By Danny Boome

Finish off your Valentine dinner, with this Naughty but Spiced treat!

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dark chocolate chips
• 8 ounces heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Dippables: such as strawberries, banana pieces cut into 1-inch chunks, dried apricots, candied ginger, apple pieces and pretzels

Directions

by Lee Ann Obringer / http://health.howstuffworks.com/

Aphrodisiac Foods and What They Claim to Do

Photo courtesy Geek Philosopher

The following is a list of foods that reportedly act as aphrodisiacs. Some are said to be aphrodisiacs simply because of their shape and some because of their aromas, while others claim a chemical basis for their “love” powers. This is by no means a complete list and, unless otherwise noted, there is no readily available research to back up their claims.

Aniseed
Also known as anise, the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that you could increase desire by sucking on anise seeds. Aniseed does include estrogenic compounds (female hormones), which have been reported to induce similar effects to testosterone.

Avocado
The avocado tree was called a “testicle tree” by the Aztecs because its fruit hangs in pairs on the tree, resembling the male testicles. Its aphrodisiac value is based on this resemblance.

Bananas
In addition to the phallic shape of the banana itself, the banana flower also has a phallic shape. Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, which are said to be necessary for sex-hormone production.

Basil (sweet basil)
For centuries, people said that basil stimulated the sex drive and boosted fertility as well as producing a general sense of well being. The scent of basil was said to drive men wild — so much so that women would dust their breasts with dried and powdered basil. Basil is one of the many reported aphrodisiacs that may have the property of promoting circulation.

Cardamom
Cardamom is an aromatic spice. Certain cultures deem it a powerful aphrodisiac and also claim it is beneficial in treating impotence. It is high in cineole, which can increase blood flow in areas where it is applied.

Chocolate
Chocolate has forever been associated with love and romance. It was originally found in the South American rainforests. The Mayan civilizations worshipped the Cacao tree and called it “food of the gods.” Rumor has it that the Aztec ruler Montezuma drank 50 goblets of chocolate each day to enhance his sexual abilities.

Researchers have studied chocolate and found it to contain phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are both “feel good” chemicals. They occur naturally in our bodies and are released by our brains when we are happy or feeling loving or passionate. It produces a euphoric feeling, like when you’re in love.

In addition to those two chemicals, researchers at the Neuroscience Institute in San Diego, California, say that chocolate may also contain substances that have the same effect on the brain as marijuana. The substance is a neurotransmitter called anandamide. The amount of anandamide in chocolate is not enough to get a person “high” like marijuana, but it could be enough to contribute to the good feelings that serotonin and phenylethylamine produce. Does that mean it increases sexual desire? Probably not — but if it makes you feel good, it might lower your inhibitions so that you’re more receptive to suggestion.

Carrots
The phallus-shaped carrot has been associated with sexual stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction.

Photo courtesy Morguefile Chili peppers

Chili peppers
Eating chili peppers generates physiological responses in our bodies (e.g., sweating, increased heart rate and circulation) that are similar to those experienced when having sex. The capsaicin they contain is responsible for the effects and is also a good pain reliever. Another reported effect of eating large quantities of chili peppers is an irritation of the genitals and urinary tract that could feel similar to sexual excitement.

Cucumbers
Aside from its phallic shape, the scent of cucumbers is believed to stimulate women by increasing blood flow to the vagina.

Figs
Figs are another fruit that claims aphrodisiac qualities based on its appearance. An open fig is thought to look similar to female sex organs.

Garlic
Long ago, Tibetan monks were not allowed to enter the monastery if they had been eating garlic because of its reputation for stirring up passions. Garlic increases circulation.

Photo courtesy CDFA Ginger root

Ginger
­People have deemed ginger root an aphrodisiac for centuries because of its scent and because it stimulates the circulatory system.

Honey
In medieval times, people drank mead, a fermented drink made from honey, to promote sexual desire. In ancient Persia, couples drank mead every day for a month (known as the “honey month” — a.k.a. “honeymoon”) after they married in order to get in the right frame of mind for a successful marriage. Honey is rich in B vitamins (needed for testosterone production) as well as boron (helps the body metabolize and use estrogen). Some studies have suggested that it may also enhance blood levels of testosterone.

Licorice
In ancient China, people used licorice to enhance love and lust. The smell appears to be particularly stimulating. Alan R. Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, conducted a study that looked at how different smells stimulated sexual arousal. He found that the smell of black licorice increased the blood flow to the penis by 13 percent. When combined with the smell of doughnuts, that percentage jumped to 32.

Nutmeg
In ancient China, women prized nutmeg an aphrodisiac, and researchers have found it to increase mating behaviors in mice. There is no evidence to prove the same happens in humans. In quantity, nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect.

Photo courtesy NOAA Matoya oysters

Oysters
­Romans documented oysters as aphrodisiacs in the second century A.D. They are known to be high in zinc, which has been associated with improving sexual potency in men. (An additional hypothesis is that the oyster resembles the female genitals.) Recently, mussels, clams and oysters have been found to contain D-aspartic acid and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) compounds may be effective in releasing sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Scientists have not determined whether there are enough of those compounds in the shellfish to make any difference.

Papaya
Papaya (like aniseed) is estrogenic, meaning it has compounds that act as the female hormone estrogen. It has been used as a folk remedy in promoting menstruation and milk production, facilitating childbirth and increasing the female libido.

