5 Ways to Have More Sex During the Holidays

GalTime

GalTime.com

by Karen Siff Exhorn for GalTime.com

The holiday season is a lot of things -- memorable, sentimental, stressful. But, how often do you think of the six super-fast weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's as sexy? The holidays don't have to equal bah-humbug sex.

Here are five ways to have a happy and hot holiday season:

1. Enjoy Naughty Nibbles
There are too many articles that advise you to be mindful about your eating and drinking during the holidays. I say, eat, drink and enjoy! What are some sexy holiday foods to get you "in the mood?" My favorite is chocolate -- the darker the better. Chocolate has a long-held reputation as an aphrodisiac, and the antioxidants in dark chocolate are great for promoting sexual vigor. So indulge yourself in those holiday chocolate bars, cupcakes and brownies. You can always start that diet in the New Year.

Things your pet shouldn't eat

 

http://www.smackjuice.com/2012/09/awesome-facts-about-dogs-because-dogs-rule?utm_source=crowdignite.com&utm_medium

Things your pet shouldn't eat

The 11 Best Sources of Magnesium

by guest blogger Morley Robbins, wellness coach and magnesium advocate

I’m often asked, “Where can I find more magnesium in my diet?” That’s such an important question! In fact, it’s usually the second question people ask me after first wanting to know how its deficiency is related to most, if not all, of their day-to-day symptoms.

If you’ll remember from my previous post, I explained the many functions of this key mineral for health and began to discuss how stress causes magnesium loss—it’s a fact of life, and it’s how we’re wired as a species. So today’s post will focus on the magnesium-rich foods you can eat to deal with that stress! (In my next post, I’ll help you better understand what aspects of your stress can be reduced—or possibly eliminated—to help you preserve your magnesium stores.)

Ginseng + Saffron = Good Sex? Aphrodisiacs Found in Common Spices

By BONNIE ROCHMAN |

 
Improving sexual function and desire is a pretty lucrative, albeit pricey, industry. But what if spicing up your love life were a lot cheaper and as simple as opening up your kitchen cabinet or heading to a health-foods store?

New research recently published online in the journal Food Research International finds that ginseng and saffron are key to spicing up your sex life. Both boost sexual performance, according to a scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs done by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. (More on Time.com: Many Men and Women Say They Aren’t Getting Enough Sex)

Do They Work? 5 Popular Aphrodisiacs

By SAMANTHA ROLLINS 

How Do Aphrodisiacs Work?

Aphrodisiacs have been used by every culture from the ancient Persians to the Aztecs to boost sexual desire. But do these supposed love potions really work? Scientific evidence suggests it’s the placebo effect that accounts for most of the libido-lifting powers of your typical aphrodisiac, but some of these foods, drinks, herbs, spices and scents may actually contribute to physical arousal in a variety of ways. Read on for the lowdown on five popular sex enhancers.

Coffee culture carries caffeine risk

By Bae Ji-sook in Seoul/The Korea Herald | Asia News Network 


Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - Koreans are definitely caffeinated: They love coffee, cola and chocolate as well as foods that contain a large amount of the stimulant.

Though it has been less than two decades since global coffee shopfranchises were introduced to the country, industry insiders said about 37 million cups of coffee are sold every day, which means that 24 million economically active people drink more than one cup of coffee a day.

"I love coffee. I started with easy 'coffee mix,' powdered coffee extract with powdered cream and sugar. But now I am addicted to brewed coffee, which smells and tastes better. I drink about 4-5 cups a day," said Kim Seo-yeon, a 32-year-old office worker. "Right after I wake up in the morning, after I have my lunch, during an afternoon break and while I watch TV at night, I always sip coffee."

In addition to the frequent consumption of cola and chocolate, caffeinated energy drinks are gaining popularity among teenagers, who struggle to stay up at night to study.

However, experts warn that excessive caffeine intake could be harmful, especially since they are disguised with flavors, making easy to consume too much.

Caffeine is known for its short-term relief of fatigue or drowsiness since it stimulates the brain and nervous system. It is also known to speed up the dissolution of fat, which may lead to weight loss.

Usually, caffeine leaves the body through the urine system hours after it has been consumed, so there is not much to worry about in regards to intake. But if excessively consumed, it could lead to a fast heart rate, anxiety, depression, difficulty in sleeping, nausea, restlessness, tremors, frequent urinating or vomiting. It even has some reported withdrawal symptoms of drowsiness, headaches, irritability, nausea and vomiting.

