The 5 Healthiest Winter Vegetables and Fruits

The 5 Healthiest Winter Vegetables and Fruits

It seems every year when winter approaches, many of my patients complain, "There just aren’t as many fruits and veggies available.” I, of course, beg to differ. Yes, the farmers markets and supermarkets aren’t booming with an assortment of colorful berries (at least tasty and inexpensive ones), tomatoes, or corn, but they still have plenty of healthy options. These five are delicious and provide the greatest nutrition bang for your caloric buck. You just might miss them come summer.

#1 Beets
The problem with beets is that many people avoid them because they think they are high in sugar. However, that really isn’t so: One raw beet has 5.5 grams for 35 calories. Plus they are a good source of magnesium and calcium (both important for bone health), iron (which you need for energy and to prevent and hair loss), fiber (to help to fill you up), and folic acid (necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells in our bodies, and especially important for pregnant woman). Beets are especially important during the winter because they have a unique source of phytonutrients, called betalains, which provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support to help keep your immune system strong.

#2 Brussels sprouts 
A member of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts have seen a recent rise in popularity, and that's a good thing. (I wonder what took everyone so long—I love them!) They are an excellent source of bone-strengthening vitamin K and may give you a glow thanks to the vitamin C, which supports collagen production and products against free radicals. A cup also provides 15 percent of your daily iron and 13 percent of your recommended fiber.

#3 Cauliflower
Ever since we were told to load our plates with color, white foods have been getting a bad rap. Cauliflower doesn’t deserve it. It is an excellent source of folic acid and vitamins C and K, and also contains lots of iron, fiber, potassium for efficient muscle function, and B vitamins, which play a role in everything from hair growth to red blood cell creation to carrying oxygen and nutrients to cells of our body.

#4 Clementines
I know the winter season is upon us when I see the boxes of clementines, a cross between a mandarin and an orange, in the supermarket. So easy to peel, they make the easiest grab-and-go citrus fruit this time of year. Besides being a excellent source of vitamin C, they also contain calcium and potassium, and are a great low calorie fruit: a serving of two clementines is only 80 calories. 

#5 Pears
I think pears are an overlooked fruit, with so many more people grabbing apples at this time of year. One of the highest-fiber fruits, a medium pear offers about 6 grams, which can help with blood sugar control and promote weight loss. An excellent source of vitamins C and K, pears are also packed with B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Unfortunately during this time of year with everyone being so busy with holiday parties, events, and shopping, a lot of people are not eating enough fruits and veggies at all. When on the run, one option is a small Jamba Juice smoothie. I like the sixteen-ounce Berry UpBeet, which combines fruits and veggies, including beets.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

5 Foods to Detox Your Body

5 Foods to Detox Your Body

Sick of feeling sluggish, tired, and bloated? Want to get that hot bod into pristine shape? Well, a detox might be for you, says author and chef Candice Kumai. 

If you're not ready to fully commit to a detox yet, you can still try to modify your diet to help. Try cutting carbs, alcohol, dairy, sugar, and caffeine from your current diet, and start adding in these top five foods to feel completely renewed:

#1 Tea
The polyphenols in tea leaves help to detoxify the body naturally, while popular herbal "detox" teas contain a blend of herbs with special detoxification and cleansing properties. Herbal and detoxification teas don't usually tend to carry caffeine.

#2 Cabbage
A natural diuretic that is used to help expel excess fluids in the body, cabbage is made up of approximately 92 percent water. You'd probably burn more calories chewing cabbage than anything else. It's also known for being a perfect source of many dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins, including C, K, E, A, and folic acid.

#3 Garlic
Ahhh yes, the superfood of the century, not to mention the one that you don't want to consume on your first or second hot date. So exclude garlic for dating, but include it for a great slammin' detox. Garlic can also help to lower your bad cholesterol, prevent cardiovascular disease and also help to de-stress.