Pine nuts
People have been using pine nuts to stimulate the libido since Medieval times. Like oysters, they too are high in zinc. Pine nuts have been used for centuries to make up love potions. The Arabian medical scholar Galen recommended eating one hundred pine nuts before going to bed.

Danny

Courtesy of Men’s Health

The foolish see an Egg McMuffin; you should see the ingredients for sex. The combo provides extra zinc—a mineral that she needs to stay well lubricated and you need to keep producing semen—and niacin. This B vitamin is essential for the secretion of histamine, the chemical that helps trigger explosive sneezes and orgasms. It also has a perfect balance of fat, since studies have found that too much or too little dietary fat can decrease levels of libido-boosting testosterone.

It might be kids foods, but it has some very grown-up implications. Here’s why:

Celery
Every stalk of the stuff is packed with androstenone and androstenol, two pheromones that can help men attract women the way Tom Brady attracts tacklers. Every time you chew on a stalk of celery, you release these odor molecules, which helps boost your arousal, turning you on and causing your body to send off scents and signals that make you more desirable to women.

Peanut butter
Research shows that men with diets high in monounsaturated fat—the kind found in nuts—have higher testosterone levels than those who don’t eat enough of the healthy fat. Plus, nuts are also the best food source of arginine, an amino acid that improves bloodflow throughout your body—including below the belt.

Raisins
Raisins are loaded with lignans, phytoestrogens that play an important role in balancing hormones for women. They’re also a potent source of antioxidants, which help encourage bloodflow to the nether regions.

There are about 8 million cases of urinary tract infections diagnosed each year in the United States, the majority of them occurring in sexually active women—sex can cause bacteria to spread upward into the bladder. Furthermore, 20 percent of women suffer from chronic urinary tract infections, increasing their risk of kidney infections. Ward off the painful infection and keep your sex life vital by drinking half a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice, a natural antibacterial, each day. Research shows that tannins in the juice decrease a woman’s risk of an infection by 34 percent.

If unsweetened juice is too bitter to stomach, try yogurt with “”live active cultures.”" The yogurt contains probiotic bacteria called Lactobacillus, which helps prevent the spread of E. coli in the urethra. Finnish researchers found that women who ate this type of yogurt three times a week were almost 80 percent less likely to have recently developed a UTI than those who ate it less than once a week.

Danny

Men’s Health

It’s no secret that the unhealthy American diet is contributing to an epidemic of obesity. But there’s another hidden epidemic that our fatty diets are at the root of: a national sex crisis. Beyond slimming you down, changing what you eat can boost your performance in bed – these six great foods will help combat the crisis.

1 cup blueberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 Tbsp flaxseeds
1 cup orange juice
1 cup ice

Consider this man’s ultimate erection insurance. The main reason? It’s loaded with two of the most potent circulation enhancers out there: soluble fiber and antioxidants. Soluble fiber helps push excess cholesterol through your digestive system before it can be broken down, absorbed, and deposited along the walls of your arteries. Antioxidants attack free radicals before they have the chance to lower nitric oxide levels. And since nitric oxide helps deliver oxygen to your blood, the higher the level, the better your bloodflow.

2 shots of espresso (or 6 ounces of strong coffee)
1 cup skim milk
2 Tbsp dark chocolate syrup
1 cup crushed ice

More than just providing a caffeine buzz and a host of antioxidants, java increases bloodflow to your genitals, making sensitive nerve endings more easily accessed and stimulated. A Southwestern University study even found that female rats wanted more sex after a shot of caffeine. Add to that a big hit of calcium, another important contributor to effective bloodflow, and a swirl of chocolate, and you have a scintillating shake to wake up to. Chocolate contains a host of chemicals to brighten your mood, including anadamine, which targets the same receptors as THC, and phenylethylamine, which produces a cozy, euphoric feeling. It’s no wonder a new Italian study of 163 women shows that those who regularly eat chocolate report enhanced sex drive and sexual satisfaction.

Sex is what keeps the world turning, and believe it or not what you put into your body really does have an effect on what you get out. I have been looking around the web looking for the latest research and information upon what can help us get the best out our most natural urges! I found this article via Men’s Health.com and it really makes you think, it’s also a great article to high light the start of this page, I will be posting regular suggestions to help you all get the best out of your food and Sex!

Danny

Men’s Health, Saturday, June 20th, 2009

It’s no secret that the unhealthy American diet is contributing to an epidemic of obesity. But there’s another hidden epidemic that our fatty diets are at the root of: a national sex crisis. Beyond slimming you down, changing what you eat can boost your performance in bed – these six great foods will help combat the crisis.

One of the big culprits, for both men and women, is obesity. As a person’s weight soars, their libido plummets due to biochemical changes that result in diminished bloodflow—there’s simply no sex without strong bloodflow. And even when Americans do manage to have sex, the extra weight they’re bringing to the bedroom also hinders their ability to have children—with men, it’s damaged sperm; with women, it’s ovulation problems.

The good news: With some simple changes to your diet, courtesy of David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, co-authors of the national bestselling book Eat This, Not That!, you can revitalize your sex life and reinvigorate your relationship. How? First, as you consume filling foods with fewer calories, you’ll begin to shed the weight that’s dragging down your desire. Then, because these foods also contain ingredients and nutrients that strategically boost sexual attraction and performance, you’ll squeeze even more satisfaction out of each and every sexual encounter.