Spice up your sex life, naturally
Complaints from women about their partners’ poor performance in bed need not necessarily end up in popping that blue pill. Restoring the tiger in his tank could be more pleasurable than taking medications, which sometimes don’t work and end up in embarrassment and disappointment. Couples don’t have to look far. The supermarket could have the answer to their dilemma. From Mother Earth’s natural goodness, spices and herbs not only add spark to the flavor of your dishes but can also enhance your partner’s performance. And the good news is, since they are natural products, they cannot affect your body negatively if properly used.
I am always on the lookout for healthy cuisine and when I was told that Discovery Primea’s Tapenade restaurant offered Mediterranean cuisine, I just had to try it out. This is actually one of my favorite cuisines as it is light and is supposedly heart- healthy as it uses a lot of olive oil, fish, salads, and other vegetables.
I enjoyed my meal so much that I asked for their executive chef, Luis Chikiamco (who had his culinary studies at the famous culinary school in France, Paul Bocuse, and his practicum at a 3-star Michelin restaurant, Auberge et Clos de Cimes) as I wanted to know what went into his Chicken Tajine. I could tell that he put a combination of spices there and they panned out into different flavors on my palate. I had a second and a third helping, shocking my friends who were amazed at my appetite.
Chef Luis said that he likes to cook with spices and herbs as they perk up the flavors of his dishes. I jokingly told him that the spices and herbs add sex appeal to his dishes, seducing the guest to eat more than intended. That was the effect on me, surprisingly!
Chef Luis likes to use saffron, cayenne pepper, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, basil, cardamon, nutmeg, ginger, garlic, cloves, and many more in his dishes.
Based on food journals, these spices and herbs can boost your sex drive, assuming your partner has no underlying illness.
• Saffron is one of the most potent sexual health boosters in men and women. One needs very little of it to get the desired effect, and should not be taken in large doses as it could have an adverse reaction. A study in 2011 presented in the Journal of Food and Research International shows that just a single thread of saffron can offer a boost in sex drive.
• Peppers high in cayenne will not only turn up the body heat but also help in the thinning of blood, making it flow more easily and resulting in better performance in bed.
• Basil is an excellent herb to use when in need of a sex drive boost. Basil was the herb fed to horses by the ancient Greeks for them to breed. The sweet scent of basil helps in boosting the sex drive as well as in promoting relaxation when having sex.
• Garlic has high levels of allicin to improve blood flow and boost your sex drive. It also helps your heart and boosts your immunity due to its antifungal and antimicrobial properties.
• Cloves have been shown to increase libido as well as sexual attraction. They can also be used as an anesthetic and as an antiseptic.
• Fenugreek is a spice used in many dishes due to its inviting flavor. A study by the Center for Integrative Clinical and Molecular Medicine in 2011 showed that men’s libido increased after consuming fenugreek.
• Ginger increases blood flow and boosts the libido due to its high amounts of potassium, copper, and magnesium.
• Cardamon’s high levels of cineole help in improving blood circulation. It also has been known to detoxify the body as well as balance body energy.
• Nutmeg is a natural aphrodisiac, referred to as the “women’s Viagra” by most African countries. This is a sweet spice which has been used by various Indian cultures in boosting the libido. A study done by researchers on animals proved that nutmeg did increase sexual activity.
• Fennel is used by early Egyptian women to boost their libido as it contains estirol (estrogenlike substance). It also assists in lactation and cures stomach upsets.
• Ginseng helps improve male erectile dysfunction.
• Cinnamon increases sex drive in women. Although it works slowly, the end results are amazing.
— Sources: www. Hersolution.com; Elena Shepherd on Women Talk