Can Some Foods Be Aphrodisiacs? Science or Silly? Sexy Nutrition

HOW SWEET IT IS
Valentine's Day is fastly upon us and literally thousands of pounds of chocolates will be heavily consumed in the course of one night. The thing that keeps popping up asks us is " does what we experience with chocolates just all in our heads?" The myth has always been known that chocolates act as a type of aphrodisiac with great powers to seduce! Fact or fiction? Science puts it to the test and has found out that chocolates do contain a stimulant in it called Theobromine. It gets you up with the first bite!This is believed to be due to an amino acid called Tryptophan. This base compound is a major component of the neuro-chemical called Serotonin. Serotonin is the brain chemical that causes addictions and the sensation of ecstacy!

Chocolate appears to increase "opium receptors" of the brain that release Endorphins that reduce pain and helps reduce the inhibition to experience pleasure. Canadian studies have looked at the Flavonoids in chocolate that act as an anti-oxidant as well which can be good for the heart. this is noted particularly in dark chocolates.

Wait there's more. Chocolate contains chemicals like Anadamide, Methylxanthines, and Phenylethylamine(PEA). PEA increases the secretion of pheromones that increase attraction. Hmmmmmmmm. sounds good already! YOu see science can be sexy!

OYSTERS SQUIRT A LITTLE BIT OF SCIENCE
Here is one of the most controversial myths that also may have a lot of science to back it up. We know what it means when the oysters on the half-shell come out on the plate. The subliminal notions are all only to obvious to new romantics. But, that funny sensation with the shellfish may not just be all a fantasy, but actually reality! Yes , that's right! Published studies looked at how the aphrodisiac portion of oysters was due to a chemical in them called NMDA( N-methyl-D-Aspartate) which can stimulate testosterone. This is the predominate sex hormone for men and women.

The higher amounts of Zinc and Iodine in Oysters just might be regulating all sex hormones and could be affecting semen production . Culturally a number of women anecdotally report a certain sensation when eating oysters associated with increased libido. Others describe this effect also when consuming other types of shellfish as well. Is this all coincidence or the subliminal notion being well digested? You be the judge.


WINE NOT?
We've often been told that almost anything in moderation is alright. This might be the case for red wines and certain white wines as well , particularly when it comes to "getting into the mood". It is beyond the fact that wine can "un-wind" you so that you are less inhibited and feel relaxed. There are actual health benefits that you can acquire provided you don't drink over two glasses.

Wine contain antioxidants that actually help us by reducing the inflammatory process of oxidation. Resveratrol acts to reduce heart disease and may help premature aging as well as prevent cancer. Published studies show that resveratrol inhibits two key inflammatory enzymes also known to be involved in severe infection!

Wine can help raise HDL2 which of the HDL types can be cardio-protective. remember that HDL cholesterol is the good cholesterol. Just like exercise it increases their numbers.

So , this Valentines Day drink responsibly, eat in moderation your favorite shellfish and sweeten your palates with the worlds most delicious morsels and let your tongue enjoy. What tingly feelings you experience may not all just be in your stomach or just your head, but somewhere even deeper!

Dr. Marcus Wells is a past Clinical Associate from the National Institutes of Health at the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NIH/NIHLBI). He holds a Master's in Public Health from Emory University. He also has served in the Health & Human Service, Public Health Service(PHS) and the Commsioned Corp.

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Cellular Metabolism and Microbiotic Dieting

Perhaps, these days too many of us appear to "yo-yo" in our diets or "get out of whack" when it comes to trying to maintain a balance in our weight and fat composition. For too long many of us have been focusing on trying to only look at whole foods rather than understand that foods are "Nano-Nutrition" that act as bio-fuels on a cellular level.

For too long we have only valued exercise as an esthetic method of measuring our beauty factor when exercise "boosts and drives" the engines that accelerate metabolism called brown fat. It has been shown that brown fat contains an extremely high amount of cell "turbo boost" fat burners called mitochondria.

This method of understanding fat mass, burning calories , and increasing lean muscle mass is the essence of metabolism or the methods of Energetics. Metabolism is a thermodynamic process and much like the Law of Thermodynamics food acts a fuel. In the face of oxygen we can "burn" calories , but like a car engine emissions, our body creastes waste by-products called free oxygen radicals which can be created . These are very toxic to the body because they can potentially create chronic illness, heart disease and cancer.

To look at food as Nano-Nuturition is how "Microbiotic Dieiting" works as opposed to Macrobiotics. To be able to see exercise as a means to raise the level of metabolism is essentially the science or energetics and ergonomics. The human body has components that mirrors machinery . We can apply and extrapolate entropy similarly.

Metabolism can be raised or lowered based on the types of foods you eat and the amount of them you consume. Activity can also lower or raise the level of metabolism based on its acceleration factor. However, the average person trying to fit into their highschool dress or bikini or prepare for an athletic event is bored by the monotonous sound bite of just "diet and exercise" is all you need to lose weight. Not only is this message not enough. It's not sexy enough!

Today herbals, supplements, anti-oxidants, enzymes, minerals, and vitamins are the "missing-link" that medical doctors and weight loss specialist either under-utilize or either they themselves are not educated enough on them to discuss, educate or recommend to others. Don't blame them, however, its their restricted curriculum.

Men have to be aware that tomatoes contain Lycopene that might slow down or prevent the risk of prostate enlargement or cancer. Saw Palmetto is also making an impact as an antioxidant on reducing symptoms of prostate problems . Saw Palmetto reduces the conversion of the male hormone testosterone into DHT, the form of testosterone associated with prostate cancer. Soy for men is also a beneficial food alternative to help with this in the diet.

Women , too, can now benefit from Black Cohosh to reduce symptoms of menopause or better yet Evening Primrose. Soy, particularly fermented soy containing phytoestrogens may prove a benefit to both men and women when it comes to trying to protect against prostate cancer and breast cancer.

There is a lot to learn and more research to be done but, for now there is hope. The paradigm shift has begun in health , right now at this moment. Thermogenix is going to put the "care" back into healthcare!

Dr. Marcus Wells MD, MPH is a previous Clinical Associate from the Natinal Institutes of Health at the National Heart , Lung & Blood Institute. He holds a Master's from Emory University . He has also served at the Health & Human Services(HHS), Public Health Service(PHS) and the Commissioned Corp

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