Experts Agree!

There are foods that can result in better sex!  And we are not just talking about oysters…these are everyday foods that can actually make a difference. So read on and discover these indulgances for improving your relationship and enriching your marriage!

David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding, co-authors of the national bestselling book Eat This, Not That!, tell how you can revitalize your sex life and reinvigorate your relationship.

Consuming  filling foods with fewer calories will help you begin to shed weight that’s dragging down your desire. Then,  foods that contain ingredients and nutrients that strategically boost sexual attraction and performance will help you squeeze even more satisfaction out of each and every sexual encounter.

Insurance for Men:

 Smoothie for Him

1 cup blueberries
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 Tbsp flaxseeds
1 cup orange juice
1 cup ice

It’s loaded with two of the most potent circulation enhancers out there: soluble fiber and antioxidants. Soluble fiber helps push excess cholesterol through your digestive system before it can be broken down, absorbed, and deposited along the walls of your arteries. Antioxidants attack free radicals before they have the chance to lower nitric oxide levels. And since nitric oxide helps deliver oxygen to your blood, the higher the level, the better the erection bloodflow.

Smoothie for Her

2 shots of espresso (or 6 ounces of strong coffee)
1 cup skim milk
2 Tbsp dark chocolate syrup
1 cup crushed ice

Coffee increases bloodflow to your genitals, making sensitive nerve endings more easily accessed and stimulated. A Southwestern University study even found that female rats wanted more sex after a shot of caffeine. Add to that a big hit of calcium, another important contributor to effective bloodflow, and a swirl of chocolate, which contains a host of chemicals to brighten your mood, including anadamine, which targets the same receptors as THC, and phenylethylamine, which produces a cozy, euphoric feeling. It’s no wonder a new Italian study of 163 women shows that those who regularly eat chocolate report enhanced sex drive and sexual satisfaction.

What could be a more A+ romantic idea and romantic gesture than fixing smoothies for each other?  Watch for our “Part Two” on Food for better sex later this week! ENJOY!!

Sometimes romance IS in the crowds…

Sound crazy?  A couple can be come an island of closeness even with people all around. Whether it is an excuse to hold hands, squeeze together, or have a face-to-face conversation, a crowd can be very romantic!  We have several intimate-crowded-adventure-ideas for you…..

My husband I and recently went to Luci Ancora in St. Paul, billed as a casual elegant restaurant for people who like food.  The first thing I noticed is how close the tables were to each other. I shrugged – and decided it was like the cute little bistros in Europe.  The funny thing was, as you get lulled into the gentle buzz of all the conversations, you actually cease to notice any individual chats around you, and focus on your own. 

We had what really felt like a “date night” of non-stop conversation, easily moving from kids and jobs to sharing experiences and really talking. Thumbs up to Luci Ancora!  And we recommend the mussels appetizer and try the Limón cello sorbet for a light refreshing dessert!

Another inspired crowded yet cozy date night?

Add a little jazz to your date-life!

Try a Blues singer/piano combo at the Dakota Jazz Club.  Davina has been a hit in Minneapolis, Memphis and even Switzerland for the melting pot of her blues, American roots, and New Orleans music.

Or try a little Pop with 10-time Grammy nominated Meshell Ndegeocello!  Her music, energetic and assertive, is equal parts funk, folk, hip-hop, jazz and African roots music. And you won’t be the first to find romance in the intimate candle-lit jazz room. 

And here’s an A+ romantic idea that can bring intimacy whether it is crowded or not – tho you will find people there! Try Patisserie Margo. They’ve been referred to as the bakery version of “Cheers”, where everybody knows your name. If you need desserts for a party, morning pastries or just a treat for the two of you, this is the place to be. They have muffins, scones, croissants, danish, bars, cookies, bread, quiche, sandwiches, and famously sinful desserts. Of course, they make everything from scratch daily.

What better way to create a memorable date night and relationship renewal than splitting a scrumptious hand made dessert?  Share a fork and look into each other’s eyes – the crowd will melt away!

We tend to think of idleness and play as indulgences or distractions from what we should be doing…but low productivity pursuits can have some surprising benefits!

 Any of us can be accused of treating our relationship like a back-burner item.  We have eternal responsibility – demands of work, pay the mortgage, run kids to extracurricular activities – it can keep a person running 24/7.  It feels impossible to “steal time” for pure enjoyment or relaxation.

But studies have shown that downtime and self-renewing enjoyments can help us upgrade our overall levels of happiness and even boost our creativity and mental clarity.  What better ways to increase creativity, clarity, and happiness in your relationship than to spend some time with your spouse that is purely play time?!

Accumulated stress can spill over into all areas of our lives.  “Without renewal,” writes Stephen Covey, author of the famed The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, on his website “the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish.”  So how do you bring playtime into everyday life with your spouse?

The act of daydreaming does some interesting things to your brain. There is an arch through the midline of the brain, according to Marcus Raichle, PhD, who published Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing a cluster of the brain that is affected by “downtime”.  This arch is the “default network” utilizing strong connections with parts of our brain involving decision-making, memories, and content with emotional significance to us. When you daydream, this default network leaps into action and makes sense of the occurrences, actions, feelings, all the bits that make up our crazy days. This heightened “processing” in the arch is the best way to invite ideas and solutions.  It can create the Eureka factor – sudden realization or insights.

So daydreaming, especially with your spouse, can be a fabulous way to relax, have fun, and allow your brain to produce a better brighter you!  Better for the relationship, better for the family, better for the job.

So don’t think of it as “working” on your relationship.  Solve two things at once – playtime with your spouse, and being a happier more creative individual!  Whether it is daydreaming together, taking a walk, or doing something together that is not targeted towards a result – in short, Monkey Business – you will just feel your brain working better after playtime, as well as experience a relaxed and enjoyable relationship moment.