# 4 Greens
The chlorophyll in these plant-based foods will rid the body of harmful environmental toxins, as well as aid the liver in detoxification. A blood cleanser and natural antibiotic, it also reduces blood fats, thinning the blood and lowering blood pressure.



#5 Water
Are you surprised? Don't be afraid to down a few cups in the morning, through the day, before any meal, and of course, during and after a workout. Water will help to flush your kidneys and liver and also hydrate your body from head to toe. Plus, it's free! Here's to a happy and healthy new, cleansed you!

Good food for sex

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

15 Tips How to Eat More and Lose Weight

#1 Peppers

Being muy caliente pays off in a big way. Spicy food makes you break into a sweat because it's speeding up your metabolism. Additionally, a Japanese study found that participants who had a breakfast with red pepper ate less during the day. That's because they contain the appetite suppressant capsacin. This benefit isn't just limited to red peppers. Any pepper will suppress your appetite. Hot peppers also give you a metabolic boost. The more you burn, the more you burn. Get it? So the next time you see a pepper symbol on a menu, order up.

#2 Nuts

Nuts are a bit of a conundrum. On the one hand, they are notoriously high in calories. On the other hand, they provide a powerful metabolic boost. Researchers at Purdue University found that people who snacked on nuts were thinner than those who didn't. When they did a study, they found something else surprising. Participants who added 500 nut calories to their diet snacked less. These diet benefits make nuts more than worth the calories. If you're watching your calories, try almonds. They have just 500 calories per cup.

#3 Olive Oil

Want to lose weight? Put olive oil on almost everything. It's full of healthy monosaturated fat and it helps you burn calories. An Australian study found that women who ate just half an ounce of olive oil with breakfast enjoyed a metabolic boost. For the best results, eat the olive oil raw. Cooking the oil breaks down it's beneficial properties - and it's flavor. There are lots of great ways to eat it raw. Mix it with balsamic vinegar for a salad dressing or a delicious bread dip. Or, toss it in some pasta or drizzle it on a sandwich in place of mayo.

#4 Pears

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But a pear a day keeps the fat away. Pears are chock full of belly-filling fiber that keeps you from snacking throughout the day. There are lots of ways to eat pears. Add them to your oatmeal at breakfast. Pear and brie sandwiches are great for taking to work. Add some to your salad before dinner to keep you from overeating at night. However you can get them, they'll do you good. A recent Brazilian study found that overweight women who ate three small pears a day lost more weight than women who skipped out on the fruit.

#5 Salad

Sometimes losing weight is about eating more. Eat a large salad before your meal and you'll eat less. A study at Penn State University found that participants who ate a large salad before each meal ate 12 percent less pasta. And fettuccine alfredo is pretty hard to resist. But not just any salad will do the trick. The key is to keep it low calorie. That means no meat, eggs, cheese or creamy dressing. Eat a plants-only salad with low calorie dressing.

#6 Beans

We've all heard of beans. But not many of us have heard of cholecystokinin. That's an appetite-suppressing hormone that beans encourage your body to produce. A recent study at the University of California, Davis found that participants who ate beans had more of this appetite-suppressing hormone. This discovery is so new that scientists aren't sure how it works. The hormone may keep food in your stomach longer to stave off hunger pains. It may also keep your blood sugar level to avoid hunger spikes. The only thing that science knows for sure is that beans help you lose weight. Work them into breakfast or lunch to enjoy the hunger suppression all day long.

#7 Raspberry Ketones

Raspberry ketones are the biggest natural weight loss craze to date. Ketones are the compounds that give raspberry their heavenly aroma. They also give your body a powerful metabolic boost. Raspberry ketones also help your body shed fat. They infiltrate your cells and break down the fat inside. This broken down fat is more easily transported out of your body. But you'd have to eat a truckload of raspberries to benefit from these properties. Lucky for you, they sell them in capsules. Doctors recommend taking 100 mg per day to reap the benefits.

