What happens between the sheets is linked to what goes down in the kitchen — and no, we're not talking about an impromptu countertop romp.

High consumption of sugar negatively affects your energy levels, and we all know how a lack of energy can impact the desire to get busy. Lethargy and lack of get-up-and-go is a major reason why sex lives fizzle out, especially for long-term couples.

For men, consuming excess sugar may have an even more dampening effect on your mojo. According to a 2018 study published in the journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, men who consumed sugar-sweetened beverages had a lower testosterone level than those who abstained from those drinks.

Though chocolate and champagne might have a rep for being aphrodisiacs, their sugar content is more likely to turn you off than on. Instead, here are some foods that will heat up your next date night.

Chili Peppers

Add some serrano peppers to a stir fry, jalapeños to guacamole or cayenne pepper to your eggs. Each pepper contains a significant amount of capsaicin (the compound that makes hot sauce hot), which releases chemicals that increase heart rate, mirror signs of arousal and release feel-good endorphins.

Ginger

If you like your food like you like your lovers — sweet and spicy — you're in luck. According to a study in the International Journal of Cardiology, consuming a mere teaspoon of ginger a few times a week is all you need to reap the heart-healthy benefits.

Avocados

Your anxiety about getting between the sheets could be elevating levels of stress — which then plummet libido. A lack of B-vitamins could also be exaggerating stress even further, says a Nutrition Journal study. The solution? Feast on some guac to take advantage of the fact that avocados are a good source of B vitamins.