3 Recipes for Sexual Vitality

Eager to rev up your libido? Click here to learn more about the best foods to feed your body's sexual vitality, then try these recipes from raw vegan chef Elyse Clark.
Super Kale Salad
1 head of kale

1 ripe avocado

1/3 cup unrefined flax oil 

2 tablespoons Bragg's Liquid Aminos/Nama Shoyu/Tamari

1/2 cup nutritional yeast

2 tablespoons garlic powder

1 tablespoons chili powder

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup hemp seeds



1. Wash kale and remove leaves from stem; place stems aside for juicing or composting. Break leaves into bite size pieces using hands or kitchen scissor

2. Massage kale with avocado, flax, and aminos followed by remaining ingredients until well incorporated. Serve.
Pumpkin Seed Pesto Sauce

 2 cups raw pumpkin seeds

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup parsley

1/2 cup basil

1 tsp himalayan pink salt

1 garlic clove


1.  Blend in food processor or high speed blender until desired consistency is reached
Maca Brazil Truffles
(pictured above)
1 cup raw brazil nuts

1 1/4 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

1 1/2 tablespoons maca

3/4 cup date paste or soaked and pitted Medjool dates

1 tablespoons maple

1 teaspoons vanilla powder


1.  Combine all in food processor (if the dough is too dry add teaspoon of water, too wet add extra coconut)
.
2. Form into balls and let set in fridge for 20 minutes or longer.

Hungry for More: What to Eat for Sexual Vitality

 

Rev up your sexual vitality with cinnamon and other surprising foods.

Envision a ripe, juicy apricot. It beckons from the kitchen counter—full, sweet, and ready to be enjoyed. Now think about a bag of dried apricots. They’re in the pantry, for use . . . whenever. Our sexuality should be like the fresh apricot: a nourishing and urgent part of our lives. Yet many of us struggle to feel desire, or we lack the energy to act on it.

“My mom confided in me that she only had sex when she went on vacation,” says Brigitte Mars, a herbalist and nutritional consultant based in Boulder, Colorado. “And I said, ‘But, Mom, you only go on vacation once a year!’” Luckily for Mom (and Dad!), Mars is the author of The Sexual Herbal and offered to make meals that contained a lot of cinnamon. The results? “After a week, she winked at me.”

“Cinnamon, consistently eaten, keeps you ‘user ready,’” explains Brian Clement. He and his wife, Anna Maria, both naturopaths and nutritionists, are the authors of 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality. “It’s the biggest question we hear: How can I get my libido back?” says Anna Maria Clement. That’s a question worth pursuing, she says. “Sexual satisfaction is a major contributor to the quality of life.”

The right foods can support desire, but if you’re envisioning oysters, think again: Foods for sexual vitality are different from aphrodisiacs, says Mars. “You want to tone the whole body. It’s not, What can I do for tonight? but, rather, having extra energy for sex.” Here are the powerhouse foods that will fan your desire: 

Nuts and seeds, especially sesame, chia, sunflower, hemp, and pumpkin. “Raw nuts and seeds have a lot of life force,” says Mars, who suggests soaking chia seeds overnight and having them for breakfast with blueberries, nuts, and honey.

Grains, beans, and squash. “The best way to eat squash is raw,” says Brian Clement. “Grate it up and add it to salads or dips.”

Turmeric, lemon, and cayenne, which support healthy circulation. “Some of the smallest capillaries in the body go down to the penis and vaginal areas,” Clement says. “Blood flow is necessary for full arousal,” agrees Laurie Steelsmith, a Honolulu-based naturopathic physician and the author of Great Sex, Naturally.

Cruciferous vegetables, acai, mangosteen, and berries. These support liver health, which is also vital to good circulation, says Steelsmith.

Cardamom, garlic, and ginger. “You want to warm your body up, not cool your jets,” says Mars. “Make your food healthy and exciting.”

Maca. This root is associated with stabilizing hormones, says Elyse Clark, a raw vegan chef and educator from Deer Park, New York. She uses maca powder, beets, and Brazil nuts to make raw-food truffles.

Dark chocolate. It contains L-arginine (a vasodilator) and phenylethylamine, which makes you feel happy, Steelsmith says. Skip the chocolate bar, with its added sugar and fat. Instead, buy cocoa powder and add it to your smoothies.

Root vegetables. “Roots are said to energize your lower chakras,” says Mars. Try burdock root, carrots, and beets.

Avoid fatty foods and alcohol, which will make you sluggish, and coffee, which Steelsmith says lowers testosterone in both men and women.

