Superfoods for Super Sex

Every aspect of a food - its color, shape, scent and texture – can make it sexy. In addition, certain foods contain substances that make us feel good by interacting with our hormones or stimulating our brain. Consider incorporating some of the following into your next candlelight dinner to help you and your partner get in the mood.

Oysters are a good source of minerals like selenium and zinc, and are also high in protein. A perfect appetizer to a beautiful meal – but be careful when purchasing, as some can have high levels of pollutants and PCB.  If you’re pregnant, oysters should be avoided.  

Chocolate has been a symbol of love and lust for centuries due to theobromine, a stimulant to the brain that creates a pleasurable effect. Chocolate also contains antioxidants that may lower cancer and heart disease risk. However, chocolate is also very high in fat, so self-restraint should be exercised. Dark chocolates are usually lower in sugar, but higher in antioxidants and theobromine than milk chocolate.  

Kiwi and papaya are colorful fruits have an alluring and interesting aspect about them that can help flip the switch. Loaded with antioxidants, tropical fruits help fend off heart disease and cancers. Kiwi actually has more vitamin C in it than an orange, and papaya is rich in beta-carotene and high in fiber.

Honey was thought in medieval times to sweeten the marriage when mixed into a drink.  Bear in mind, however, it’s still pretty high in sugar, so use sparingly.

Asparagus can also help get your partner in the mood. It’s one of the few good sources of vitamin E and is a natural diuretic. Steaming is the best way to prepare them without losing nutrients, and they can easily be eaten by hand.

A good cup of coffee or tea after that romantic dinner stimulates the release of epinephrine, which contributes to stimulation in the body. It can also be found in dark chocolate. Just don’t consume too much caffeine before bed, unless you plan on being awake all night long!

Superfoods to Help you Manage Your Monthly Menstruation

Every month it’s the same thing.  You’re bloated, tired, cranky, fighting cravings, and trying to get rid of headaches.  You wish you could be like your friend or your sister, who seems to just breeze right through her cycle with little or no problem. Take a look at your diet and see if these superfoods are a part of it.  If they’re not, they can easily become a part of a well-balanced healthy diet that might just make your cycles to come simple to manage.

Bananas have long been well known as nature’s ‘perfect food.’ They’re loaded with potassium, zinc, iron, folic acid, calcium, B6 and soluble fiber. They’re good for digestion, menstrual difficulties and essential for athletes because they can quickly replace what your body loses during your cycle or when you’re exercising frequently. And, if you suffer from diarrhea during your monthly cycle, they are the idea treatment when eaten in conjunction with apples, rice and dry toast – more commonly known as the BRAT treatment.

Bee pollen has been popularized by famous athletes who take it regularly for strength and endurance. It has been used successfully to treat a variety of ailments including allergies, asthma, menstrual irregularities, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, low energy, cancer, rheumatism, arthritis and toxic conditions. It can, however, provoke allergic reactions in those who are taking it for the first time, so it’s important to start with small amounts and slowly build up to a teaspoon or so per day.  Bee pollen can be taken in powder, capsule or tablet form—or in raw unprocessed honey mixed with cereal or spread on toast.

Make sure you’re getting plenty of iron-rich foods in your diet. Leafy green vegetables, beans, shellfish, red meat, poultry, soy foods are great choices.  Try teaming these with citrus foods containing vitamin C, which will promote iron absorption.  Steer clear of alcohol, caffeinated beverages, or salty foods, and as always, make sure you choose unsaturated fats.  These will only exacerbate that bloated feeling you suffer through each month.