#8 Green Tea

We've been underestimating green tea this whole time. Turns out, this tasty beverage actually keeps your body from storing fat. It's a complicated scientific process. But basically, it breaks down the triglycerides responsible for storing fat on your stomach and thighs. And that's not all it does. Green tea also boosts your metabolism to help you burn calories faster. Plus it gives you an energy boost that can help you exercise harder and longer. That makes it pretty much the perfect beverage.

#9 Grapefruit

A new study by the Nutrition and Metabolic Research Center at Scripps Clinic just proved that grapefruit can help you lose weight. People in their study who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost 3.6 pounds on average. Some lost as much as 10 pounds. Those results are pretty good. Turns out that the high fiber and low glycemic load of these fruit curbs your appetite in a major way. Chomp on grapefruit before a meal and you'll eat less than usual. If you can, choose grapefruit over grapefruit juice. Because grapefruit juice is stripped of the fiber of grapefruit, it's less effective. Study participants who drank juice lost less weight than those who chose the fruit.

#10 Drink Caffeine

Caffeine does more than keep you from falling asleep at work. It also gives your metabolic rate a boost every time you drink it. But be careful. Some forms of caffeine come with a lot of calories. Use skim milk and light sugar with each cup of coffee. Or try flavored tea with a little less sugar in each cup until you can drink it au natural. If natural sources of caffeine aren't your thing, try diet coke. It's delicious and it has no calories at all.

#11 Fish Oil

Take a fish oil supplement and your metabolism will burn up to 400 more calories a day. Plus you'll store less fat. For the best results, you'll need to take the 300 milligrams a day the EPA recommends. That's a lot of fish. There's no need to fillet it all. Instead, look for capsules. You'll find them in the vitamin section of your local health food store. Just pop one in in the morning before you eat breakfast. It will keep your metabolism humming all day long.

#12 Red Meat

That's right. Meat is good for you. Especially red meat. Breaking down that tough stuff makes your metabolism kick in to overdrive. And that's not all. Protein keeps you full longer than carbs. That means you're less likely to snack throughout the day. And while you're busy not snacking, protein builds your muscles. Muscles burn more calories than fat, too. So when your body finally breaks down your calories they'll go to good use. Now you have a reason to splurge on that porterhouse.

#13 Eat Organic

We all know that we should eat organic. Not all of us know why. Organic foods are free of pesticides. What does that have to do with dieting? Some of the pesticides found in grocery store produce slow down your metabolism. Organic produce may cost a bit more, but it's totally worth it. Not only will you stay healthier, you'll lose more weight. Free of the toxins, your metabolism will kick in to high gear. That's especially true for vegetarians who's diets are primarily made of fruits and vegetables.

#14 Add Ice

The only thing better for your body than water is cold water. Ice-cold drinks are a great weight-loss aid. The ice cools down your internal temperature and forces your metabolism to warm you back up. The effect is small but it adds up over time. Drink 8 glasses of ice-cold drinks a day and you can burn 70 extra calories a day. That's 25,500 extra calories a year -- just for keeping it extra cold. So toss those cubes into your soda, juice and smoothies to keep the calories burning.

#15 Drink Water

We've all heard that we should drink 8 glasses of water a day. But did you know that H20 helps you lose weight while it keeps you happy? Your metabolism only works at top speed when it's well-hydrated. When you haven't had enough to drink, your metabolism slows down at a snails pace and holds on to what you put into your body. Most of us know that water flushes the toxins out of our bodies. But did you know that water flushes fat out too? When you're dieting or exercising, water helps you drop those pounds and see quicker results on the scale. Those combined properties make water the single best addition you can make to your diet.

Weight Loss Success Now

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Why Herbal Supplements Are A Scam

#1 Gingko Biloba

Gingko Biloba, which is supposed to increase memory, was found to contain fillers and black walnut in the capsules, but none of the herb claimed on the packaging. Because they are not held to same standards as the medical community, anything can be in your supplements. Quality control is the biggest problem in the herbal industry, and some of the fillers used are not harmless to the body either. For people with nut allergies, black walnut as a filler could mean the difference between life and death.

