Its Summer. The season of sun, water, farmer’s markets, and summer romances. Fact or Fiction, aphrodisiacs have been used for thousands of years. While you could probably eat scorpions on a stick and be hot for the right person, it can’t hurt to have a little food fun along the way. Here are 5 food-based ideas that might just take your summer romance to the next level.
1: Beets Are Seriously Sexy
Nothing sounds sexier than feeding your lover some beets..right? Okay, maybe not but beets can increase blood flow and support your internal health. Beets contain boron and zinc which are important building blocks for healthy sex hormone levels.
2: Bananas with Honey Cinnamon Drizzle
Slicing up a banana to toss with honey and cinnamon can make an excellent treat for summer loving. Beyond the phallic shape, bananas support healthy energy levels while cinnamon can heat you from the inside out. Like beets, honey contains boron but honey also contains B vitamins to help increase testosterone production. Healthy testosterone levels can increase sexual desire and sleep. Sleep and desire are both important ingredients for healthy sex. Just make sure to go easy on the honey. You want to sustain energy not suffer a sugar crash.
3: Red Grape and Brazil Nut Salad
A fresh leafy salad mixed with Brazil nuts and red grapes will also promote healthy testosterone levels. Chinese researchers found “the equivalent of 500mg – roughly the amount in 5-10g of grape skins – was enough to raise testosterone levels”. Brazil nuts are also known to boost testosterone. You don’t need to go nuts with Brazil nuts. Just one or two chopped Brazil nuts will give you enough selenium for a boost.
4: Vegan Ice Cream with Cayenne and Cacao
A box of heart shaped milk chocolates may seem like a sexy idea but they are more likely to leave you with a tooth ache than lust. However, raw cacao contains PEA and tryptophan which are both thought to be “love drugs”. Try shaving raw cacao over your favorite vegan ice cream sprinkled with cayenne for a sexy treat.
5: Carrot Juice, Chickpea Pancake, and an Avocado Salsa
For me a vacation is the strongest aphrodisiac. Why? Because I get plenty of sleep and I’m relaxed. Unfortunately most of us can’t live in a constant state of vacation but we can try to get more sleep and sustain healthy blood sugar levels for more consistent energy. The best way to do this is to change your breakfast routine to help you sustain energy all-day. Why not try a delicious chickpea pancake topped with avocado and salsa? Carrots and avocados have known aphrodisiac properties. Mayans and Aztecs ate avocados to enhance sexual desirability. After all, avocado comes from the Aztec word ahuacate or testicle. Enough said.
Sources:
1. Giuliano, F.; Allard J. (2001). “Dopamine and sexual function”.
2. Naghii MR; Samman S. (1997). “The effect of boron supplementation on its urinary excretion and selected cardiovascular risk factors in healthy male subjects.”
3. Can Anders SM. (2012). “Testosterone and sexual desire in healthy women and men.”
