Valentine’s Day is my favorite day of the whole year. It’s just so romantic. It also happens to be heart health month.
Did you know that heart health and sexual health are connected? What is good for libido is also good for your heart for women and men.
Having sex twice a week ‘reduces chance of heart attack by half’, according to an article from the The Telegraph. Men who have sex at least twice a week can almost halve their risk of heart disease, according to new research. It shows men who indulge in regular lovemaking are up to 45 per cent less likely to develop life-threatening heart conditions than men who have sex once a month or less. (I know that if it’s true for men it’s also true for women!) Sexual dysfunction may be the earliest indicator of a significant cardiovascular condition.
Sex and orgasms result in increased levels of the hormone oxytocin — the “love” hormone — that helps you feel more connected. Sex has also been found to boost self-esteem, improve intimacy in your relationship, and give your heart some real exercise.
So keeping it juicy in the bedroom will keep your heart pumping happily for years to come.
Foods (and nutrients) to boost your cardiovascular health:
- Spinach (magnesium and folate)
- Peaches, grapefruit, oranges (vitamin C for vascular integrity)
- Berries (vitamin C and folate)
- Eggs (protein and B vitamins)
- Lean red meat (zinc)
- Seeds, nuts (selenium, heart-healthy fats)
- Oatmeal (L-arginine)
Be sure to avoid foods high in sugar such as sugar in all its forms, breads, cookies, cakes – sweets in general, pasta, chips, crackers, etc. because high blood sugar can turn off the gene that controls your sex hormones.
Here are some delicious foods that will not only support your beautiful heart but will also help get you in the mood
- Pumpkin seeds (zinc for testosterone production; omega-3 for overall sexual health)
- Goji Berries (increase testosterone, improve stamina, mood and well-being)
- Maca (improve performance, increase sperm count and testosterone levels in men, helps women desire sex more frequently)
- Celery (boosts androsterone, an odor-less aphrodisiac in male perspiration)
- Avocado (high in folic acid and vitamin B6, increases libido)
- Garlic (high in allicin which improves blood flow to the sexual organs) – you have to love garlic, though, or the smell could be a turn off
There are many other aphrodisiacs (foods that may help you get excited) like figs, asparagus, salmon, ginger, and the famous oysters (these are so yummy raw or smoked – one of my favorite fast foods!)
Grab some delicious food, and your partner, and enjoy each other between the sheets!