#2 Garcinia Cambogia

Garcinia Cambogia is the most recent supplement to make news. Quoted as being able to turn any fat you eat into energy, rather than storing it, the bottles are flying off the shelves. Different companies sell different strengths, and it’s been advised that anything over 60% of the active ingredient will produce weight loss. This may be true if what was in the bottle is what was on the label, but we have no real way of knowing the truth.

#3 Green Tea Extract

Dr. Oz was a big supporter of Green Tea Extract, and claims have been made of the resulting weight loss from this supplement. Instead, some people were only filled with hot air. Flatulence resulting from fillers used in offers that claimed they were sending free samples, where you only paid for shipping, became abundant on the internet. How can you really be sure that what it says on the label is actually in the bottle? You can’t.

#4 Colon Cleanse

Colonics and colon cleanse supplements have become all the rage today. Rid your body of toxins trapped in your intestines and lose weight. Your skin will glow, your eyes will glimmer. These are the claims, but are you getting the herbs listed on the bottle of your colon cleanse? Without any regulations in place, it’s a crap shoot ... literally. Worse yet, the fillers may actually harm your body, adding more toxins instead of removing them.

#5 Resveratrol

Resveratrol promised to turn back the hands of time. Did it? Well, it might have if there were actually any traces of the herb Resveratrol in the bottle. Instead, what you get are rice, and other grains, powdered down to fill the capsule. Whether mind over matter, some people actually claimed it worked. Maybe they were the lucky ones who purchased from reputable companies who abided by the F.D.A. requirements, but others were not so lucky.

#6 Acai Berry

The Acai Berry hit the scene and everyone thought they found the miracle cure for weight loss and health. Quoted as having five times the antioxidants than that of the blueberry, people flocked to vitamin stores to stock up on this wonder berry. What they didn’t know was that some companies were using just filler, with little to no acai berry. This hard to find fruit, is expensive and not as abundant as most herbal companies would like. Filler however, is everywhere.

#7 Kava

Kava is another supplement that people depended on for weight loss, but instead got fillers that did nothing for their body weight. Some of these supplements can be pricey, not to mention the cost of medical issues that may arise from food allergies to certain fillers used in the products. Some supplement actually contained herbs that were toxic to human beings, and since some people take supplements religiously, they could be doing real harm to their bodies.

#8 Echinacea

Echinacea, an herbal supplement used to prevent and shorten the duration of colds, was found to contain fillers such as powdered grains. None of these fillers are listed on the label, causing grave concerns for officials who fear the supplements may be making some people sick. While the F.D.A. requires that labels convey accurate information, there is no system in place to enforce that, instead just trusting that the companies will follow protocol, but most don’t.

#9 St. John's Wort

We spend up to $5 billion dollars a year on herbal supplements with the promise that we will lose weight, boost memory, make our skin glow and our eye sight better, but a lot the claims are empty promises. Most times what we are getting in the bottles are just powdered rice and weeds. In bottles of St. John’s Wort, which is claimed to treat mild depression, only rice was found in the capsules.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Seven Foods That Fight Inflammation and Belly Fat

When eaten on a regular basis, foods with anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation in the body, helping to prevent the long-term health consequences associated with it - but only if you also eliminate the foods that cause inflammation. When inflammation is under control, not only will you have more energy and feel better overall, but you’ll also find that weight loss and reduction of belly fat both become easier!

Try adding anti-inflammatory foods into your meal plan on a daily basis. The more often you eat these foods, the less inflammation that will be present in your body. The following foods and nutrients can fight inflammation:

1. Fruits and vegetables

All fruits and vegetables, due to their rich nutrient and fiber content, help to combat chronic inflammation, so make sure to include adequate amounts of these foods daily. Some types of fresh produce, however, are even more potent than others. Some terrific anti-inflammatory fruits andvegetables to include in your meal plan include apples, berries, broccoli, mushrooms, papaya, pineapple, and spinach.

