When it comes to improving our sex drives, we can all occasionally do with a helping hand (no, we don’t mean that). But if you’re going to pop pills to keep your pecker up, why not increase the bang for your buck by making sure they’ll help you outside of the bedroom, too? You’ll be keeping your partner happy as well as boosting the hormones responsible for being lean and strong. So keep away from those dodgy blue pills you can get online, and pick up these legal (and safer) alternatives when you need a bedroom boost

For bedroom athletics Fenugreek

If you’re looking to boost your sex drive, there’s no harm in making sure your supplement of choice complements your gym-based pursuits. A study in Phytotherapy Research found that taking fenugreek improved libido and increased orgasm strength to boot. What’s more, they discovered that, thanks to an increase in testosterone, the subjects also had stronger muscles, more energy and a greater feeling of wellbeing. Increased performance both in and out of the bedroom – sounds like something that we should all be taking.

For a good night’s sleep Valerian Root

You might think that the idea of boosting your libido is to get less sleep in the bedroom not more, but the two activities go hand in hand together for a reason. Testosterone along with other libido improving hormones are restored and produced when you sleep. A poor night’s sleep, by contrast, means poor testosterone production. Valerian increases the amount of sleep-inducing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a chemical that regulates nerve cells and has a calming effect. It takes a while to work though, with a study in Psychopharmacology finding that sleep was greatly improved after supplementing for 28 days.

For healthy swimmers Korean Ginseng

If your prowess between the sheets extends beyond pure sensual pleasure and has the additional objective of siring a handful of progency, you may want to add a tub of ginseng to your bathroom cabinet. This herb is not only thought to eliven sexual energy, a study published in the journal Sexuality And Disability indicates ginseng extracts can help keep sperm counts high for a longer period of time.

For waking up stronger ZMA

This acronym-styled favourite contains zinc, magnesium and vitamin B6, and further research is still gathering to support its testosteroneboosting claims. The most recent study was performed by Western Washington University, which found taking ZMA increased testosterone by upwards of 30 per cent, with strength seeing a boost of around 10 per cent as well. So you’ll be more powerful both in and out of the bedroom.

For more manliness Methoxy-7-Test

Make the most of what you’ve got with this plant-based bedroom-athleticism booster. The key ingredient here is methoxyisoflavone, a muscle-building plant flavone which was patented in the 1970s for people short on natural testosterone. Research in the journal Life Sciences found that it bumps up the potency of the testosterone you already have circulating around your body, making it go further. Both under the covers and out.

For the long-haul L-Arginine

There’s no other way of putting it, this amino acid is good for your wood. A study published in the ever-popular International Journal Of Impotence Research found it started working as quickly as five days after beginning supplementation. It increases your body’s production of nitric acid, which relaxes and widens your blood vessels, meaning blood gets to your extremities more easily. So you’ll be up all night – in both senses of the word.