Side Effects (Sexual) of Thanksgiving Dinner
admin on 11 25, 2009
Thanksgiving Day in America is a time to offer thanks, of family gatherings and holiday meals. A time of turkeys, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. A time for Indian corn, holiday parades and giant balloons.Thanksgiving is a sexy holiday, and Thanksgiving dinner, a sexy meal.what happens at the Thanksgiving table has been proven to get the blood flowing, and we’re not talking about your blood pressure. Many of the ingredients that go into turkey-day dinner are natural aphrodisiacs. Below are some of the top randiness-inducers, along with a few recipes that you may or may not want to include on the menu
Oysters
Oysters have a long-standing reputation as an aphrodisiac, and for good reason: they contain an enormous amounts of zinc, which, as mentioned before, is oh-so-important for testosterone production (read libido) in both men and women. For men specifically, it has been shown to improve both the longevity of an erection and the quality of sperm. With that in mind, here’s an oyster stuffing with shitake mushrooms recipe from Epicurious.com, which packs a one-two punch with zinc-heavy mushrooms.
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin pie does more than expand your waitline: it’s also an olfactory sexual aphrodisiac. According Alan Hirsch, a neurologist at Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, the aroma of pumpkin pie increases blood flow to the penis by 40 percent. It works even better when combined with the scent of lavender. And it’s not just the smell that gives rise. When consumed, pumpkin provides a healthy dose of zinc, an element necessary for healthy blood flow and testosterone production.
Sweet Potato
The sweet potato, while not exactly scientifically proven, has been said to increase the female sex drive if consumed in large amounts. What science does know about the sweet potato is that it is high in potassium, which helps reduce stress, as well as Vitamins A, C and iron—all important sex drive-enhancing nutrients.
Chocolate
What’s not to love about chocolate? Not only does it pump up your endorphins, it also stimulates the production of dopamine in the brain and will increase a woman’s sex drive. What’s more, according to Italian researchers, women who eat chocolate regularly have a better sex life than those who deny themselves the treat. So, do yourself a favor and include this Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie along with the classic pumpkin.
Fig/Cranberry Sauce
This cranberry sauce with port and dried figs recipe is great for both getting in the mood beforehand and for preventing complications afterward. Figs are high in the sex-drive-boosting Vitamin A (important for the reproductive and circulatory systems), while cranberries are great for treating potential urinary tract infections with a healthy dose of Vitamin C.
Celery & Fennel
Celery seems to find its way in just about every recipe, yet it remains such an unassuming vegetable. Men listen up: celery contains androsterone—a powerful male hormone that stimulates female sexual arousal. Historically, it has also been used as a cure for impotence. For all you ladies out there, while the men chew on celery, make sure you chomp on a bit of fennel. Fennel contains an estrogen-like substance called estriol that not only will boost your libido, but will also help alleviate post-dinner bloating and cure many PMS-related symptoms.