2. Green tea

This mild beverage is great for helping shrink your waistline as well as for decreasing inflammation. The flavonoids in this tea have natural anti-inflammatory properties. And the compound EGCG in green tea has been shown to help reduce body fat.

3. Monounsaturated fats

These heart-healthy fats help raise your healthy HDL cholesterol levelsand reduce overall inflammation. Great sources include olive oil, almonds, and avocado.

4. Omega-3 fatty acids

Research has shown that a diet with a high percentage of omega-3 fatty acids and a low percentage of omega-6 fatty acids has been linked with decreased inflammation. Food sources of omega-3s include walnuts, flaxseed, and fish, such as wild Alaskan salmon.

5. Spices

Certain spices, including garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and chili peppers, have potent inflammation-reducing capabilities, so try adding them to meals as often as possible.

6. Water

Staying hydrated is essential to flushing inflammation-causing toxins out of your body. Aim for 64 ounces of water per day. Remember: Add an additional 8 ounces of water for every 30 minutes of exercise as well.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Honeyed Black Garlic

Garlic is ripened with far infrared heat of double-boiling to become black garlic, and become honeyed black garlic containing honey.

Materials | peeled garlic 7.05oz~10.58oz

Methods of cooking :

1. Pour honey into an inner pot enough to make the peeled garlic immersed in the honey.

2. If you shut an inner lid, couple an outer body, select <Honeyed red ginseng> from a menu, and push a start button, it is completed after 6 hours.

Health Common Knowledge :

Take out the honeyed black garlic from a germanium inner pot, dry it in an airy and shady place to be somewhat dry and hard and then roll it in white sugar powder to prevent it from being stuck together and then refrigerate it to take it later. The honey liquid is used as an essence of red ginseng honey tea.

Tip :

* An adult eats two honeyed black garlic for one dose and three times in a day, and a child eats a half of the adult’s amount.

* As honeyed black garlic is a healthy food, you can adjust the amount thereof that you eat according to your personal adaptability.

* Because it is a food that has a lot of smell, it is good that you cook it in a veranda or outdoors.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Honeyed Red Ginseng Paste

Honeyed red ginseng paste can be easily made by using the completed honeyed red ginseng, which is good as a present with your best wishes for the elderly people and close acquaintances.

Materials | Completed honeyed red ginseng

Methods of cooking :

1. The completed honeyed red ginseng is crushed up well. (It can be pounded with a mortar or a mixer.)

2. It is completed if you mix the prepared honeyed red ginseng well. (If you add a honey liquid when making paste, the paste becomes watery, and thus the honey liquid should be kept separately to be used as an essence of a red ginseng honey tea.)

Health Common Knowledge :

Because this is red ginseng paste decocted with honey, you can eat this by refrigerating it or utilize it as an essence of red ginseng honey tea.

Tip :

As honeyed red ginseng is a health self-indulgent food, you can adjust the amount thereof that you eat in a day according to personal adaptability. It is good that an adult eats two small spoons of honeyed red ginseng paste for one dose and three times in a day, and a child eats a half of the adult’s amount.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Decocting of Red Ginseng (Ripened Fresh Ginseng, Dried Ginseng)

The efficient ingredients of red ginseng are decocted and extracted without smell and loss of nutrition.

Materials | Ripened red ginseng (fresh ginseng 7.05oz, dried ginseng 3.53oz)

Methods of cooking :

1. Pour 2,000cc (5 cups) of water into red ginseng.

2. If you shut an inner lid, couple an outer body, select <Decocting red ginseng> from a menu, and push a start button, it is completed after 6 hours and a half and then it is converted into an automatic keep warm function

Health Common Knowledge :

Generally, it is economic wisdom to make a choice after checking how much concentrated liquid of red ginseng and solid powder of red ginseng are contained in the quality sign of healthy food related to red ginseng that is sold in the market and comparing them with those in the case of extracting efficient components of red ginseng directly at home.

Note !