"About 400 milligrams of caffeine is tolerable for adults, 300mg for pregnant women, or 2.5 milligrams per kilogram of weight," said Dr. Seo Jeong-wan of Ewha Womans University Medical Center. "It is equivalent to three-four cups of brewed coffee. But it could easily be filled by drinking 250 milliliters of cola, one canned coffee and 1 gram of chocolate, too. Therefore, people should watch what they are eating."

Seo said teenagers should be extra alert about caffeine intake since they are in a critical stage of bone formation.

"If you drink caffeinated drinks instead of dairy, the facilitation of urination will take away the essential calcium and curb the growth of bone. If you are an adult, osteoporosis could be forecasted, too," he added.

He advised teenagers to not rely on caffeine to overcome drowsiness.

"It could lead to insomnia if you take it for too long. Open the window, do stretching and eat food that are abundant in vitamin C such as citrons and other fresh fruits," he said.

http://ph.news.yahoo.com/coffee-culture-carries-caffeine-risk-042003085.html

5 Things You Didn't Know About Chocolate

By The Editors of WOMEN'S HEALTH | Vitality

If you're like most women, you're totally smitten with chocolate. People have been obsessing over this comfort food for thousands of years (the Mayans considered cocao a cure-all and the Aztecs used it as money). And all that obsessing has yielded some pretty surprising studies--and findings. Here, five things you need to know about your favorite indulgence. 

1. It Can Boost Your Workout 
Skip the expensive sports drinks and protein shakes. Research shows chocolate milk is just as effective a recovery aid. 

A study published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolismcompared the effects of a recovery drink and chocolate milk on endurance athletes' ability to recover after a series of bike sprints followed by an endurance ride the next day. They found that chocolate milk was just as effective at relieving muscle soreness after the sprints, and preparing the athletes to perform in the endurance test the next day. Better yet, everyone preferred the taste of chocolate milk. 

2. Your Period Doesn't Make You Crave It 
Half of American women experience chocolate cravings. Of those of who do, about half crave it right around "that" time of the month. 

And while it's nice to have your menstrual cycle to blame when you find yourself noshing on half a package of chocolate chip cookies, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that menstrual hormones aren't the culprit. They compared the cravings of pre- and post-menopausal women and didn't find any change. They did, however, find a higher prevalence of cravings among women who suffer from PMS. 

Why? Annmarie Kostyk, a chocolate expert who studied at the Professional School of Chocolate Arts, Ecole Chocolat, in Canada, says this has a lot to do with the psychology behind comfort foods. "Chocolate is sociologically considered a comfort food, and people crave comfort foods when they feel terrible," she says. 
3. It Won't Wake You Up 
It's a common misconception that chocolate is packed with caffeine, says Kostyk. In reality, the amount of caffeine in chocolate is miniscule compared to what's in your other daily pick-me-ups. 

An ounce of dark chocolate contains about 20 milligrams of caffeine, while an ounce of milk chocolate contains about 5 milligrams--the same as an 8-ounce cup of decaf coffee. In comparison, a cup of coffee contains about 100 milligrams and a cup of tea contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine.

4. It Contains Flavonoids 
Flavowhats? Flavonoids are a type of phytochemical, or plant chemical, that are found naturally in chocolate. Due to their unique chemical structures, flavonoids can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-protective effects, says Giana Angelo, Ph.D., a research associate who specializes in micronutrient research at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Consuming foods rich in flavonoids has also been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. 

To reap the benefits, stick to dark chocolate. The average commercial dark chocolate contains about 60 percent cocao and has been found to contain 536 milligrams of flavonoids per 1.4-ounce serving. Research has shown that as few as 80 milligrams of flavonoids a day can lower blood pressure. 

5. It's Not All Bad for Your Teeth 
How could a food that's long been touted as a cavity-causer actually have teeth-protecting properties? It turns out that theobromine, an organic molecule that occurs naturally in cocoa, can help strengthen tooth enamel, according to research from Tulane University. 

In fact, it takes 142 times less cocao extract to have about twice the protective benefits of fluoride, according to the American Dental Association. Unfortunately, theobromine isn't too beneficial in chocolate bars, where the sugar and milk counteract the dental benefits. Enter Theodent, a fluoride-free mint toothpaste that packs a punch of theobromine ($10, theodent.com). 

TELL US: What's your favorite way to enjoy chocolate? 
--By Kristen Domonell, Women's Health 


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7 Ways to Beat Stress Fat

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