"I wanna sex YOU UP." That's right, Marissa Beck wants to give you some food for the mood, so read on. The real freak in the bed knows the name of the game: ANTIOXIDANTS! Yes, as with the health of your heart, lungs, and other systems in your body, antioxidants help protect your sexual organs, too.
Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant, has long been thought of as the "sex vitamin." This is because E protects oxygen-rich blood from becoming filled with free radicals - giving some vital oxygen to our favorite limp bizkit. What's more, vitamin E has been shown to help reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, which can surely help the heart pump during a wild night of sex. Eating foods such as wheat germ, fatty fish, nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil are some great E sources.
B vitamins influence the production of testosterone, particularly B3 (niacin), which is necessary for the synthesis of sex hormones. It also aids circulation, improving blood flow to that special spot, ladies. Make sure not to forgo those carbohydrates; foods such as whole grains and beans are high in the B vitamin, as well as fish and chicken.
One of the "sexiest" minerals around is zinc. Getting enough is important because this mineral is essential for sperm and hormone production. Zinc has also been linked to male fertility, potency, sex drive and prolonged sexual health. Zinc might also heighten senses like taste and smell, making for a much better time in between the sheets.
The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for men is 11 milligrams, and for women it's eight. This daily requirement can be gained by eating just one oyster. But since oysters don't grow on trees here at Tufts, it's time to get nibbling on some other foods. Some zinc sources include oily fish, wheat germ, pumpkin and sesame seeds, cheese, eggs, poultry, turkey, lean beef, sardines, pine nuts and brown rice.
Avoiding refined products like white-flour breads and pastas will also give your sex drive a boost, since these processed foods lower your reserves of the B vitamins and zinc, in addition to making you feel lethargic.
Just as you might find the best sex coming about in the most unlikely of moments and/or places, it's also surprising that some everyday foods might also contain "mojo" power. For instance, the common peanut can be your token to get on the Viagra train. Peanuts are rich in L-arginine, which causes vasodilatation in blood vessels, stimulating sexual erection. Have about a handful in the evening, and you'll be an animal 'til the sun comes up.
On the other hand, you'll be fast asleep if you plan on excessively drinking. This is because alcohol numbs the nerve endings in both male and female genitalia, which can also decrease female lubrication and lead to painful sex. According to the American Medical Association, too much alcohol impedes the pathway the body uses for pre-ejaculatory response, which means no to the big O. That's one way to kill the moment.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are the way to go. One of the most common types of cancer in men in the United States is prostate cancer, and more than one-fourth of men tested for it each year have it. Having this cancer can cause a number of problems, such as painful ejaculation and difficulty urinating. Some may even face permanent impotence and/or dry orgasms.
Even though prostate cancer is more common for men in their mid-50s, prevention starts now. One way to reduce this chance is by making sure to get your nine fruits and veggies a day. According to the National Cancer Institute, diets "rich in fruits and vegetables" lower people's cancer risk.
Like anything else in your life, your sex drive is dependant on your mood, stress levels, diet and overall health. Eating foods rich in antioxidants will not just provide you with a powerful sex drive, but will also protect your body from the horrendous cancer-causing agents that we are exposed to in the environment. Daily exercise will also help to give that extra burst of energy for late night carousing.
Desire ebbs and flows - so don't think you need to become a monk just because you're having a tame week, or month for that matter. The secret to an active sex life is a healthy lifestyle of regular exercise, a clean diet and low stress. Now you know my ulterior motive behind writing these columns.