Overall, focus on fresh, unprocessed foods. “When you eat cleaner, you function more optimally,” says Clark. “Even your response to human touch will change—you can get aroused by simpler things. Your body is getting the message more clearly.”

How Loneliness Makes You Sick

A new study sheds light on why being lonely is such a major health risk. 

One is the loneliest number, and it may be the sickest number, as well. A new study from a team of researchers, including UChicago psychologist and leading loneliness expert John Cacioppo, sheds light on why being lonely is such a major health risk.
Previous research from Cacioppo and UChicago showed that feeling lonely can up an older person’s chances of premature death by 14 percent. But the biological reasons why haven’t been well understood. This study looked at adults aged 50 to 68, as well as a species of monkey called rhesus macaques, which are known for being particularly sociable. Researchers looked at gene expression in leukocytes, cells in the immune system that help protect our bodies against bacteria and viruses. In both lonely humans and lonely macaques, there was decreased expression of genes involved in antiviral response. Interestingly, this gene expression and loneliness seem reciprocal: the gene expression could predict loneliness measured a year or so later.
Loneliness also triggered higher levels of the “fight or flight” neurotransmitter, norepinephrine. This stimulates blood stem cells in bone marrow, up-regulating the body’s inflammation response. So loneliness was causing more inflammation and less viral protection, causing less optimal health conditions.
According to Cacioppo’s 2014 work on the health risks of loneliness, symptoms can include interrupted sleep, depression, higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and increased blood pressure. He says it isn’t actual isolation that causes health risks—some people are completely fine with solitude—but a profound sensation of being alone that causes negative effects. His research suggests three important areas where we can foster healthy relationships as we age:

1. Intimate connectedness, which comes from have people in your life who affirm who you are.
2. Relational connectedness, which means having face-to-face interactions that feel mutually rewarding.
3. Collective connectedness, or a feeling that you are part of something that is bigger than yourself, something beyond your individual existence.

These three types of connectedness help older adults become more resilient, less depressed and have higher subjective well-being.
“Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn’t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you,” wrote Cacioppo in his study. Population changes make understanding the role of loneliness and health all the more important, he explained.

How to Easily Make Your Partner Feel Loved

 
Case in point: many years ago I was with a girlfriend I’ll call Bonnie. I was giving her a nice shoulder massage when she suddenly blurted out, “Would you cut that out!” Totally caught off guard, I said “Cut what out?” She annoyingly stated, “You’re always massaging me. You’re always touching me. Why do you have to be so grabby?” It was true—I frequently massaged her. So I said to her, “I do that to show you how much I care about you.” She quickly responded, “Well, I don’t feel very loved. After all, you never tell me you love me.” She was right again; I never actually said the words “I love you” to her, although she frequently said such things to me.

Bonnie and I had a long discussion about this episode and we finally realized what had been going on. While I was growing up, whenever I was being spanked or punished, my parents would say, “We’re doing this because we love you.” Therefore, the words “I love you” had a negative connotation to me. I figured, talk is cheap. The way to really show a woman you love her is to touch her in pleasant ways. That was my “rule” of how real love should be expressed. On the other hand, while Bonnie was growing up, she had an uncle who frequently gave her massages. One day, this uncle sexually molested her. Therefore, she took my massages as being a precursor of impending doom. We both thought we were expressing love to each other, when in fact we were unconsciously pushing each other’s buttons!

The way we tend to express love to another person is, in most cases, the way in which we would like to receive it. I gave Bonnie massages because that’s what makes me feel loved. Even if a gorilla gave me a massage, I’d feel totally loved. Bonnie frequently told me she loved me because that’s what she wanted to hear. When people are unaware of their partner’s preferred ways of feeling loved, they end up expending a lot of energy that goes unappreciated. Yet by knowing exactly what helps your partner feel safe and loved, it becomes infinitely easier to create intimacy on a consistent basis. 
          
There is a simple exercise you can do with your partner to find out how best to charm his or her heart. Have him or her become comfortable in a chair, and then say the following: “Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and begin to think of a specific time you felt really loved by me. Remember that time as clearly as you can. Remember where we were, what we were doing, and exactly what happened that let you know I really loved you.” Give your partner a minute or so to fully re-experience such a moment. Then proceed, “What was most important in letting you know I fully loved you? Was it something I said, or the way I looked at you, the way I touched you, or something else? What exactly helped you to know that I really loved you?” Listen carefully to what your partner says, because the answer(s) to this question can transform your relationship.

