08 Feb Serve Passion this Valentine’s Day with a Sexy Meal

Falling in love. Falling out of love. Stories about new loves and old loves revived. Broken hearts, and mending hearts. Unrequited love and passionate love. February is a month where love is in the air. Songs, roses, stories, books and movies all bring us back to those first kisses, first loves, and butterflies in our stomachs.

So why not spice up the romance (or kindle a new one) with a sexy meal? Can foods get our engines revving, or is that all hype?

Basically, our bodies run on chemicals. We’re really a magnificent machine. So, creating a meal with the right elements can boost our passion. But why do these foods turn a meal into foreplay? Why are these foods aphrodisiacs?

• Oysters always top the list of aphrodisiacs. Oysters are the food highest in zinc. And zinc is the closest thing to a nutritional aphrodisiac as it plays a critical role in spermatogenesis. Basically, it helps boost sperm motility, morphology, and capacitation. New studies have found that oysters also contain two amino acids that boost production of sex hormones. Add their sensual shape and that you slurp raw oysters, swallowed whole, the act of eating oysters is pretty damn sexy. (Trends in Biosciences 6 (1): 14-18, 2013, Knowledge and Gaps for Herbal Zinc in Relation to Their Role in Regulation of Male Fertility : A Review MANISH MATHUR 18E-564, C.H.B., Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342 003) 
• Nutmeg isn’t just for egg nog. This “sexy spice” is called, in Zanzibar, “Viagra for women.” It’s been used as an aphrodisiac for thousands of years in the Middle East and Asia. In the 18^th century, it was used to treat male sexual dysfunctions. Just recently, though, in Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, India, researchers tested nutmeg’s effects on lab rats and found it increased both mounting frequency and ejaculations.
• Have you ever wondered why chocolate and Valentine’s Day are inseparable? Besides commercial opportunism and pretty packaging, chocolate boosts dopamine production (Popillion, Amy Ph.D. (2012) “Letter From a Sexpert,”Ethos: Vol. 2012, Article). It’s also been shown to release phenylethylamine and serotonin producing aphrodisiac and mood-boosting effects.
• Figs drizzled with honey to make them sticky and sweeter are hot. Figs symbolize sexuality because of their shape. The seeds represent fertility. And a bite of the juicy, sweet, rich-mouth sensation make figs incredibly sensual. With that added honey, also known to be an aphrodisiac, this treat can set the stage for a night of passion.
• Pomegranite’s color and the sharp, tangy flavor explosion when biting into seeds is a vitamin-packed aphrodisiac. Since biblical times it’s been known to have an estrogenic effect. When cut in half, it resembles the female genitalia.
• Whipped Cream has no actual chemical aphrodisiac attributes, but its creamy texture and luscious mouth-feel can put anyone in the mood for sex. Ideal for dipping berries and fruit can turn a regular meal into a passionate experience.
• Turn up the heat with chili peppers. Capcaisins, found in chili peppers and spicy foods, stimulate metabolism, increase blood flow, heart rate, and sweat production – all similar to what happens to our bodies during sex.
• No nutritionist could call herself one without bringing out the leafy greens! Really, though, the long-term benefits of a diet high in leafy greens include a better sex drive. They protect us from environmental contaminants, which can impede libido. Eating foods that are rich in antioxidants can also improve long term blood flow to vessels bring blood to our sex organs. So in this respect you might see this food not truly as an aphrodisiac but as a food that will help us to be ready when the moment strikes and have a more pleasurable response to sex. Kale probably never looked so good!
• Pine nuts, like oysters, are jam-packed with zinc which boost our sex drive as well as the production of sperm and fertility – both linked to the sex drive.

So, make a meal, incorporating these incredible elements to set the stage for an unforgettable night of passion.

• Appetizer: raw oysters with a hot, spicy red sauce.
• Entrée: pasta tossed with a pesto sauce, made with pine nuts, basil and olive oil.
• Salad: arugula, pomegranate seeds, olives, and shaved parmesan
• Dessert: whipped cream with strawberries and dark chocolate sauce for dipping. Fresh figs cut in half with walnut halves, all drizzled with honey. Grate nutmeg on the whipped cream for added flavor and zing.

Set the stage for a night of passion with a sexy meal (if you can get past the appetizer)! Celebrate love and the flavors of passion.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I talked to Jonathan Rowe at Muscle and Fitness this month. They’ve got a great article coming out in February that goes into more details and creative ways to put passion on the table.