8 Foods to get you in the Mood

OK, so I know were moms, and most of us spend the majority of each day taking care of and trying to keep everyone around us happy, and at the end of it, most of us don't have the energy but, sex has many proven physical and emotional benefits.

It reduces your man's risk of prostate cancer and keeps you emotionally connected to him, which increases your commitment level. So does kissing! Kissing keeps your teeth healthy too. Sex also gives you a more positive attitude towards yourself and the world around you, it helps you both sleep better, and improves your memory (meaning less fights since he's more likely to remember that anniversary, or that he's supposed to pick up the kids) .

It even counts toward your recommended daily exercise, and we all love to multi-task! You burn 200 calories per 30 mins session, while improving your endurance, making your skin more radiant, boosting your immunity, reducing your risk of heart disease, and working your abs and butt. And since you're working your abs, you're also improving your posture. Like any other workout it will also help to improve digestion, lower cortisol (the hormone that makes you crave things, or feel tired), relieve menstrual cramps, reduce incontinence and act as a pain reliever, naturally!

So go on, be selfish, have some.

Here are eight foods that are researched and proven to increase hormone levels and get your blood pumping — just in time for Valentine's Day fun.

Bananas
If you want sex to go the extra mile, fuel up for foreplay with a big banana. It's the perfect food for a bedroom marathon. Bananas contain B vitamins, which are key for converting carbohydrates into energy, and are believed to help manufacture sex hormones such as testosterone (the chemical with the most direct libido-boosting effect). Munch on one a few hours before getting busy to make the most of your monkey business.


Celery
Serve your guy celery sticks and he may suddenly seem irresistible. Raw celery contains the male hormone androsterone (a steroid hormone that reinforces masculine characteristics). After a few bites, his sweat glands start releasing the pheromone which triggers female attraction. If you're feeling too cranky to fool around, nibble a stalk yourself — androsterone has mood-elevating effects in women too.

Dark Chocolate
OK. Like we need another reason to love chocolate. A recent Italian study found that women who report eating chocolate on a daily basis claim to have more satisfying sex lives. Coincidence? I think not. Chocolate contains an array of chemicals linked to relaxation, intoxication, and pleasure. Like other sweets, chocolate triggers the release of feel-good endorphins. It also provides small amounts of anxiety-quelling substances, arousing caffeine, and anandamide and theobromine, that, in large quantities, work like psychedelic drugs. You'd have to down several pounds of chocolate to feel the funky effects, but simply nibbling a few squares after dinner will help transform your mood from stressed to saucy.

Flaxseeds
Just 1 tablespoon of flaxseed a day increases testosterone. Besides just enhancing your sex drive, these nutty-flavored seeds contain the fatty acids omega 3 and 6, which are the major building blocks of all sex hormones. If you don't have enough fatty acids, your hormone levels may decrease, and so will your sexual desire. Flaxseed oil has twice the omega acids of fish, and 2 tablespoons of the seeds deliver 140 percent of your RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) . To rev your engine, swallow a teaspoon of flaxseed oil or sprinkle a tablespoon of flaxseeds on your cereal or salad every day. Since both can spoil fast, get oil in opaque bottles and seeds in vacuum-sealed packs, which have longer shelf lives. If seeds aren't your thing, opt for walnuts, which contain about 90 percent of your omega RDI.

Ginger
Wondering what to cook on February 14? Make it an Asian stir-fry with loads of fresh ginger. The powerful root stimulates the circulatory system, increasing blood flow to the genitals. Fresh ginger has a more pungent smell than the stuff in a jar. Smelling ginger actually has a stronger effect on penile and vaginal blood flow than eating it does. When a food or aroma raises blood pressure, vessels in the genitals admit a rush of blood that inflates erectile tissue. The vessels then close off, preventing blood from exiting the erogenous zones, keeping sensitivity levels high. Only powdered ginger on hand? It will also boost blood flow a bit, but the effect won't be as intense.

Honey
No wonder newlywed getaways are called honeymoons. This sticky stuff contains simple carbohydrates that provide instant energy and fuel for working muscles. Honey is rich in B vitamins, which are needed for testosterone production, and it contains boron, which helps the body metabolize and use estrogen (an important part of blood flow and arousal). Use a few teaspoons as a natural sweetener in tea or spread it on toast with peanut butter. Better yet, spread it on each other.

Nutmeg and Cloves
Researchers have found that both nutmeg and cloves stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you relax. But the effects were greater with nutmeg. Just don't eat too much of the magical spice, as it also has hallucinogenic properties. A sprinkle on your cappuccino or hot cocoa should do the trick. As with chocolate, you'd have to eat a lot, about 2 tablespoons on an empty stomach, before the walls start melting.

Oysters & Mussels
Ancient Romans slurped these shellfish while splashing around it public baths, and they were definitely onto something. Oysters contain high levels of zinc, a mineral required for the production of testosterone. A team of American and Italian researchers recently found that mussels, clams, and oysters deliver two types of amino acids that spark a rush of sex hormones. Be sure to chew your shellfish thoroughly before swallowing — you'll extract more of the mojo-cranking mineral.

Related:
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