And if you’re sporting a little extra pudge, incorporating these in-the-mood-foods into a healthy, plant-based diet is one of the best ways to help you get back to your sexy self. If you’re overweight, research shows losing just 10% of your body weight can improve the quality of your sex life, explains Martin Binks, PhD, of the Duke University Diet and Fitness Center. “We find that among overweight women, they bring their negative self-talk and body image issues to the bedroom, and it negatively impacts their sexual well-being.”

Here are some of the food ingredients (and my own favorite recipes) that have been major players in aphrodisiac history and lore– and also have modern-day science to help back up their claims. [From CNN Health]

Almonds
Topping my of feisty foods, almonds have long been purported to increase passion, act as a sexual stimulant, and aid with fertility. Like asparagus (another one of my favorite sexy foods), almonds are nutrient-dense and rich in several trace minerals that are important for sexual health and reproduction, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamin E. “Zinc helps enhance libido and sexual desire,” says Dr. Berman. “We don’t really understand the mechanisms behind it, but we know it works.”

Avocados
The Aztecs referred to avocados as, ahem, testicles, because of their physical shape. But the scientific reason why avocados make sense as an aphrodisiac is that they are rich in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat, making them good for your heart and your arteries. Anything that keeps the heart beating strong helps keep blood flowing to all the right places; in fact, men with underlying heart disease are twice as likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED).

Strawberries
The color red is known to help stoke the fire: A 2008 study found that men find women sexier if they’re wearing red, as opposed to “cool” colors such as blue or green. Strawberries are also an excellent source of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps ward off birth defects in women and, according to a University of California, Berkley study, may be tied to high sperm counts in men. This Valentine’s Day, try making dark chocolate-dipped strawberries. And while we’re on the subject, there’s a reason we give chocolate on Valentine’s Day: It’s full of libido-boosting methylzanthines.

Seafood
Despite their slippery and slimy texture, oysters may be the most well-known aphrodisiac. They’re also one of the best sources of libido-boosting zinc. But other types of seafood can also act as aphrodisiacs. Oily fish– like wild salmon and herring– contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for a healthy heart.

For four other sexy foods and a couple recipes to get you in the mood, click here!

Here are some quick and easy recipes that are sure to make your guests happy:

Marinated Grill Shrimp

NGREDIENTS

* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1/4 cup tomato sauce
* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
* 2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined
* skewers
1. In a large bowl, stir together the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce, and red wine vinegar. Season with basil, salt, and cayenne pepper. Add shrimp to the bowl, and stir until evenly coated. Cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour, stirring once or twice.
2. Preheat grill for medium heat. Thread shrimp onto skewers, piercing once near the tail and once near the head. Discard marinade.
3. Lightly oil grill grate. Cook shrimp on preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.

Easy Barbecue Chicken

2 pounds chicken pieces
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
Red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper

Wash chicken and dab dry with a paper towel, then season with salt, pepper, pepper flakes and minced garlic.

Clean the grill off with a grill brush and a towel, and lightly brush with olive oil to keep chicken from sticking. Heat grill on a medium-low setting for 5 minutes.

Grill chicken, skin side up and with grill top down, for about an hour to an hour and a half, turning occasionally. Chicken is done when meat is fork-tender and juices run clear. At the last minute, baste chicken with barbecue sauce, turning once to allow sauce to “dry.” Take off grill immediately, and serve with side of barbecue sauce.

Serves 6.

Get more recipes.

VIA: Elev8.com

This Memorial Day it should be all about reflecting and relaxing.  That means you shouldn’t spend all your time in the kitchen.  Here’s a healthy and quick recipe to try over the holiday from the kitchen of Kai Chase.

Crown Royal Flush
Total alcohol per serving – .55 fl oz

Shake and serve on the rocks or in a single serve. Garnish with orange peel.
Crown Royal – 1.25 oz

Peach Schnapps – .5 oz

Cranberry Juice – 2-3 oz

Crown Royal Cinnamon Apple
Total alcohol per serving – .5 fl oz

Crown Royal – 1 oz

Apple Schnapps – .25 oz

Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps – .25 oz

Cranberry Juice – 2 oz

Crown Royal Sweet & Sour
Total alcohol per serving – .58 fl oz

Shake and serve on the rocks.

Crown Royal – 1.25 oz

Grapefruit Juice – .5 oz

Grenadine – .25 oz

The Big “One Six”
Total alcohol per serving – .6 fl oz

Stir ingredients in rocks glass with ice. Strain into another rocks glass that is rinsed with absinthe (anise flavored liqueur). Serve up in that absinthe rinsed glass. Garnish with an orange peel cut long ways along orange.

Crown Royal Cask No. 16 – 1.5 oz

Simple Syrup – .25 oz

Anise flavored Liqueur – 1 teaspoon

Bitters – 1-3 dashes

Manhattan Reserve
Total alcohol per serving – .58 fl oz.

Stir in Shaker & strain. Serve up in martini glass. Garnish with cherry.

Crown Royal Reserve – 1.25 oz

Sweet Vermouth – .5 oz

Bitters – 1-3 dashes

Crown Royal Reserve Red
Total alcohol per serving – .5 fl oz

Shake with ice in shaker. Serve on the rocks.

Crown Royal Reserve – 1.25 oz.

Simple Syrup – .25 oz

Raspberry Liqueur – .5 oz

Lemon Juice – .25 oz

Crown Royal Washington Apple
Total alcohol per serving – .5 fl oz.

Shake and serve on the rocks or in a single serve. Top with apple slice.

Crown Royal – 1.25 oz

Apple Schnapps – .5 oz

Cranberry Juice – 2-3 oz

Crown Royal Press
Total alcohol per serving – .6 fl oz.

Serve on the rocks and top with lemon lime soda. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Crown Royal – 1.5 oz

Lemon Wedges – 2 squeezed

Bitters – 1-3 dashes

Lemon Lime Soda – splash

Tanqueray French 75 Glamour In A Glass

1 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin

.25 oz. champagne

1.25 oz. lemon juice

2 teaspoon(s) superfine sugar

1 slice(s) orange

Perfect Tanqueray No. 10 Martini

Tanqueray No. 10 Gin
Martinni & Rossi Vermouth
Your favorite garnish

Cuban T&T

• 1.25 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 3 oz. tonic water
• .5 oz. lime juice
• .5 oz. simple syrup
• lime wedges
• mint leaves
• Muddle mint sprigs at the bottom of a Collins glass and pull the essential oils up around the sides of the glass.
• Add Tanqueray London Dry Gin, fresh lime juice and simple syrup.
• Top with tonic and garnish with a mint sprig.

HAVANA HOLIDAY

• 1.25 oz. Tanqueray London Dry Gin
• 4 oz. tonic water
• .25 oz. simple syrup
• 2 orange wedges
• 1 lemon wedge
• 6 mint leaves
• Muddle mint and orange wedge lightly with Tanqueray London Dry Gin.
• Add ice, lemon wedge, tonic and simple syrup and garnish with a mint sprig.