Robust You: food

Since the beginning, people (most especially men) all across the world have been searching for a miracle food that will help raise their sexual desire or that of their partners. Some believe that oysters are effective in increasing libido, while others tend to put their faith in exotic foods, such as the balls of an Asian tiger or a bark of a tree that can only be found in the Amazon. Although many attest to the effectiveness of such aphrodisiacs, studies and research that back these suppositions are still lacking.

Below are some foods that can be seen around the kitchen that is believed to be an effective aphrodisiac.

Dark Chocolate

Anyone who feels anxious and stressed is usually not in the mood for some sex. Take out stress, be relaxed and happy and you will be more open to doing the deed with your partner all night long. One of the reasons why dark chocolate is on top of the list of foods that help spark an active sex life is that it enhances the production of endorphins, a hormone that makes individuals feel good, relaxed and happy. Just eat a couple of dark chocolate squares after dinner and wait for your mood to change from catty to naughty.

Honey

A couple of teaspoonful of honey a day can actually do wonders for your sexual relationship with your partner. Since this naturally produced sweetener is a simple carbohydrate, it is a main source of instant energy. Furthermore, pure and unadulterated honey contains boron and B vitamins which are needed by the body in order to use female sex hormone estrogen (Boron). Vitamin B on the other hand is vital in the production of male sex hormone testosterone.

Celery

This is not only a must for dieters, but also the missing ingredient in reviving sexual attraction between long time couples. Raw celery is a good source of androsterone, a male hormone that helps mimic the effect of pheromone that makes a man more attractive and irresistible to women. Women can also benefit from eating celery because it helps elevate their mood.

Banana

Stamina or endurance in the bedroom maybe a big issue once you hit the 40ish to 50ish age bracket, copulation that used to last for several hours is replaced with a short and often unsatisfying sexual encounter. Banana helps the production of testosterone that will improve endurance for some foreplay and the main act itself. Eating banana a few hours before trying to get it on with your partner is advisable.

Ginger

Many think that this pungent root is an unlikely candidate for an aphrodisiac. However, ginger is actually valuable in promoting good blood flow, particularly in the genital area. If you don't like to eat ginger before the love making because of fear of bad breath, you can actually just sniff fresh ginger to increase blood flow to your vaginal or penile area and increase that organ's sensitivity.

What is Bloating?

Bloating is when intestinal gas doesn't get passed out by belching or flatulence (passing gas). It's a very uncomfortable feeling but can and sometimes can be relieved by having a bowel movement or passing gas. There are steps to take in order to prevent bloating which are avoiding smoking, avoiding or cutting down fatty foods intake and certain foods such as beans and cabbage.

Common Causes of Bloating (not in any particular order)

· Greasy, fried and fatty foods

Majority of fast foods entrées like burgers, chips, fried chicken and deep-fried such as doughnuts. These foods cause bloating because it takes the stomach much longer to break down the fats and properly digest them. This extra time allows gas to build up thus causing bloating.

· Salty foods

High-sodium foods cause the body to retain water, which leads to a bloated feeling. Sodium can show up in some unlikely sources, especially in processed foods.

· Spicy foods

Spicy foods have been shown to stimulate the release of stomach acid, which causes stomach irritation. Limiting the use of black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, chilli powder, curry, onions, garlic, mustard, BBQ sauce, horseradish, tomato sauce and vinegar will help in avoiding bloating.

· Gassy vegetables

Some vegetables produce more gas than others and everyone is different with their ability to absorb and tolerate gas. If sensitive, limiting the intake of gas-producing vegetables such as baked beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, lentils, Lima beans, onions and peppers will be helpful.

· Carbonated and high-acid drinks

From sodas to fizzy mineral water will cause bloating because the carbon dioxide trapped in the bubbles creates gas in the stomach. Others like alcohol, caffeinated drinks, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and some fruit juices are high in acid which can irritate your GI tract, resulting in swelling and bloating.

· Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, saccharin, sorbitol, xylitol, maltitol, cyclamates and sucralose increases bloating, these are often found in diet drinks, sweets, cookies, energy bars and chewing gums. It lingers in the stomach because artificial sweeteners are indigestible and after build-up it acts as a platform for the fermentation of bacteria leading to production of gas.

· Dairy products

Lactose-intolerance is relatively common, especially among people of Asian, African and Southern European descent and it causes bloating. The lactose that is not completely digested will pass to the colon where gas is produced by the bacteria trying to break it down. Consulting a dietician to ensure adequate consumption of other calcium-rich foods is very advisable.

· Too much fruit

Like lactose-intolerant, fructose-intolerant is basically the indigestion of sugar. It is noticeable when someone has an excess gas after eating fruit. Choosing a lower-fructose fruits, like sweet melon and apricots, instead of high-fructose fruits like apples and bananas is advisable. It is also best to eat fruit separately from a meal - either 30 minutes before or at least two hours after.