* While 2,000cc of water is decocted, about 50cc of water is absorbed into ginseng, and 1,500~1,800cc of water is decocted. A daily standard amount - Drink 100cc twice a day (30 minutes after breakfast and dinner)

* A little child (who is younger than 12 years old) drink about 50cc for one dose.

Tip :

* In the case of a person who has allergy or side effects against ginseng (heat or diarrhea), reduce the dose to 1/2 of the standard amount (50cc) and then increase the dose up to 100cc gradually.

* Drink the red ginseng essence that is completely heated in the state of being refrigerated. In the case of a person who suffers from a stomach trouble, drink it after warming it up.

* If you drink a red ginseng essence as a restorative, it is good to drink it for a long period of time of more than 5 months.

* If you add honey or sugar to a red ginseng essence and then drink it before or after drinking, it is good to cure a hangover.

* When you store a red ginseng essence for more than 10 hours, please, do not use a keep warm function, but refrigerate it.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Aging of Red Ginseng (Fresh Ginseng, Dried Ginseng)

Effective ingredients of red ginseng are produced by steaming and aging fresh ginseng or white ginseng (dried ginseng) with far infrared ray double boiling heat.

Materials | Fresh ginseng : fresh ginseng 7.05oz (1/3 root) 
Dried ginseng : dried ginseng (white ginseng) 3.53oz

Methods of cooking :
1. Wash ginseng thoroughly in flowing water with a brush, place the washed ginseng in a germanium pot and then place the germanium pot inside an inner pot. Cut rhizome (a trace of a stem) in a head part.
2. If you shut an inner lid, couple an outer body thereto, select <Aging red ginseng> from a menu, and then push a start button, it is completed after 7 hours and then it is converted into an automatic keep warm function.

Health Common Knowledge :
Because it becomes an economic burden to eat 6 year old ginseng that is highly expensive for a long time, it is the most economical health care method to extract and eat the efficient ingredients of 4 or 5 year old fresh ginseng that is inexpensive.

Tip :
* The browning phenomenon happens differently according to a size of ginseng, and thus the reddish brown color may become lighter or darker differently.
* If you read the manual of OCOO, understand the method of using and then cook healthy foods, you will be able to cook healthy foods more easily and conveniently.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?

Foods and Herbs for Better Sex

Sexual energy is extra energy. Low libido may be Nature’s way of conserving vitality and a message that intimacy in the relationship needs improvement. Nutritional deficiencies, stress and exhaustion can decrease the urge to merge.

In eastern medicine the kidneys govern sexual vitality and are depleted through overuse of coffee, alcohol, saturated fats, overwork and exposure to cold weather. Build health and sexual vitality will be enhanced. When two people pursue good health together that can be a step in improving a joyous sexual life.

Aphrodisiacs, named after Aphrodite, goddess of love, can work in many ways. Suggestive shapes and textures of foods and herbs such as banana or chili pepper may simply turn one’s thoughts to love. Or a substance may be so nourishing, deficiencies are corrected and lust is aroused. Some may stimulate or even irritate the genito-urinary tract, such as asparagus, thus drawing attention to the lower regions. A substance may provide an abundance of energy or affect the mind in a relaxing manner.

Many foods nourishing to sexuality contain the spark of life and have their own reproductive capability. In other words they could grow if planted. Good examples are raw sunflower and pumpkin seeds and almonds, all of which contain life force that could grow into large plants given the right conditions. They are also rich in vitamin E and zinc.

Chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine which is produced by the brain when in love. Most chocolates are high in fat and sugar, but a bit of quality organic naturally sweetened chocolate is available through natural food stores.

For centuries people have sought the healing benefits of herbs to incite passion. They can be used in the form of tea, tincture or capsules. Before using herbs, clear up emotional conflicts that may be affecting sexuality and develop a healthier diet.

Many of the herbs used to enhance libido are warming and improve circulation to all parts of the body, including the genitals. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, C. cassia), is an example and has been used in love potions since medieval times. It is mildly stimulating. Another culinary treasure is Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia), once banned by the Puritans because of its sexually stimulating qualities. The word vanilla is actually derived from Latin, meaning “little vagina” and plants of this Orchid family have very suggestive anatomically correct flowers.

