Health Curiosities

It's no secret that we guys like sex. In fact, it's been said that men think about sex more frequently than any other subject. And why not? After all, sex is one of the most enjoyable experiences we can have!

But let's be honest, guys. We also know that, as we get older, "getting it up" isn't always as easy as it was when we were younger. If that weren't the case, sales of sex potency drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra wouldn't be going through the roof each year. Even though such drugs carry the risk of serious side effects. Including death by heart attack! Which is precisely what happened to over 60 men within months of Viagra first coming to market. More recently, a number of patients who used these drugs have experienced sudden hearing loss that in some cases were permanent!

Plus which, Viagra , Cialis and Levitra aren't cheap! Relying on them to stay sexually potent can cost a small fortune. Sure, if you can avoid the side effects, the cost might be worth it. But wouldn't it be great if there were a better way to maintain your sexual stamina throughout your life – and one that wasn't so expensive!

Thankfully, there is.

And just like sex, it can be very pleasurable!

Men, Get In the Kitchen!
They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and no doubt that's true when the meal is cooked by a woman you're attracted to.

What's also true is that foods have long been linked to sex throughout history. Now it turns out that there is a good reason for this.

Thanks to modern science, the ancient lore from cultures all around the world regarding food and sex are being verified. Research shows that certain foods are loaded with nutrients and other ingredients that can boost your sex drive and increase your "staying power." By eating these foods are a regular basis you can gain a variety of health benefits that can improve your prowess in the bedroom. Benefits such as:

• Increased production of sex hormones.
• Greater ability to get and stay aroused.
• A greater supply of the vitamins and minerals needed to keep you sexually healthy.
• Changes in your brain chemistry that make it easier to get in the mood (this can be of particular benefit for older men who have gone a long time without a robust sex life).

So, if you need a little more "oomph" in bed, maybe it's time for you to start spending more time in the kitchen.

Eat These Foods First And Then Get Busy!

It shouldn't come as a surprise that foods that can pump up your sex drive are also foods that are good for you for other reasons. For your body, including your sex organs, to function properly, it's important that you eat foods that provide you with an adequate amount of the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that your body needs for good health.

When it comes to good sex, this means eating foods that are rich in nutrients needed by your penis, testicles, prostate gland, and your veins and arteries (because constricted blood flow can interfere with your ability to achieve and maintain an erection).

Based on this information, it's no surprise that for centuries oysters have been regarded by many cultures to be an aphrodisiac for men. That's because oyster are high in zinc, an essential mineral that research shows an alarming number of men are deficient in, especially older men. Zinc is one of the most important nutrients needed to keep your body's prostate gland healthy and properly functioning. Lack of zinc, can not only result in prostate infections (prostatitis), BPH (enlarged prostate), and prostate cancer, it can also inhibit erections and cause pain during ejaculation. Zinc is also important for good sex for two other reasons: Your body needs it for healthy sperm production and, just as importantly (maybe more so!) without adequate amounts of zinc, your body cannot produce enough testosterone – the male sex hormone. So eating oysters make good sense.

But be honest. How often do you eat oysters? They are hardly a common food in our culture. Usually, the only place they are eaten is at a restaurant. But there are other zinc-rich foods that are much more commonly available (and also less expensive), which you can easily add to your diet to keep your prostate gland healthy. Besides oysters, one of the best food sources of zinc is dried pumpkin seeds. Chewing one or two handfuls a day can do wonders for your sex life over time if you currently are not all the man you would like to be.

In addition to pumpkin seeds, get in the habit of eating a variety of other nuts and seeds during the day, such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts, all of which contain healthy amounts of vitamins and minerals that your body's sex organs require, as well as essential fatty acids, which help to maintain sex organ health and are used in sperm production. Nuts and seeds are also rich sources of arginine, an amino acid that is essential for healthy erections.

It's also a good idea to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout each day. Not only are fruits rich in natural fibers and antioxidants, all of which are necessary for good health – including sexual health – research shows that they also contain certain aphrodisiac properties. Which once again goes to show the wisdom of traditional cultures around the world, all of which have touted fruits for good sex for centuries.

Among the best fruit choices for keeping yourself sexually vital are apples, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cherries, dates, figs, grapes, mangos, papayas, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, raspberries, and strawberries. Be sure to eat them fresh and buy organic fruits whenever possible.

