— Food is a great way to spice up your sex life. No, we’re not talking about
putting food on the body but in it. Like many aspects of health, sexual health
is affected by what we put into our bodies. The food you eat can either rev you
up or keep your sex drive down.
A recent British and French study examining the connection between what we
eat and our overall mental health found that people who eat more processed foods
are at a higher risk for depression, while those who eat whole foods are at a
lower risk and generally have more energy. Since your mental health directly
affects your sex life, stay away from processed and sugary foods and put some
mood enhancing foods into your diet.
5 Foods That Get You
Down
Potato Chips and French
Fries
Potato chips and French fries are not only high in
calories, they are loaded in sodium and saturated fats which are linked to high
blood pressure. All that saturated fat is sure to give you the “itis” and make
you feel too tired to move a muscle.
Burgers
The average
fast-food burger weighs in at a whopping 500-900 calories. Those 500-900
calories is almost half of the daily recommendation for caloric intake. Burgers
are also loaded with saturated fats and trans-fatty acids that increase
cholesterol levels. All the carbs in burgers raise your blood sugar level and
leave you feeling down and out of it.
Soda
Twelve ounces of
soda has about 10 teaspoons of sugar and nearly as much caffeine as a regular
cup of coffee. The fleeting high you get from soda also raises the insulin
levels in your blood. Studies show that consuming too much sugar eventually
lowers the body’s ability to produce its own endorphins, which can result in
depression.
Hot dogs
Hot dogs and
other processed meats contain high levels of fat, sodium and nitrates. Nitrates,
a food preservative, can produce a cancerous chemical called nitrosamine. They
can also cause migraines and tension headaches.
Cookies
The high
amount of carbs and sugars in cookies gives you the ultimate crash and burn
effect. Too many cookies can leave you groggy and craving more sugar and carbs.
This vicious cycle can lead to emotional eating.
Foods That Get You Up
Almonds
Almonds are a
great natural source of energy. They are also said to arouse passion in women.
Almonds are packed with Vitamin E, a natural sex hormone stimulant.
Avocado
With its 25
essential nutrients including Vitamin E, folic acid and iron, avocadoes are said
to be one of the healthiest fruits in the world. In ancient Mayan culture,
avocados were thought to have many health benefits and even aphrodisiac
qualities. The high fiber content is also great for your digestive system.
Bananas
Bananas are
thought to be sexy because of their shape, but it’s actually the large amount of
potassium. Potassium is an energy booster that also helps muscles contract
leading to stronger orgasms.
Chocolate
The cocoa
in chocolate is the ultimate sexual mood enhancer. It contains a chemical
stimulant called phenylethylamine. Phenylethylamine affects your mood by
changing the chemical makeup of the brain and inducing a sexual high.
Garlic
If you can get
past the strongly pungent smell of garlic, you can enjoy its sensual benefits.
Garlic helps your body release a chemical called allicin. Allicin increases
blood flow in the body to all the right places. It also contains inulin, a fiber
that gives you lots of energy.
Now that you know what foods your body needs to perform at its sexual peak,
head down to the grocery store and fill your shopping cart with all the
ingredients you need to make a better sex life.