Since the brain is the ultimate sex organ, Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba ) is an herb to consider. It relaxes blood vessels so that nutrients can be better delivered throughout the body, especially the brain. By improving vascular insufficiency it can improve blood flow to the genitals. Ginkgo is also considered a kidney tonic and a rejuvenative. Ginseng (Panax ginseng) improves fatigue, increases stamina and strengthens the adrenal glands. Oatstraw (Avena sativa) is warming, nutritive and relaxing. It has long been regarded as a tonic to improve sexual ability, increase libido, aid erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Oatstraw nourishes the nervous system and makes tactile sensations more pleasurable for both men and women.

South and Central America seems to abound with libido enhancing plants. Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca, T. diffusa ) is used in Central America for frigidity, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and testicular atrophy. It helps sexual problems related to anxiety and increases nerve sensitivity. Maca (Lepidium peruvianum Chacon, L. meyenii ), which grows at a high altitude in the Andes Mountains, is an energy enhancer, nutritive and rejuvenative that increases pituitary function, encouraging the body’s natural hormonal production. It also helps improve vaginal lubrication.

Muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides, P. uncinatum) is referred to in South America as “potency wood.” It improves virility and improves sexual debility. It is considered a tonic for the central nervous system as well as an aphrodisiac.

Two herbs widely used in oriental medicine include Schizandra and tribulis. Schizandra (Schisandra chinensis ) increases staying power in men and is a kidney tonic for both men and women improving general weakness, depression and sexual debility. It is also suggested as an herb to help heal trauma from sexual abuse. Tribulis terrestris (same Latin name, though also known as Caltrop and Horny Goat Weed) is used for erectile dysfunction and low sperm count. It is a kidney tonic, rejuvenative and aphrodisiac.

Learn to prepare meals with more spice including not only cinnamon and vanilla but cardamom, cloves, garlic, ginger all of which are warming and aphrodisiac.

You can create your own tonic brew by grinding any combination of the herbs listed above into a powder in the blender. Place them in a clean glass jar and cover with vodka or apple cider vinegar adding an extra inch or two so that the herbs are totally submerged. Shake the bottle daily, then strain the herbs. After a month, use a clean muslin cloth to squeeze the alcohol out of the herbs. Compost the herbs and bottle the remaining herb infused liquid. Add one third part honey to the mixture. Shake well and enjoy a shot glassful with your beloved before bed. Make a toast to love!

Supplementation can also improve libido. Vitamin A is needed for the production of sex hormones and strengthens the mucus membranes. Vitamin E improves the body’s utilization of oxygen, improves erection and vaginal circulation. Zinc is needed for both sperm motility and vaginal lubrication. Lecithin occurs naturally in the sexual fluids of both men and women.

Kegel exercises are done by simply tightening and relaxing the muscles that control the flow of urine. These are done in series — for example twenty one Kegels, three times daily. Kegels should be done by both sexes for many reasons. They can enhance the orgasmic capability of women and give men more control over ejaculating too quickly. Kegels help to strengthen the muscles that hold the bladder and can help keep senior citizens from having to wear diapers later in life which is not too sexy.

Too often couples have only leftover time for sex – 11:30 at night when they are exhausted or 8:00 in the morning when having to be somewhere in an hour. Consider creating sacred time to be with your beloved. Find a time when the kids are visiting someone else or send them to a sitter for a few hours. Turn down the volume on the phone and let voice mail take care of things. Make your bedroom more sensuous with soft fabrics, supporting pillows and candles. Enter you sacred space with a clean body without time restraints. Engage in massage as foreplay to help you relax and stimulate all the meridians of energy throughout the body. Don’t rush. Remember to breathe together. Make love more slowly. Enjoy “after play” by lying together to rest, enjoy a sweet nap or exchange feelings of love.

Read More

You May Like

Have you shared this story yet?