Spice it Up with These Top Aphrodisiac Foods & Herbs
Beloved,
February is the official month of the celebration of love.
That being said, LOVE should be celebrated everyday!
____________________________________________________
This post is perfect for you if you/ your partner is experiencing a decline in libido, erectile dysfunction, or lack of sexual desire and you want to do something about it.
This could be due to emotional/mental constraints, physical inhibitions, imbalanced hormones, stress, fatigue, lack of nutrients & more.
Lifestyle Changes to Enhance Libido
Manage your stress levels. Stress will inhibit various vital functions, including proper digestion, the synthesis of hormones, lead to fatigue & inhibit our sex drive. If you notice, many people lose their desire when stressed. Meditate, breathe, practice yoga, immerse yourself in nature, & consume adaptogens.
Get good quality sleep. Sleep is vital for detoxification, proper metabolism, a balanced and healthy mood, and for the production of our feel good neurotransmitter, serotonin. Without proper good quality sleep, we tend to feel irritable, moody, and our libido goes down.
Cut out the junk. What you put in your body will be a reflection of how you feel. If you put junk into your body, you will feel like shit. Focus on healthy unprocessed whole foods. That means, cut down the fried foods, baked goods, processed meats, refined sugars, pop drinks,
Limit the consumption of stimulants. Stimulants like alcohol, nicotine & caffeine tend to lead to oxidative stress over time, and deplete nutrients from the body. Furthermore, the combination of smoking + drinking alcohol affects sperm quality & motility, and overtime, may affect fertility. The overuse of alcohol and nicotine have been found to negatively impact sexual desire, & lead to higher rates of erectile dysfunction.
Practice intentional breath work. Through deep, belly breathing, we can promote blood circulation, alkalize our body and allow oxygen to flow through, nourishing our tissues and cells. Deep breathing also helps reset your mind, calming stress & anxiety, and get you in the mood.
Move your body. Exercising, even if it is as simple as dancing or walking, promotes the flow of neurotransmitters like endorphins & dopamine, promoting a better mood, & feelings of positivity vitality. It also helps promote blood circulation, which is important for healthy libido & erections.
Aromatherapy. Smells induce certain emotions. Musky spices like cinnamon, bergamot, palo santo, ylang ylang, cedarwood and patchouli have been shown to be aphrodisiac aromatic oils. Diffuse some in a diffuser, light some incense, rub some oil.
Practice Tantra. Tantric sex is an incredibly profound spiritual practice that involves connecting with yourself/ your partner on a soul level & involves a series of breath work. The difference is, in tantra, the goal is not to orgasm, but to instead focus on your partner, heightening the senses & emotions, and making foreplay enjoyable and rewarding until you’re ready to take it to its natural end. Through practice, the orgasms achieved during tantric connection tends to be more powerful & groundbreaking due to the strong connection established by yourself/ with your partner. Eye gazing, synchronized breathing, light touch/ massage and straddling are some tantra techniques.
Aphrodisiac foods
Antioxidants:
Are necessary to help boost energy, blood circulation, cell growth. They help to ensure that blood vessels and capillaries work properly for optimal sexual functioning, aka boost your libido.
Foods: pomegranate, cacao, strawberries, FIGS, Cherries
Zinc
Necessary for a healthy immune system & sexual function, in particular the production of testosterone.
Foods: oYSTERS & MUSHROOMS
B VITAMINS
Boost energy, increases stamina. support the nervous system & healthy mood (alleviate stress, anxiety etc).
Foods: BANANA, spinach, SALMON
L-arginine
Increases blood flow (to the groin area) + increases libido.
Foods: brazil nuts, almonds, cacao, SEAWEED, SEAFOOd, eggs
VITAMIN E
Increases sex drive because it raises testosterone levels, enhances sperm count & motility, increases stamina and also helps raise desire.
Foods: avocado & pumpkin seeds
LIBIDO BOOSTING HERBS
If you are experiencing imbalances in your libido or performance that are unusual to you, you have to find the root cause of it. Mental/ emotional blockages, and especially stress, inhibit our desires. You could start there. If the issue is more physical and less psychosomatic, look into the lifestyle/ dietary/ herbal recommendations specified above.
