John McGran, chief editor at Diet-to-Go, has been covering the fields of diet, fitness and health since 2000. He writes from the perspective of a dieter rather than a dietitian.
I’d much rather eat my way to health and happiness than pop a pill and attain the same results. So when it comes to dieting, I choose to eat my way slim rather than seek out a magic bullet for weight loss.
The same principle applies to perking up passion. Sure, there are plenty of ads for potions or pills that claim to magically transform you into a Casanova. But I’ve discovered that a fine meal with the proper ingredients can spark love and romance without the chemicals!
With the help of renowned nutritionist Susan Burke March, author of “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally,” I’ve drawn up a list of the seven foods that will fuel your passion while they fuel your health.
Tomatoes
The French term for tomatoes translates into “The Apples of Love!” And since we give our hearts so much credit for love, it only makes sense that tomatoes are the ultimate aphrodisiac. Nutritionally speaking, tomatoes contain antioxidants vitamins A and C, and lycopene.
Garlic
The Greeks have long worshiped garlic as a powerful aphrodisiac. There’s no denying garlic’s ability to excite food flavors. And you can’t argue with the the fact that the allicin in garlic is a powerful antioxidant that contributes to bacterial and viral protection. A little word of warning though, Romeo: Eating raw garlic can quickly defuse your partner’s desire!
Chili Peppers
Susan says spicy foods are considered aphrodisiacs because they boost body heat and heart rate. We say va va va voom – that sounds a lot like the effects we get from s-e-x! Chilies contain capsaicin, a substance that has proved good for lowering high blood pressure; the peppers are also loaded with vitamins A and C, and bioflavinoids which are all adept at spurring healthy cell growth.
Pine Nuts
In days of old, doctors prescribed these little pine cone seeds to stimulate male fertility. Modern scientists may pooh-pooh such a prescription, but they will admit that pine nuts are a great source of zinc, a mineral that’s been linked to male sexual potency!
Oysters
This food is the granddaddy of all aphrodisiacs. Prized by both ancient Romans and Greeks, oysters have long been know to bring a man out of his shell. Most likely it’s because of the high zinc content, which is closely related to testosterone production in men. Oysters are also a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin B12, iron and copper.
Chocolate
There’s actual research that shows a link between good sex and great chocolate. Here’s one possible reason: In addition to its sweet and soothing, silky and creamy texture that shamelessly flirts with your palette and puts women in a much better mood, chocolate is packed with flavonoids and other chemicals that pump up your heart’s health. But, as one scribe noted: “There is good sex and there is bad sex, but chocolate is always chocolate.”
Wine
A glass of wine can enhance the passion, but drinking too much vino can lead to a nightmare experience in the bedroom! The motto should be: Go slower to last longer. There have been plenty of studies done on the benefits of wine. A few of the findings: Wine aids digestion, stimulates the appetite, and has antioxidant and other heart-health properties. Cheers!
(image from SheKnows.com)
Also read:
The Best Healthy Aphrodisiac Foods
For more helpful insight from Diet to Go Chief Editor John McGran, check out these articles:
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