Eating veggie just makes you feel more sexy!
Eating veggie just makes you feel more sexy!
If you are looking for a way to spice things up in the kitchen and bedroom this Valentine’s Day, health charity Viva! Health has some fantastic and frisky tips to get you in the mood.
Vegetarian diets are jam-packed with natural aphrodisiacs – such as asparagus, almonds, avocados, bananas, celery, hot chillies and dark chocolate, raspberries and strawberries – that will make your heart glow and other bits tingle too. Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of zinc, known to improve sex drive and they also protect against impotence.
Viva! Health campaigner, Veronika Charvatova, says: “Aphrodisiac foods have to get the blood pumping. This can be a problem for people who suffer from impotence, sometimes cause by blocked arteries.
Fatty foods such as meat, egg and dairy products clog up the arteries, thus blocking the blood flow to certain vital organs! They also increase the risk of diabetes and obesity which are also linked to impotence.”
“On the other hand, a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds protects against blocked arteries, heart disease, stroke and many other conditions. These foods are also bursting with vital nutrients that increase energy and zest!
Recipe ideas for Valentine’s Day
Starter: Avocado and Smoked Tofu Salad
Mains: Asparagus and Celery Risotto – served with Green Salad, pumpkin seeds and vinaigrette
Dessert: Luxury Chocolate Mousse
Luxury Chocolate Mousse
The Big Mama of all mousses! Try this on any of your friends who believe that being vegan is about “giving up’ and being a martyr and watch the smiles of pleasure on their chocolate-smeared chops!
Good served with berry fruits as a garnish – the colour and tartness gives a lovely contrast – or try orange zest, as on our photo.
Serves 3-5
Time:
25 minutes, plus chilling time
Ingredients:
1 pack silken tofu (approximately 330g) available in good supermarkets or health stores
150g dark chocolate – 1 ½ big bars of dairy-free dark chocolate such as Divine or Lidl Fair Trade Dark
2 tbsp maple, date or agave syrup (agave is available in large supermarkets. It’s a bit like vegan honey)
½ tsp vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Method:
1. Blend tofu until completely smooth and creamy.
2. Soften chocolate with syrup in a double boiler (or bowl over pan containing 5cm/2 inches of hot water), set over a low heat.
3. Stir gently with a rubber or plastic spatula until the chocolate has completely melted.
4. Blend chocolate mixture with vanilla extract, salt and tofu. Mix until creamy, scraping down sides once or twice to ensure everything is well mixed in.
5. Refrigerate in individual serving dishes of your choice for an hour or so -little espresso cups look lovely, or nice glasses.
Visit the Viva! shop for all your Valentines’ gifts by clicking here.
For more information about the health benefits of going veggie or vegan, visit www.vivahealth.org.uk.
About the author
Dr. Justine Butler
Justine joined Viva! in 2005 after graduating from Bristol University with a PhD in molecular biology. After working as a campaigner, then researcher and writer, she is now Viva!’s head of research and her work focuses on animals, the environment and health. Justine’s scientific training helps her research and write both in-depth scientific reports, such as White Lies and the Meat Report, as well as easy-to-read factsheets and myth-busting articles for consumer magazines and updates on the latest research. Justine also recently wrote the Vegan for the Planet guide for Viva!’s Vegan Now campaign.
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