The pursuit of aphrodisiac or sexual stimulant is as old as Adam and Eve. Spanish fly, ginseng root, royal jelly, yohimbine and Vitamin E and Zinc are some of the largest selling sexual stimulants of modern times.
People have sought libido boosters from every conceivable source — from the tiger’s phallus to oysters to the root of mandrake to rhinoceros horn to antlers of deer; humans have caught hold of any item which remotely resembled aroused male or female genitalia. "Every culture in the world has attributed libidinous effects to objects, especially foods such as carrot or asparagus, which resembled the genitalia," says leading sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari.
However, their sexual powers remain debatable. "Such items just work by altering the mental state or by increasing the blood flow in the genitalia or by irritating the urinary tract, therefore remain the stuff of folklore," says Mumbai-based Dr Kothari.
NEW MANTRA SO BEFORE
You reach out for a spider or a beetle on the bedroom wall, here’s the latest and much safest way to fix the flagging libido.
Like many experts who hail good nutrition and regular exercise as the best aphrodisiacs, the renowned Dr Cecilia Tregear says that the kitchen is the best apothecary for sexual pleasure. London- based Dr Tregear, who has rekindled the sex lives of hundreds of distraught couples, has designed a ‘ Between the sheets diet’ for a healthy sex life.
"Good nutrition is essential for the healthy production of hormones which maintain the libido and allow for regular and fulfilling sexual activity," says Dr Tregear.
# 1 BEGIN WITH REWIRING YOUR NEUROCHEMISTRY
Supplying the right foods to your brain to keep the chemical activity going is Dr Tregear’s first commandment. "The biggest sexual organ is the brain, which produces the chemicals and hormones that trigger feelings of love and attraction, arousal and orgasm," she says.
"We need to make sure we're eating the right foods to ensure the production of these chemicals and hormones." For this, Dr Tregear advises a diet which boosts the dopamine levels. Dopamine is a feel-good chemical released by the brain. It is a neurochemical which is associated with a range of desires. It motivates people to pursue pleasure and drives you to have sex. So, next time you feel dull and lack a desire, blame the low dopamine activity in your brain.
It’s not just food but any kind of body work can kick up the dopamine levels. So, get yourself out of the house and take a walk to get a blast of dopamine.
Rx TO RAISE DOPAMINE LEVELS
- Fill your plate with oily fish, legumes, eggs and cottage cheese.
- They are high in protein and have amino acids, which help in the production of dopamine.
- Good sources of amino acids are found in red meat, milk and wheatgerm.
- Eat fruits like water melon, apples, bananas, blueberry and strawberry which are excellent sources of dopamine.
- In veggies, go for beetroot, beans and peas.
- Spices like black pepper, chilli peppers, cumin, fennel, flax seeds, mustard seeds, sesame seeds and turmeric are also useful.
The second commandment of Dr Tregear is to keep the energy levels super high. If you are listless and dull, sex is the last thing on your mind. So pep up your sex life by eating a healthy and balanced diet. And don’t forget to add foods that will increase your levels of Human Growth Hormone ( HGH). HGH promotes growth in humans and therefore builds up stamina and energy needed for a good performance. It is especially important in middle age as with the advancement of age, HGH production naturally declines.
Rx FOR MORE ENERGY
- Eat protein from beef, fish, and chicken to increase production of HGH. Root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips can also help, as canned low- sugar fruits, such as blueberries.
- Thyroid hormones help us to maintain energy. To work, the thyroid needs iodine, which is found in kelp, seaweed, oysters, clams and tuna.
# 3 WATCH THE HORMONES
A fine balancing act between the hormones is essential to improve your performance.'
Estrogens, androgens (also testosterone) and DHEA are the major hormones responsible for sexual arousal. Estrogen plays a big role for women in creating vaginal lubrication and maintaining the condition of vaginal lining. For many women the no.
One cause for losing sex drive in the middle age is the physical changes in the vagina which make intercourse painful. These physical changes are brought by the drop in estrogen levels. In men estrogen may cause erectile difficulties when the levels are too high.
However, the real libido or sex hormone is testosterone which affects both genders. Large deficiencies of testosterone may cause a drop in sexual desire, and excessive testosterone may heighten sexual interest in both sexes. "Males with below normal testosterone levels have erectile problems, resulting in low libido," says Dr ( Col) V K Wadia, consultant, psycho sexual medicine, Adiva Infertility Clinic.
While the market is full of testosterone boosting products the author says its best to eat well to keep the hormones in balance. 'A good balance of animal fat in meat and fish and good cholesterol, found in eggs for example, encourages the production of sex hormones, improving libido,' says Dr Tregear. Oysters are the most popular aphrodisiac due to their high zinc content. Zinc is necessary for the production of testosterone in both sexes. Other libido-boosting foods are asparagus, figs, almonds, eggs, basil, bananas and celery.
Rx TO MAINTAIN HORMONE BALANCE
- Eat foods high in zinc such as beef, pork, chicken liver, pumpkin seeds, eggs, seafood and tofu.
- Avoid excessive amounts of fibre which lower estrogen by stopping its absorption. Having cereal and toast for breakfast is the worst thing you can do for your hormones. ( yahoo.com )
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