By knowing how your own heart is charmed, you can reveal  this important information to your partner. Try the previous exercise on yourself, or have your partner read it to you. You may be surprised to discover exactly what your partner does that creates a warm feeling of safety and love in you. Once your mate knows how to help you feel loved, he or she can more easily and consistently show you affection.

Every time you charm your partner’s heart, you’re making a “loving deposit” in to your “shared love account.” Your shared love account is like a bank balance you share together. When things are going well, there’s a lot of love put into “savings.”When both of you consistently make deposits into your shared account, you feel abundantly in love. It’s much easier to handle problems when there’s an abundance of love in your love account. Therefore, make frequent deposits of love in your relationship account by charming your partner’s heart. Remember to do the little actions that make a big difference in how your partner feels. It will immediately help both of you feel wonderfully intimate, and when problems arise, you’ll have plenty of love “banked” to help you ride out the storm.

15 Questions to Ask Your Partner to Deepen Your Connection

Couples who have strong bonds remain interested in each other. They remain curious about each other’s experiences and inner lives, such as their thoughts, feelings, and fears.
As such, a great way to cultivate your connection is to talk about these inner worlds — because good communication goes beyond talk of tasks, errands and kids. (Those topics, of course, also are important. But so is delving into the intimate and often overlooked conversations.)
We asked several relationship experts for their suggestions for meaningful, fun or thought-provoking questions that partners can ask each other. Here’s what they shared.

How was your day today?
It’s such a simple, straightforward question. But in the chaos of daily living, you might forget to ask it. “This allows people to share specifics and stay connected on a day-to-day basis,” said Mudita Rastogi, Ph.D, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Arlington Heights, Ill.

What do you need from me right now?
This is an important question to ask when your partner is having a difficult day, Rastogi said. “It allows the asking partner to tailor their help to what is needed.”

How do I express my anger and conflict?  
This is a question that each partner asks themselves, responding out loud while the other partner listens.
According to Beverly Hills clinical psychologist Fran Walfish, PsyD, the number one determining factor for a healthy, lasting relationship is managing conflict effectively. That includes listening without interruption, being willing to discuss issues, tolerating differences and strategizing solutions, she said.

What are you looking forward to today, this week and this month?
“This helps you tune in to what your partner enjoys,” Rastogi said. Plus, it balances out the more serious and potentially negative topics, she said.

Am I being a good spouse to you?
What are three things that I do that you couldn’t live without?
What are the ways you most experience or feel love from me or from what I do?
“It is important to check in regularly to see if what you are doing and saying is positively feeding the relationship,” said Erik R. Benson, MSW, LCSW, a private therapist in the Chicago and North Suburbs area. He suggested asking these three questions.

If you could be a character in any book, which character would you be, and why?
If you could go back in time to your teenage self, what two words would you say?
Benson also shared these two questions, which his wife, who works in the special education field, has asked him to help her get to know him better.

Describe the perfect you day (or if you could do anything you wanted for a day, what would it be?)
This is another question Benson’s wife has asked him. Such information helps her plan activities, dates and gifts, he said.

If I could change one thing about myself I would change _____.
“This gives you a window into something the person feels insecure about,” Walfish said. And it’s an opportunity for partners to be empathic and compassionate with each other, she said.

If I spent a typical day in your shoes, describe what I would experience.
Benson suggested asking the above question. Empathy is key for healthy relationships, and such questions help partners gain a deeper understanding into each other’s experiences.

What would you do in life if money weren’t an issue?
“This helps [couples] connect around long-term wishes, dreams and plans,” Rastogi said.

If you could have three wishes, what would you wish for?
This is another question that reveals your partner’s fantasies and even their personal character, Walfish said.

What is your greatest fear?
“You can support your partner by not pressuring when approaching the scary territory,” Walfish said. You also can ask how to help your partner become more comfortable, she said. “You want to be your partner’s safe harbor to come to for safety, soothing and healing.”

What would be your last wishes if you were incapacitated and unable to make health care decisions?
No doubt this is a difficult question to bring up. But, as Rastogi said, it’s a critical one.

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?  
This one leaves the conversation on a positive note, Walfish said. “Each one of you gets to think about happy, wonderful influences in your lives.”

