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Eat Your Way to Better Sex: Aphrodisiac Recipes

By Judy Dutton,REDBOOK



Strawberries

Sure, these plump, cute little berries are pretty sexy-looking already. But on top of that, they contain antioxidants and improve circulation, which up your chances of having a hot- blooded encounter.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Totally Heavenly Strawberries-and-Cream Combos

Spicy Strawberry Salsa

Rhubarb-Strawberry Ice Cream


Eggs

Hard-boiled, scrambled, sunny-side up, down, or sideways, eggs are full of vitamin B6, which help your body balance hormone levels and cope with stress. Is your psycho boss or mother-in-law cramping your lovemaking mojo? Order an omelet to set things right, or try other foods that are rich in B6 (spinach, carrots, peas, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, or fish).

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Spanish Tortilla

Italian Peppers and Egg Sandwiches

Freestyle Frittata


Steak

Carnivores rejoice! Beef and dark-meat poultry can help curb the body's production of prolactin, a hormone that at high levels can dampen your doing-it drive. Don't worry, veggie lovers, you can get the same passion-pumping perks from brown rice, whole-grain bread, leafy green vegetables, and crumbly cheeses like Cheshire or Lancashire.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Sizzling Steak Kebabs

Black and White Steak au Poivre

Steak-and-Mushroom Salad


Garlic

Granted, your breath is a veritable weapon of mass destruction for hours afterward, but get past that minor downside, and this pungent seasoning will spice up your sex life by dilating blood vessels and improving circulation throughout your nether regions.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Garlic Broccoli Rabe

Rosemary-Garlic Pork Chops

Pepper 'n' Garlic Baby Backs


Chocolate

There's a reason this cocoa confection is the drug of choice for the majority of womankind. It contains a compound called methylxanthine, which triggers the release of dopamine in the body. This, in turn, can leave you woozy with pleasure and make you melt in his arms.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Chocolate Lava Cakes

Strawberries with Chocolate Fondue

Chocolate Cream Cakes


Oranges

Foods high in vitamin C don't just fight colds, they also may prompt a tumble or two. That's because vitamin C ups your body's levels of oxytocin, a hormone that encourages you to bond in the most straightforward way we humans know - by cuddling.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Orange Beef and Broccoli

Beet, Orange, and Fennel Salad

Blood Orange Margaritas


Oatmeal

This breakfast cereal might not look sexy, but studies show that oats increase testosterone levels in your blood (morning sex, anyone?).

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Fruited Oatmeal Brulee with Ginger-Maple Cream

Oatmeal-Cranberry Cookies


Ginger

Whether you take it in tea or on top of your sushi, this Eastern relish revs your metabolism, which can get your whole body humming with renewed sexual energy.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Sesame Ginger Noodles

Orange-Ginger Stir-Fry

Mango-Ginger Quick Bread


Walnuts

This snack is chock-full of fatty acids, which are a major component in sex hormones. So go ahead and toss some on your salad or in your brownie mix to get your sexy back by tonight.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Gnocchi with Spinach, Gorgonzola, and Walnuts

Butterscotch Maple-Walnut Pudding

Belgian Endive Salad with Roquefort, Walnuts, and Pomegranates


Honey

Take sugar in your tea? Switch to this gooey alternative. It contains boron, a mineral that can increase your body's levels of the libido-boosting hormone testosterone.

Food to Put You in the Mood:

Honey-Orange Chicken with Sesame Sauce

Honey Ginger Carrots

Honey Pecan Pie with Bourbon-Orange Cream


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