The ancient Indians believed that a herb called Ashwaghanda could give you the strength of a horse, and its feminine counterpart – Shatavari provides women with the power to handle a hundred husbands. Since the beginning of history humans have been seeking ways to alter their sexual potency and pleasure.
What exactly is an aphrodisiac?
An aphrodisiac can be any food or herb that awakens sexual desire in the one who imbibes.
Typically, aphrodisiacs do two things:
1. Aphrodisiacs increase blood circulation in general.
2. A longer term effect of building and boosting the body’s natural fertility and immunity.
Traditionally, aphrodisiac are taken in a variety of ways.
Some aphrodisiacs are taken as whole foods – like figs and oysters. Others are dried and ground into a powder, added to formulations, teas, boiled milks and lickable treats. While there is no one perfect way to take an aphrodisiac (each food and herb are different), putting things in alcohol always helps to get them into your bloodstream (and circulatory organs) quickly. Maybe that is why we love to drink wine with our beloveds.
Damiana, for instance, is a love-enticing root from the region of Texas and Mexico that is boiled down and combined with alcohol into a powerful tincture. Take a squirt under your tongue and wait for the decadence to take over.
Here are a few aphrodisiacs perfect for romancing yourself or your beloved:
Maca: fertility enhancer and energy booster that is said to boost male libido, help balance hormones with its adaptogenic properties, and supports PMS reduction.
Ginseng – The holy grail of Chinese medicine, Ginseng is a powerful nervous system tonic and energy builder. Numerous studies have shown the undeniable biological effects of Ginseng – some benefits include helping the body adapt to stress, reduce fatigue, support the immune system and neutralize free radicals.
Arugula – A Mediterranean little leaf, also known as “rocket” gives salads a little boost of fire. In Italy, arugula is said to enhance sexual passion because of its intense taste bud stimulation and its peppery flavor.
Saffron: this expensive herb is worth more than its own weight in gold. Has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for women’s fertility supporter, and hormone balancer for hundreds of years.
Avocados – The oil of an avocado is one of the best lubricating, collagen-saving substances on the planet. An avocado a day gives us smoother, more moisturized skin (all body parts included!)
Oysters – oysters are high in everything we need for sexual vitality and general health, including super-high levels of B12, C, and D as well as omega-3 fats, iron, selenium, and copper.
Truffles – particularly black and white truffles, have a reputation as sex-stimulators. From Italy to France, these underground culinary prizes are valued for their distinct and intense aroma of earth. The tiny truffle has the capacity to take us into the musky qualities of our humanity, with some even claiming the truffle has a sexual pheromone-like smell that causes pigs to go wild looking it!
Chocolate – This is the quintessential aphrodisiac from the ancient Aztecs. While there may be no definitive science on chocolate and sex, there is a reason we have been giving one another this substance as a romantic gesture for hundreds of years. Science does agree that chocolate holds multiple compounds that can boost mood and arousal, such as phenylethylamine, serotonin, and anandamide. It is also rich in PEA, a.k.a. “the love chemical,” which is believed to promote feelings of well-being and happiness.
From an Ayurvedic perspective:
Anything can be aphrodisiac if it builds a certain quality in the body and mind we call Ojas.
Ojas is youth. It is health and immunity. It is a feeling of well-being, safety and belonging. It is satisfaction. It is the juice and sap that makes plants and people flourish. As we age, and go through the inevitable stresses of life, this youthful sap gets depleted. The following foods mentioned above us keep our happiness juices and creative sap for longer and longer! That is what makes us truly sexy.
Regardless of Valentine’s Day, indulging in foods that are considered aphrodisiacs it’s SO important.
Eating a little dark chocolate is a perfect way to spark a little playfulness with your lover (or your INNER lover) before heading to the bedroom any day of the year. Personally I don’t celebrate Valentine’s day but love to show my love for my partner whenever I am inspired (so basically daily).
We don’t need a special day to show our love, and remember, the love we seek is already existing inside us.
Valentine's Day Vegan Rice Crispy Treats With Marshmallows
There’s nothing that says nostalgic dessert quite like a good ol’ rice crispy treat. And what better reason to whip up a batch of these addictive little snacks than for Valentine’s Day?!
In under ten minutes, these adorable heart-shaped desserts are ready to eat, and they’re perfect for decorating!
Ingredients:
- 6 cups brown rice crisps
- 1 bag marshmallows
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring
Directions:
- . In a large pan, melt 1 bag of marshmallows with 1/4 cup of butter on medium heat and stir until thick and creamy.
- Once the marshmallows have melted, add in 1/2 teaspoon of red food coloring and mix coloring throughout the entire mixture.
- Remove from heat and add 6 cups of brown rice crisps.
- Stir until all of the cereal crisps are mixed into the melted marshmallows.
- Pour mixture into an oiled baking pan and spread flat with a spatula until it’s about 1-inch thick.
- Let mixture cool for 5 minutes and, using a heart-shaped cookie cutter or knife, cut out heart-shaped pieces. (I turned the pan upside down over parchment paper (so the mixture would come out in one piece) and cut the shapes out on the parchment paper as it was way easier than cutting them in the pan).
- You can cover the bites with melted chocolate and drizzle dried fruits, rose petals or sprinkles on top.
- Your heart-shaped Valentine’s Day rice crispy treats are ready to eat! (Store remaining marshmallow treats in an airtight container for up to 3 days.)
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