood vessels, leading to improved blood flow.

    Red wine

    If you’re looking for a way to simultaneously boost your libido and calm those pre-date jitters, pour yourself just one glass of red wine. Women who drank one to two glasses of the stuff had heightened sexual desire compared to ladies who didn’t down any vino, a Journal of Sexual Medicine study found. The elixir has a rich antioxidant profile that, like green tea, triggers nitric oxide production in the blood, relaxing artery walls. Just be sure to cut yourself off after your second glass; enjoying more than that didn’t stimulate any further arousal, and knocking back too much can put a damper on your sexual performance and pleasure.

    Steak

    Having some red meat with that red wine can set you up for an even more relaxing and invigorating evening. One of the primary reasons couples stop having sex is because they’re tired and stressed. But sometimes, there’s a biological component at play. One of the causes of fatigue in women is iron deficiency. The condition can zap energy, which may result in a low sex drive. If you think your diet lacks iron, focus on eating more grass-fed meat. Then, ensure your body is able to utilize the iron. Consuming probiotic-rich yogurt, fatty fish and an L-glutamine supplement can improve gut health and help your body to absorb iron more efficiently.

    Mustard

    The next time you order a sandwich, swap omega-6-heavy mayo for omega-3-loaded mustard and get an instant mental health boost. While essential, omega-6s are also inflammatory and are linked to obesity, diabetes and depression. Mayonnaise, made from grain and seed oils, provides a whopping 11,359 mg of omega-6 per ounce. The humble yellow mustard, on the other hand, is among the top dozen or so sources of omega-3 acids, with nearly half as much, ounce per ounce, as canned tuna. Higher levels of omega-3s were linked to lower risks of depression.

    Spinach

    Eating spinach, a green rich in appetite-suppressing compounds, can not only give you a lingerie-ready figure but also put you in the mood by increasing blood flow below the belt. Spinach is rich in magnesium, a mineral that decreases inflammation in blood vessels, increasing blood flow. Increased blood flow drives blood to the extremities, which, like Viagra, can increase arousal and make sex more pleasurable.

    Dark chocolate

    The darker the chocolate, the sweeter the sex. That’s because cacao, the actual cocoa bean that’s found in far greater quantity in dark chocolate, increases levels of the mood-boosting hormone serotonin, which can lower stress levels, boost desire and make it easier to reach orgasm. Cocoa also increases blood flow through the arteries and relaxes blood vessels.

    Red bell peppers

    Red bells are high in vitamin C, which might just be the magic sex-mood nutrient. In a study, young adults who took vitamin C supplements reported more sexual frequency and a lower level of depression. They also experienced decreased stress levels, lowered anxiety, and had higher levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin.

    Bananas

    Bananas are one of the top sources of potassium, which helps to counteract the effects of foods high in sodium. Salty foods can not only diminish blood flood to the genitals, which can make it more difficult to reach orgasm, but they can also make you bloated.

    Ginger

    Like its namesake from Gilligan’s Island, ginger is a spicy sensation that’s made to titillate. Consuming a mere teaspoon of the stuff a few times a week is all you need to boost the sex-drive hormone testosterone. (SD-Agencies)