Foods that boost libido
February 12, 2010
TheYou Docs
As if there weren't enough reasons to shop for good food, here are some that are thought to take your libido from so-so to off the charts:
Apples: Help keep bad breath away (and your partner closer).
Bananas: Contain bromelain, an enzyme thought to boost male libido.
Celery: High in androsterone, a hormone released in male sweat that turns women on.
Chocolate: Its ingredients phenylethylamine, tryptophan and anandamide have a feel-good
effect and its caffeine may have a positive effect on female libido.
Figs: Rich in amino acids that may set your desire afire.
Garlic: Cancels the sweet breath provided by the apples but can boost blood flow to sexual organs.
Licorice: Its scent may increase blood flow to the sexual organs. Guys respond to the smell of doughnuts, too. Eating them? Not good; that slows down blood flow.
Oysters: Contain lots of zinc, an ingredient necessary for the production of testosterone.
Wild yams: May enhance genital sensitivity.
TENSION TONICS
Headaches can be triggered by stress. What to do:
Strengthen your neck. Seriously. Headache pain can come from weakness or spasms of the neck muscles. If muscles in your upper back are sore, your trapezius muscles may be weak. After you get rid of the headache, work on strengthening that area. It takes only about five minutes, three times a week.
Pull the trigger. Some foods and ingredients – including caffeine, cheese, smoked meats, sugar, chocolate and foods containing MSG – are known to trigger migraines. Eliminate them one at a time and to spot the culprit.
Go to bed. With your significant other. Orgasms often stop headaches.
A HEALTHY AMOUNT OF COMPLAINING
To stay healthy, women can help themselves by speaking up. Let him know if you don't like how he's handling the vacation plans or otherwise think he's all wrong. Clamming up makes you four times more likely to die earlier than your peers.
But complaining too much about work can cost your spouse. Guys married to women whose upset was disruptive to home life were nearly three times more likely than their peers to develop coronary heart disease. If you can't find a way to change things or to get better at coping with these situations, then at least make sure you do everything else to keep your spouse's health in top shape.
1 MINUTE TO BETTER HEALTH
Got 60 seconds? Here's how to keep your body young in a minute or less:
1. Take a deep breath. This helps move nitric oxide, a potent blood vessel dilator that resides in your nose, to your lungs, where it helps them function better. A deep breath also functions like a mini meditation, reducing stress and the aging stress brings with it.
2. Floss. Every day. It helps prevent periodontal disease, and if you dodge that trouble, your RealAge will be younger.
3. Reach for a different detergent. Use non-toxic, biodegradable dishwasher soap without phosphates, chlorine or nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE), which is called a gender-bender and feminizes fish in the waters where we humans dump our waste.
4. Swallow some DHA. 600 mg a day is what you should get of this amazing component of fish oil that helps keep your brain, heart, mood and maybe even waistline healthy. Fish oil is great, too; that's DHA plus EPA. Aim for a supplement with a combined total of 2,000 mg DHA and EPA a day.
5. Smooch. Taking a moment to feed your relationship contributes to your happiness, which boosts your health, too. And as far as 60 seconds go ... well, we're pretty sure more time is better on this one.
CHAT AWAY KNEE PAIN
It's no secret that supportive relationships help you feel and be healthy. But new research found this to be especially true in women with rheumatoid arthritis. Those whose relationships had more "mutuality" – reciprocal sharing of thoughts and feelings, engaged responses during important conversations – also had less inflammation six months later.
So, put down the paper, turn off the TV, hide the cellphone and talk about what's on your mind.
For more You Docs advice, see their website www.realage.com.
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