If you believe experts . . .
There’s little evidence that any one food can make you taste better. But some foods may still influence or change your natural scent and flavor more than others.
Wanting to taste good for your partner is perfectly normal, too. After all, the thought of someone grimacing the moment they put their mouth on you or fretting about how you taste is certainly enough to kill the mood.
While many people believe certain foods can dramatically improve the way you taste — like the old wives tales around pineapple we’ve all heard for years — the actual science is less convincing.
“There isn’t enough scientific data on one type of food alone to cause a dramatic improvement in taste or sexual experiences,” Dr. Kezia Joy, a medical adviser at Welzo, told HuffPost. “On the other hand, consuming an optimal amount of fruit (and vegetables) and hydrating adequately will help to create a healthy oral environment, provide you with fresh breath and a general feeling of wellness that could both contribute to an improved experience during sex.”
That said, while there’s little evidence that any one food can make you taste significantly better, some foods may still influence or change your natural scent and flavor more than others.
But if you’ve got oral sex on the agenda and have concerns about your own smell and taste, these are the foods experts say you may want to avoid beforehand.
Garlic and onions
Garlic and onions are among the biggest offenders because their odor doesn’t just linger on your breath — it can linger on your body all night. “When we ingest strong odorants (garlic, onions, certain spicy dishes, heavily seasoned meals), these chemicals remain in the bloodstream for some time after we brush our teeth and can continue to produce odor even long after we have cleansed our mouth.”
Sex and intimacy coach Annette Benedetti, host of the podcast “Talk Sex With Annette,” agreed, adding that “heavy garlic and onion ... can all shift how you taste and smell.”
“None of it is dangerous; it’s just stronger and more bitter.”
Asparagus
Asparagus has long had a reputation for affecting body odor, and Benedetti said there’s a reason it’s worth mentioning.
“Asparagus is the big one. The sulfur compounds show up fast in body fluids, and the smell is unmistakable.”
Alcohol
A drink or two may help settle first-date nerves, but too much alcohol can have the opposite effect in the bedroom.
“Excessive alcohol use will dry out the mucous membranes of your mouth, which reduces saliva production, allowing odor-causing bacteria to thrive.”
Dietitian Karen E. Todd added that “dehydration from alcohol can cause dry mouth and make oral sex uncomfortable for the recipient and less enjoyable for the giver.”
Spicy foods
If you’re planning on getting intimate, you may want to think twice before ordering the extra-spicy dish on the menu.
“Hot, spicy foods (particularly jalapeños) can cause irritation on the lips and in the mouth, and it may last for some time.”
Sugary foods
Ordering dessert might not be the best choice either. You might have to skip it and savor your time in bed as your sweet treat.
“Additional sugars may temporarily provide environmental conditions for bacteria to grow more rapidly in the mouth,” Joy explained, which wouldn’t make for the most pleasant experience if you’re giving oral.
Coffee and cigarettes
If you’re relying on caffeine and your smoke break to get through the workday, moderation may be your friend before a hookup.
Benedetti said that “too much coffee, alcohol and cigarettes can all shift how you taste and smell.”
Heavy or rich meals
It’s not just what you eat but how it makes you feel afterward.
“We are all at risk from large or over-richly prepared meals that may cause gas, acid reflux and/or general uncomfortable feelings of illness, which could make intimate activity less pleasant for either partner.”
So, what should you eat?
Unfortunately, there’s no magic food that’s guaranteed to make you taste better.
In fact, Benedetti said, social media has oversold the idea that certain foods —especially pineapple — can improve the way you taste.
The idea that “pineapple works like a magic potion” is one of the biggest myths she’d like to see disappear: “Eating pineapple an hour before does not transform anything,” Benedetti said. “Diet influences taste modestly and over time — think hours to days, not minutes.”
Todd agreed that the evidence is limited: “There is not a lot of scientific evidence to support or refute the claims of food altering taste in oral sex,” she said. “The most influential factor on taste would possibly be hydration, but this has not been proven or disproven.”
She added that while there’s little research backing specific foods, fruits — including “fresh pineapple, citrus fruits, berries and melons” — are the ones most commonly reported to improve taste.
Joy echoed that hydration may be the most important factor. She noted that fruits with a high water content may temporarily freshen breath, but “claims regarding specific foods that greatly alter body fluid dynamics are largely anecdotal and do not have strong support from medical literature.”
So, if you ordered spaghetti and meatballs with a side of asparagus before heading to your date’s place, don’t panic. Benedetti’s advice is refreshingly reassuring: “Nobody has ever pulled away mid-oral because you had pasta. Your partner is there because they want you. Shower, hydrate, relax,” she said. “Anxiety kills more oral sex than asparagus ever has.”
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