7 Effective Fast Weight Loss Secrets - Dieting Tips

Contrary to the bazillion articles you’ve probably come across in regards to fast dieting tips, it really is possible to find some helpful tips and secrets to get you started on your way to a brand new lean and healthy body. Most of the tips you find across the Internet, in books, etc. might be bizarre and difficult to put into practice on a regular basis. However, in today’s blog entry you will find 7 easy, yet very effective fast weight loss tips to get you started.  Start implementing these today and see if you don’t lose weight while beginning your new eating plan!
 
Mind Games…
Eat while sitting in front of a mirror! Now the mirror doesn’t have to be directly in front of your plate, just attempt to position yourself where you can see your reflection. Studies have shown that people who see themselves eat, consume a third less food than those who don’t.


1/2 Of Your Plate Should Be…
Serve your vegetables first. Fill your plate with lots of vegetables and leave only a small space for a portion of meat and potatoes. Choose cauliflower, carrots, broccoli and other seasonal vegetables. You will be adding lots of fiber and antioxidants to your diet, plus eating veggies is a great way to feel full faster.
 
It’s Not Just DRINK More Water…
Eat more foods which contain water, and by doing this you are consuming less calories. The water content in these foods will help keep you full. You can also choose to eat more soups, especially if you are attempting to eat at your lower calorie allowance.

Lots Of Color Vs. Plain And Dull…
It is well known that white foods contain more additives and starches.  These are the foods which cause you to gain weight and body fat the fastest. When you sit down for dinner, ensure your plate has lots of color in it. What looks better: Grilled chicken, broccoli and carrots with a baked potato OR… French fries and breaded chicken strips?

The Carbs TO Eat…
When it comes to choosing breads, rice and pastas, opt for whole grain (complex carbs) varieties. Brown rice has a delicious nutty flavor and once you have tried it, you won’t go back to choosing white rice again.

Stay Home, Save Money, And Relax…
Try to eat the majority of your foods at home. Eating out is expensive plus you have no control of how the foods are cooked and what fats and oils are added. By eating freshly prepared foods at home, you will know exactly what has gone into your meal.  You have the choice to keep the calorie content down and the nutrition level high.

The Gobbler Vs. The Nibbler…
The last tip is to sit and enjoy your meal. Gobbling food down fast does nothing for your digestive system, plus you will feel hungry again soon after. Concentrate on your meal and savor each mouthful. Eating slowly allows you to feel full quickly, and you will begin to eat smaller portions almost immediately.

Top 10 Ways To Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Weeks

Many online websites and forums give various ways to lose weight ”fast”. But most of them have no references and give out false information. What I’m writing is the truth and the best way to really 15 lbs in one month…

1. Stop eating foods with added sugar, especially refined sugar. No soda and no sweets.
2. Avoid as best possible anything that has ”Concentrated Glucose-Fructose”. This is the worst possible glucose you can eat.
3. Stop eating fried foods. No french fries, no fried chicken, nothing fried.
4. Cut down to the maximum of saturated and trans. fat. If its sticky and waxy, its probably saturated.
5. Drink a lot of water. 1/2 your body-weight in ounces of fresh cold water for best results.
6. Eat more vegetables. Such as greens, carrots, tomatoes, all sorts of vegetables.
7. Eat small (no more than 300-400 calories) meals five times a day. Each meal must contain proteins, fibers and must be low in fat.
8. Workout at least 4 times per week, between 1h30 and 2h a day. Do light to moderate intensity exercises. It’s important that you do aerobics but you must also include anaerobic workouts (resistance training such as weight lifting). Speak with a personal trainer to plan a workout routine for you, and also speak to your doctor to prior to beginning any workout regimen. It is proven that following a routine helps keep motivation and also tracks down your improvements.
9. Eat high protein meals right after a workout. (within 1 hour). Avoid eating too much meat (except for lean healthy meat such as chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, grass fed beef). Ensure that you eat beans, lentils, chick peas, quinoa or egg whites. Optionally (and what is highly recommend), you can take protein supplements such as Whey Protein Shakes right after a workout. Try to eat at least 60 grams of proteins a day with as least fat as possible.
10. Stop eating 2 hours before going to bed (especially with bad carbs and bad fats).

Do the above consistently and you WILL lose about 2-3 pounds per week… naturally and permanently.

Now if you are eating right, if you find a simple and effective online fat loss progra, if you cut down your fat and sugar intake as much as possible, and if you do all of this while maintaining a good workout routine to exhaust your body, you WILL be able lose 3-4 pounds per week.

Important note: You will lose less weight the closer you are to your fitness level weight. Once you achieve this weight, you can either eat more lean proteins and do more anaerobic exercises to gain muscle mass or do less cardio and maintain a healthy lifestyle.