A rich and varied supply of vegetables throughout the day is also recommended, since vegetables are the best food source for most of the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Start with a healthy amount of fresh, green, leafy vegetables. Then add the vegetables that have traditionally been associated with sex and sensuality. These include avocadoes (long touted as a sex food in Spain), asparagus, carrots, celery, and cucumber.

Two other foods traditionally prized for their sex-enhancing properties are eggplants and tomatoes. In India eggplants have for centuries been used by women to increase and maintain their lovers' sexual stamina. In addition, in the famous Indian love manual the Kama Sutra, it is suggested that men anoint their lovers' bodies with eggplant juice. Doing so is said to drive women wild with sexual desire.

Here's a traditional Indian recipe you can try to enhance your sexual stamina. Cut an eggplant into slices and coat each slice with butter and minced chives (be sure to coat both sides). Then lightly brown the slices in a frying pan and serve topped with curry sauce. (Be sure to share this dish with your lover, because chives can improve female libido, making this dish a sure fire recipe for a night of passion!)

Another great eggplant dish for keeping yourself sexually healthy is eggplant parmesan. That's because, in addition to eggplant, this tasty Italian dish contains tomato sauce, which is loaded with lycopene, a nutrient that has been shown to protect the prostate gland. Tomatoes have also been shown to naturally boost libido in men. Could it be that Italian men gained their reputations a great lovers because of the tomato-rich meals Italy is famous for?

Other foods that you should make a regular part of your diet include fresh, wild caught seafood, such as clams, mackerel, sardines, and salmon, and free-range lean meats and poultry. In addition, be liberal with your use of spices such as cayenne pepper, garlic, and onions, all of which act as natural sex stimulants, as well as offering a host of other health-enhancing benefits.

And for dessert? That's right, reach for some chocolate! Just be sure it's organic. That's because organic chocolate, in addition to being famous as a natural aphrodisiac for women, is also rich in magnesium, another mineral that is vital for male sexual health because of how it protects the heart and cardiovascular system.

And Don't Forget To Drink
Water, that is! That's because most people in the United States are chronically dehydrated. And dehydration of any level in the body causes loss of energy. So instead of washing down your meals with coffee, alcohol, or soda (all of which are dehydrating – see below) – get in the habit of drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of pure, filtered water each and every day in order to prevent dehydration and boost your energy levels.

Caution: Certain Foods And Other Factors To Avoid
Of course, not all foods can make you a lion in the bedroom (and elsewhere!). In fact, some foods can significantly interfere with your ability to "get it up" when your lover is waiting for you.

The main foods to avoid in order keep your sex drive from flagging are the same foods that are known to be bad for your health in general. They include all processed and so-called "fast foods", and foods that are high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Poor quality carbohydrate foods should also be avoided. Also known as simple carbohydrates, they are generally white in color, such as pasta and white bread. So, as a general rule of thumb, leave white foods off your menu.

Certain beverages can also turn off your sex drive, including alcoholic and caffeine drinks, both of which can cause dehydration if consumed in large quantities, so limit your intake of alcohol to no more than one or two glasses of wine or beer per day, and try to do the same for coffee. In addition, avoid all sodas, as they are high in unhealthy sugars and artificial sweeteners, as well as many other unhealthy chemicals.

An unhealthy lifestyle can also interfere with your sexual potency. The most unhealthy lifestyle choices in this regard are smoking, which can cause narrowing in your arteries, and thus inhibit the necessary flow of blood that is necessary for a firm and sustained erection; lack of exercise (research shows that men who exercise regularly are far more apt to enjoy a healthy lifestyle than couch potatoes are – that's because exercise, especially weight resistance training, helps men to keep producing grow hormone in their bodies, which in turn helps to maintain healthy levels of testosterone, which otherwise declines as we age); and failure to get adequate sleep on a nightly basis. Not being able to properly manage stress can also dramatically reduce your ability to have and enjoy sex.

Conclusion

Based on the above information you can see that your kitchen is just as important to your sex life as your bedroom is. But like anything else, this information is only worthwhile if you use it. So, to maintain or improve your sexual vigor start cooking – in more ways than one!

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