Looking to add a little extra love to your life this Valentine’s Day? Then I have the perfect list of healthy plant-based erotic edibles (aka aphrodisiac foods) that may just get you in the mood…. for love.
We’ve all heard that certain foods have aphrodisiac qualities, but which foods?
Here I’ve put together a list of purported “mood foods” (wink) that you can feed to your Valentine to see if they really do have an aphrodisiac affect.
And if they don’t? Well, it’s still a win win because you can enjoy these healthy foods for Valentine’s Day and beyond and your body will love you for it.
Read on to learn more!
Photo: Jerran Boyer
Dark chocolate
Dark chocolate has been shown to increase levels of dopamine in our brains, which gives us a sense of pleasure. No wonder some people (uh em, me) claim to be addicted to chocolate.
Tip: be sure to buy 70% or higher cacao chocolate that is free of dairy, gluten, and soy lecithin for the healthiest of treats.
My favorite way to enjoy dark chocolate? Any and every way! And my favorites are Theo 70% dark and Hu Kitchen.
Cinnamon
A study revealed that men responded more strongly to the aroma of cinnamon buns than they did perfume. So this may just be nature’s love spice. Talk about a honey bun!
And aside from that, cinnamon is one of the most powerful spices of all in terms of health. It can help regulate blood sugar, is an anti-inflammatory, and is packed with antioxidants.
Tip: be sure to get the Ceylon cinnamon variety, which is “true” cinnamon. It contains less of a harmful compound found in cassia cinnamon.
Photo: Jerran Boyer
Arugula
This dark leafy green is packed with nutrients and antioxidants that are said to block environmental contaminants that could negatively impact our health (and libido!). And it has been used as an arousal aid since the first century.
Arugula is more than just a salad green ~ you can make an arugula pesto by adding it alongside or in place of basil. I also love it folded into warm grain dishes.
Olive oil
Heart healthy fats like olive oil, avocado and walnuts are good for your heart and therefore promote good blood flow. Our bodies also need these healthy fats to produce hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.
I prefer to use avocado oil for cooking and olive oil for drizzling and salad dressings. Be sure to get extra-virgin of either, and organic is always best in my opinion.
Photo: Jerran Boyer
Pine nuts
And speaking of pesto! Pine nuts are high in the mineral zinc, which is not only good for boosting immunity but also for increasing libido.
In addition to pesto, I enjoy pine nuts in salads, grain dishes and even in granola.
Pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin seeds are high in the mineral magnesium, which is believed to help raise testosterone levels. They are also high in zinc, like pine nuts, which can help regulate sex hormones.
I like to make spiced pumpkin seeds for snacking, for pesto sauces in place of pine nuts, and I also use them in granola.
Photo: Jerran Boyer
Chili peppers
If variety is the spice of life then chili peppers are the spice of love. Eating spicy chili peppers is said to release endorphins (those feel-good chemicals) and increase heart rate.
Fresh chili peppers can be enjoyed in in Asian dishes, dried chili peppers can be used in Mexican sauces such as enchilada sauce. And perhaps the most ubiquitous use of chili peppers is flakes such as crushed red pepper, which I happen to love on pizza and just about anything else. These Simply Organic red pepper flakes are my favorite.
Looking for recipes using these love-ly foods? Head over to my Instagram feed or search for your food of choice in the search field on the blog.
Sources: RD.com, psychologytoday.com, webmd.com