· Starches

Most starches, including potatoes, corn, pasta and wheat produces gas as they are broken down in the large intestine. Rice can be a good substitute for Starches. Also, beware of refined grains like white flour that's often used in white bread, cake and biscuits. Not only do they offer little nutrition, they can also cause water retention, bloating will be the result.

· Chewing gum

Chewing gum makes someone to swallow air which then gets trapped in the belly, causing pressure, bloating and gas. It also has artificial sweeteners which can aggravate bloating.

· Apples and pears

These fruits contain fiber which is an excellent source of soluble fiber, but they can also upset someone with a sensitive tummy. Avoiding them is not recommendable, eating half or a quarter of these fruits or peeling them first is highly recommended to avoid bloating.

· Beans

Beans contain oligosaccharide, a type of sugar which is not normally digestible by our bodies. When it reaches the large intestine, the bacteria eat it up and the byproduct is gas. Consuming small amounts of beans along with easily digestible whole grains such as rice or Quinoa will be very helpful.

· Broccoli, cabbage, and asparagus

These highly nutritious veggies are often avoided because of the odoriferous outcome. The reason these veggies cause gas is due to raffinose. This foods produces a sugar named raffinose, it goes undigested until it reaches the large intestine, where it's fermented by methane-producing bacteria. Eating them in moderation and with other foods should help to prevent a bloated stomach.

· Breads, grains, cereals, and nuts

Wheat and wheat-products can cause some people to have gas build-up. Minimizing consumption of wheat items like Bagels, Breakfast cereals, Whole grain breads, Whole wheat flour and Pastries is highly recommended.

· Acidic Foods

Acidic foods such as tomato and tomato products, white/red vinegar and citrus fruits such as apples, cherries, grapes, pomelos, orange, lemon, lime, and pineapple which are extremely acidic causes the stomach to react by building gas.

How to avoid Bloating?

Aside from following the simple steps in avoiding bloating, below are additional steps in avoiding it.

· Eating slowly and consuming smaller frequent meals
· Chewing foods properly
· Drinking of beverages at room temperature
· Denture checkup to see if it is a good fit
· Increasing physical activity during the day
· Sitting up straight after eating
· Taking a short stroll or walk after eating

Are you considering shifting to a vegetarian diet?

Maybe now you see the health benefits of making the transition to vegan diet or you simply want to discover if you can make the big leap to a plant-based diet. But whatever your reasons are, it’s good enough that you have come to terms in trying a healthy option.

A vegetarian is a person who avoids eating meat, poultry, fish and shellfish and their by-products. Instead, he restricts his food preferences to grains, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits with or without the dairy products or eggs.

According to the Vegetarian Society, there are three kinds of vegetarians, they are:

Vegans. They are those who don’t eat eggs and dairy products or any other by-products of animals and only stick to their vegetable diet.

Lacto vegetarians. They eat dairy products, except eggs along with their vegetable diet.

Lacto-ovo-vegetarians. They are those who also eat eggs and dairy products aside from their vegetable diets. Most vegetarians are under this category.

The transition from being a non-vegetarian to being a full-pledge vegetarian is undoubtedly not an easy task to accomplish. It requires sheer determination and discipline to be one.

The transition period doesn’t have to be swift or abrupt. In fact, it should be gradual to allow your mind and body to take in the changes. There would be struggles and challenges along the way and you have to keep that determination if you want to get past the transition period.

Following are some time-tested tips that will guide you and help ensure that you are on the right track:

Take the matter seriously, make up your mind and stand by your decision of becoming a vegetarian. It’s useless to do something you are not committed to finish and succeed.

Read and gather information on vegan lifestyles. You should at least know what vegans usually do if they really feel so hungry. With this, you can gauge yourself if you have the patience, determination and commitment to fit in their system.

Check out their recipes. Choose those that leave great impact to you and be sure to start trying some of them.

Make a mental note of what vegan recipes can work for you. Eventually, you can do your own tweaks in those recipes according to your taste and preference.

Start making substitutions. Instead of using meat or poultry in your usual favorite dish, try substituting vegan substitutes for meat.

Start phasing out red meat in your diet gradually. Everything is about gradual shifting, so find opportunities where you can include vegan ingredients to your usual recipes or meals. You don’t need to forego meat in an instant.

After the red meat, it’s time try to give up the pork, chicken and sea foods. First, try not to eat pork for two weeks, then after that, try not having chicken for the next two weeks and lastly, leave out sea foods for the last two weeks. Hopefully, after a month, it wouldn’t matter anymore.

Try dairy and eggs. After being meatless for some time it is suggested that you consider dairy and eggs if it feels right for you. They are rich in saturated fats compared to soy alternates.

Make a list of your favorite foods that you regularly eat before the shift - breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner and desserts. Then, make a list of the possible meatless substitutes to the meat ingredients of your favorite foods.

By keeping the guides above, you can feel that you are ready to make the big switch – that of becoming a vegetarian.

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