Eat your way to better sexual health
strawberry kiss
According to registered dietitian, athlete and nutrition spokesperson Julie Upton eating the right foods is an excellent and enjoyable way to improve sexual health. She quotes sexual health expert Doctor Jennifer Berman:
“There’s a growing body of evidence that some of the vitamins and components in foods can enhance sexual function and sexual experience.”
Below are 6 foods that have all been found to benefit your sexual health.
1) Avocados
Persea americana commonly known as Avocados have a very long history of use. They are thought to have originated in the Mexican state Puebla but fossil evidence suggests that millions of years ago they were found as far north as California. The oldest evidence of avocado use was found in a cave in Pueblo dating to about 10,000 BC. Evidence of its cultivation dates back as far as 5,000 BC. According to Wikipedia:
The first written record in English of the use of the word ‘avocado’ was by Hans Sloane in a 1696 index of Jamaican plants. The plant was introduced to Indonesia in 1750, Brazil in 1809, South Africa and Australia in the late 1800s, and the Levant in 1908.
The main benefits to sexual health come from the fact that avocados are good for your arteries and heart. Both men and women need to have a healthy heart in order to keep the blood flowing to the genital regions. Research has shown that men suffering from heart disease are twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Avocados are also an excellent source of Vitamins B, K, C, E and potassium. They also contain phytosterols. Phytosterols have been shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol and thus ensuring better circulation.
2) Almonds
Almonds belong to the Prunus family which includes peaches and plums. Research conducted by the American Heart Association found that eating just an ounce of almonds a day significantly reduces cholesterol. Almonds also provide a good dose of Vitamin E, magnesium, fiber, protein and iron – all for a meager 160 calories.
California is the largest cultivator of almonds and has about 750,000 acres of almond trees. Almonds are one of the earliest foods to be cultivated – it is thought to have been first cultivated in about 3000 BC. It first came to the Mediterranean from China and was then brought to America by Franciscan monks some time in the 18th Century.
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Almond Health Benefits:
– Source of calcium, vitamin E, folic acid, fiber, protein, iron, zinc, copper and magnesium – Nutritionally dense – May improve weight loss in low-calorie diets – May reduce risk of heart disease – Rich in monounsaturated fat, and daily intake may lower cholesterol – Low in carbohydrates – Essential oil serves as an emollient |
As with Avocados – what is good for the heart is good for your sexual health – and being low in carbs it’s good for your waistline too.
3) Strawberries
According to Patrick Holford, founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, eating strawberries will increase your sex drive. The reason for this is that strawberries have high levels of zinc in their seeds which are eaten rather than removed as with other fruits. Zinc is essential for sex as it governs testosterone production in men which in turn increases the production of sperm. It has also been found that women will have quicker and better lubrication if zinc levels are high. Zinc supply in men can be completely used up if he has sex more than three times in 24 hours.
Patrick explains it as follows:
“My message is simple: every time you have sex, or simply want to ready yourself or your partner for sex you should consume a handful of raspberries or strawberries. And it’s not just the zinc content of the berries which is beneficial in the bedroom. They are incredibly high in anti-oxidants which helps to optimise blood flow to the sex organs, and they have the lowest glycemic load of any fruit meaning they provide sustained energy levels at only a few calories.”
4) Oysters
The following is from an article by Adam Lusher published in The Telegraph in Britain.
The well known 18th century lover Casanova was known to eat about 50 oysters for breakfast. But if that’s not recommendation enough, scientists have now proven that oysters are indeed excellent aphrodisiacs. And they’ve found that Spring is the time when shellfish have their most potent aphrodisiac qualities. These findings of a group of American and Italian researchers were announced to Scientists at a meeting of the American Chemical Society. This generated a huge amount of interest – possibly more than any other announcement it the society’s 126-year history.
“I have been a scientist for 40 years and my research has never generated interest like this. For centuries, old wives’ tales have said that eating raw mollusks – oysters in particular – would stimulate the libido but there has really been no scientific evidence as to why and if this occurs.We think this could be the first scientific evidence of some substance.”
The reason for the aphrodisiac quality of oysters lies in the presence of two very important amino acids that are only found in certain shellfish and mollusks. These amino-acids are D-aspartic acid and N-methyl-D-aspartate. Dr. DÁniello found that injecting these amino acids into rats increased the sexual hormone testosterone in men as well as increasing the sexual hormone progesterone in females.
“Increased levels of those hormones in the blood means you are more active sexually, yes, I do think these mollusks are aphrodisiacs. If the male is having difficulties, they have to eat a lot of mussels or oysters. Spring, when the molluscs themselves are breeding, is best. There is the highest concentration of these two amino acids then and the oysters have to be eaten raw to be most effective. Cooking them reduces the quantity of D-Asp and NDMA molecules.”
5) Figs
Figs are not just good for your sexual health but they are amongst the healthiest food you can eat for your general health and well-being. Here are 6 excellent reasons to include them in your diet! From www.thehealthsite.com
Improves digestion: Figs are rich in dietary fiber. 3 figs contain as much as 5 grams of fiber which is about 20% of the recommended daily requirement. Figs are a natural laxative to prevent constipation and other digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.
Helps in weight loss: Not only do figs have a high fiber content but they are low in calories too. One fig contains only 47 calories and only 0.2 grams of total fat. So they are an ideal snack for people wanting to lose weight.
Rich in antioxidants: Figs are very rich in antioxidants. Studies have shown that dried figs have even more anti-oxidants than fresh figs as they contain a higher amount of phenols whereas other fruits have antioxidant properties based only on their vitamin C and E content. Antioxidants fight cell damage associated with aging.
Prevents heart disease: The high level of antioxidants found in figs also eliminate free radicals in the blood which prevents damage to blood vessels that can lead to hypertension and heart disease. They also reduce the levels of triglycerides which have been shown to contribute to heart disease. Remember – a healthy heart and circulation means healthy sexual organs and better all round health.
Cures iron-deficiency anemia: Figs are a good source of Iron. Getting enough iron in your diet is very important as is helps transport hemoglobin throughout the body. Hemoglobin is the protein found in blood that carries oxygen through the body. Low hemoglobin causes anemia – the symptoms of low hemoglobin are:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale skin and gums
- Shortness of breath
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then it is recommended that you visit your doctor to check the hemoglobin levels in your blood.
Improves reproductive health: And last but not least, figs are very good for sexual and reproductive health. The ancient Greeks were the first to discover the aphrodisiac properties of the fig. They were considered to be a sacred fruit and were associated with love and fertility. Scientists have proven the Greeks to be correct and have associated the amazing sexual health benefits of figs with their high content of zinc, manganese and magnesium – all known to improve reproductive and sexual health.
6) Citrus Fruits
Cory Couillard has the following to say about sex and citrus:
Eating grapefruits and oranges or adding a bit of lemon to your water will build both performance and confidence in bed. The high level of vitamin C found in citrus will improve a man’s sperm count and also decrease the risk of infertility in women. Citrus is also high in antioxidants as well as glucose which aids focus, enhances mood and reduces the effects of stress on your hormonal system. When hormonal levels are too low both sexes experience a dramatic loss in sex drive and men also begin to experience erectile dysfunction problems.
Sexual health never tasted better!
What better way to look after your sexual health than by treating yourself to some of the Delicious foods mentioned above. And if you do, not only will your sexual health improve but you will improve your overall health and general well-being too.
