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Sweet Potato Parmesan Bake
Your Portion Control Guide to Weight Loss
Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas
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6 Must-Eat Foods for Healthy Digestion
Sweet Potato Parmesan Bake

May 21st, 2013

Your Portion Control Guide to Weight Loss

May 20th, 2013

Honey Cinnamon Roasted Chickpeas

May 10th, 2013

Corporate America Making Food Healthier and More Affordable

April 24th, 2013

6 Must-Eat Foods for Healthy Digestion

April 18th, 2013

5 Aphrodisiac Foods

written by America's Nutrition Expert: Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD
Feb
7
2013

 

If months were a deck of cards, February would undoubtedly be the Queen of Hearts. From Valentine’s Day, to it being a Heart Health Month…it’s hard not to notice the red and pink hearts, flowers and balloons all over the place…and that feeling of wanting to fall in love all over again.

Chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a hormone that studies have found correlates with falling in love in the brain. What if I were to tell you, there are other foods that just might give you the same happy-go-lucky feeling as falling in love?

5 Aphrodisiac Foods
  1. Salmon (or other cold-water fish) – elevates mood (vitamin B12) and prevents depression (omega-3 fatty acids); also note that omega-3 fatty acids are responsible for raising serotonin levels in the brain which regulate your mood and reduce irritability (regularly incorporate fish into diet for maximum benefits.
  2. Bananas – rich in vitamin B6 which is known for building serotonin levels and elevating your mood; if you regularly drink alcohol or are taking birth control pills, you could be depleting your body of vitamin B6.
  3. Avocados - act as a mood booster because they are rich with folic acid, vitamin B6 and potassium. In fact, 1 cup of a pureed Hass avocado has 1166 mg of potassium. And, as a bonus during Heart Health Month, avocados are virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat which according to the American Heart Association, good fats are those that can lower bad cholesterol levels and are beneficial when consumed in moderation. Avocados contribute good fats to one’s diet providing 3 grams of monounsaturated fat per 1 oz serving.
  4. Almonds - poets/scribes believed that aroma of this arouses female passion; rich in vitamin E, magnesium and fiber that will undoubtedly make you feel healthier and happier.
  5. Chocolate – known to release pleasure-enhancing endorphins into the brain and is a stimulant that is associated with love and attraction (contains PEA as mentioned above)

This February, don’t worry, EAT HAPPY…and fall in love.

Written by Mitzi Dulan with research assistance provided by Monica Lobo.

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3 Responses to “5 Aphrodisiac Foods”

  1. Oh, what a fun post! I always love hearing about research linking food to falling in love – what a great job that would be to do that all the time! :)

  2. Great post! Very interesting! I hope you have a happy Valentine’s Day!!
    Jen :)

  3. No wonder I have a tendency to crave chocolate when I’m watching chick flicks! ;)

Hi, I'm Mitzi

Welcome to my mixing bowl of clean eating, cooking, baking, traveling, writing, and sports!

I'm a nutritionist, foodie, author, and mom of 2 volleyball loving girls. My family calls Kansas City home after years of living in San Francisco.

I'm a firm believer of equal parts fun, clean food, and exercise while still enjoying my chocolate molten lava cake with vanilla bean ice cream!

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