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By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC
Let’s face it, us ladies are often wired a little differently when it comes to sex. (Hello 6 month dry spell of 2006!) Sometimes we need a little boost to get us in the mood, and luckily there are a bunch of foods out there that can do just that!
Dark ChocolateAs if you need another excuse to eat more chocolate, right? Well, take this puppy off your guilt list. Nibbling a square or two of high quality dark chocolate (think 65% dark or higher) a day has been shown to make women feel sexier and improve their sex lives! In addition to tons of amazing antioxidants, dark chocolate is full of endorphins, anxiety busting tryptophan, and small amounts of anandamide and theobromine, which can destress you and help you get in the mood! Go for a dairy-free, organic dark chocolate like Nibmor, which you can get at Whole Foods or your local health food store.
Unprocessed honey is loaded with B vitamins, which help produce testosterone (which we ladies also need for a healthy sex drive). It also has boron, which helps your body metabolize and use estrogen, a vital hormone for blood flow and arousal! Dip some Granny Smith apples in honey for a yummy dessert, or use it to sweeten your tea! My favorite is Wee Bee Naturally Raw Honey.
A research study on rats showed that this yummy spice bolstered friskiness and sexual activity. It has properties that simulate the effects of serotonin and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, relaxing the mind and body, and priming you for some lovin’. Grate some nutmeg into your morning smoothie, into desserts and soups, or on some yummy roasted vegetables like squash!
This popular aphrodisiac is loaded with zinc, another testosterone-producing mineral, as well as amino acids that kick other sex hormones into gear. But make sure to chew your oysters, as opposed to just slurping them, to maximize absorption of all the potent sexy nutrients! Not a seafood lover? Go for a 1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds instead!
You know you have to eat more greens, but how about better orgasms some good motivation? Dark leafy greens and asparagus are super rich in folate, which regulates the body’s production of histamine, a chemical released during orgasm.
Garlic and Ginger
These spicy health-bombs increase blood flow to your whole body, but most notably, your sexy bits! They increase arousal, sensitivity and sensation, and can take fooling around from fun to mind-blowing. I try to use garlic in almost everything I make, from salads (just press a few cloves into your dressing!) to soups, and almost all preparations of veggies. Ginger works great in Asian dishes, stir-frys, soups, or just a super easy ginger tea! Rock my immunity boosting Honey Ginger Lemon Tea to keep coughs and colds at bay, AND spice up your sex life!
Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, have been shown to not only reduce stress and boost mood, but also increase female libido, improve orgasms, and keep everything lubricated. If you’re not eating wild Atlantic salmon twice a week, take a high quality fish oil supplement like NOW Super EPA!
Check out this delicious Valentine’s Day dinner menu that uses all these foods, as well as a bunch of male virility boosting foods as well!
By: Natasha Uspensky, CHHC
Whether or not you actually suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), it is pretty tough to not get bummed when it’s freezing and grey outside for days on end. Our social lives take a major hit, and we are much more likely to crave getting all bundled up and cozy at home than a night on the town. It’s harder to motivate ourselves to get to the gym, and those cravings for comfort food just don’t let up. But fear not! With just a few daily steps, you can naturally beat the winter blues, improve your mood and energy, and keep your system on track.
We all know that what we put in our bodies has a direct effect on how we look (did you really think that huge pimple you woke up with had NOTHING to do with the Cheetos and chocolate binge the night before?), but did you know that you can custom tailor your diet to maximize your beauty and combat your problem areas? Incorporate the following foods into your diet, and you will find yourself with shinier hair, clearer, radiant skin, strong nails, and a trim mid-section… All without setting foot in the beauty aisle! As always, shoot for organic whenever possible…
This lovely green powerhouse is loaded with Vitamin E, which is an absolute beauty must. High doses of Vitamin E have been shows to increase cell reproduction and slow the aging process. Stave off premature wrinkles and age spots, keep your skin moist and supple, prevent dandruff and hair loss, and heal scars faster… all with this delicious summer veggie. Try adding grilled asparagus to soups and salads, or just add a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt for a super easy side dish!
Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, oh my! Not only are these little guys super high in Vitamin C, which regulates sebaceous glands to keep skin, hair, and nails moist and strong, and helps to produce collagen which strengthens the capillaries that feed your skin, but they ALSO have a super high antioxidant capacity, which protects your skin from free radicals and sun damage, and can prevent and reverse aging. Phew! How’s that for multi-tasking! Throw some berries into your cereal or oatmeal every morning to keep them working for you all day long. Or incorporate berries into your desserts, smoothies, and salads. I love adding a handful of blueberries to a spinach salad!
The amazing effects garlic has on cholesterol, immunity, cancer prevention, blood sugar, AND blood pressure have been lauded for decades. What is a lesser known benefit is garlic’s effects on your skin and hair. Garlic contains high levels of sulfur, which has long been used topically to treat acne. Eating sulfur-rich garlic can have similar effects on your skin from within, clearing up acne and skin infections. The high sulfur levels are also great for preventing hair loss, and keeping hair strong and shiny. Basically, garlic is the single best thing for your body, inside and out! Add garlic to everything you cook, from pastas and stews, to salads and stir fries.
A super potent antioxidant, green tea can stave off signs of aging, curb hunger, and keep you skinny. But a lesser known benefit is its anti-inflammatory qualities, which protect your cell membranes, reduce sun damage, prevent all kinds of cancer, and keeps bacteria at bay. And contrary to some (mis)information out there, a good quality green tea will not dehydrate you, and the caffeine levels are not so high that you can’t enjoy a few cups a day. In the summer, I like to make a big pitcher of iced Genmaicha, which is green tea with roasted brown rice, which also helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels!
With all the coverage its been getting in the media, we all know that Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for our overall health, keeping our hearts strong, combating depression, and staving off a slew of diseases and ailments. But the Omega-3’s and potent levels of Vitamin D in salmon are also imperative for keeping our skin, hair, and nails strong, moist, supple, and young. Vitamin D is also great for your pearly whites, and prevents dental decay. As if all this weren’t enough to evidence to give salmon a permanent slot on your shopping list, it also contains astaxanthin, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that fight wrinkles and premature aging. Eat a 3 ounce portion of salmon at least once a week, but make sure it is wild-caught Alaskan salmon, which has the lowest concentrations of mercury. I like to prepare salmon en papillote, by tucking it into two pieces of parchment paper, garnished with slices of onion, parsley, olive oil and lemon, and baking it at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. So yummy!
Check out my recipe for Total Beauty Salad, that incorporates all of these powerhouse ingredients!
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I'm Natasha Uspensky, holistic nutritionist, Ayurvedic practitioner and healthy lifestyle expert. I created The Organic Beauty to be your resource to celebrate and learn about everything from healthy eating and living for your whole family, to natural beauty and sustainable style. I hope to inspire you to live beautifully and healthfully, in a life you love!
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