5 Crazy Facts About Semen

If you’re getting it on with a guy, you’re dealing with semen. Why not get to know it better?

1. Mood
There are a ton of mood-enhancing chemicals in semen and the vagina can absorb them. Cortisol increases affection. Estrone and Oxytocin elevate mood. Prolactin and Thyrotropin-releasing hormones are natural antidepressants. Melatonin helps regulate sleep. And Serotonin makes you feel happy. But please don’t try to fight depression with it. It doesn’t quite work like that.

2. Flavor
Smoking can make semen taste bad. Eating too much cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, garlic, onions, meat, curry, and fish can make it taste bitter or salty. Even coffee and beer can throw the taste off.

To make semen taste better, a guy should drink lots of water and eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially pineapple, celery, watermelon, apples, kiwi, cranberries, blueberries, plums, parsley, and papaya.

3. Calories
A man will ejaculate about 18 quarts of semen over his lifetime and the average volume per ejaculation is about one teaspoon. That amount contains approximately 5 to 25 calories. And 300,000,000 to 500,000,000 sperm! (Another reason why you should use birth control every single time you have sex.)

4. Smile
Semen contains zinc and calcium, both of which prevent tooth decay. But don’t use it to whiten your teeth. That’s a myth and it won’t work.

5. Babies
When a guy ejaculates, the average speed of his semen is 31 mph and it shoots about 7 to 10 inches. Semen contains sperm. Sperm can live up to 5 days in your body. When his sperm reach your egg, it’s possible to make a baby. If you’re not ready for a baby, there are lots of birth control options for you.

And remember that semen can carry HIV and STIs. Before he lets loose, have a talk about your HIV and STI status, and make sure your birth control is fully functioning too.

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10 Useful Garlic Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

“Since garlic then hath powers to save from death, Bear with it though it makes unsavory breath.”
Salerno Regimen of Health (12th century)

• Raw, freshly minced garlic has the most health benefits. If you cannot stand the smell and must cook it, you need at least four and a half cloves to get the same effect.
• Although garlic is sometimes called “the stinking rose,” it can actually cure your rose plants from aphid attacks. Simply mix crushed garlic with water and spritz the leaves and flowers with the spray.
• Drinking lemon juice or eating a few slices of lemon will stop bad garlic breath.
• The flavor of garlic is most intense just after it has been minced.
• Garlic applied on wounds can heal them faster. During World War I, this healing quality of garlic was harnessed intensively by British soldiers.
• A crushed clove of raw garlic, gently rubbed on skin, can zap a pesky pimple. The secret: a powerful compound called allicin, which makes garlic among the most antioxidant-rich foods on earth.
• Sprouted garlic loses some of its health benefits, but can still be used.
• A Pennsylvania University research found that a compound called Diallyl disulfide in garlic could shrink bowel cancer cells. An important Washington State University study has conclusively proved that this compound is 100 times more effective than other antibiotics in easing bacteria-borne digestive ailments.
• What’s the ideal dosage of garlic for you to derive all its amazing health benefits? The University of Maryland Medical Center, recommends daily 2 to 4 g of fresh, minced garlic clove; 600 to 1,200 mg daily if using aged garlic extract; two 200 mg tablets three times a day if using freeze-dried garlic; 4 ml daily of fluid garlic extract; 20 mL daily of garlic tincture or 0.03 to 0.12 ml three times daily if using garlic oil.
• Not all is good about garlic and it is certainly not for everyone. Those on blood-thinning medication must not take garlic, because it inhibits the clotting of blood. For the same reason, garlic should not be taken before a surgery.

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The Shocking Truth About Protein Bars, Shakes & ‘Enhanced’ Foods

“Protein-enhanced” is the new catch-all phrase by food and beverage manufacturers. Everywhere I turn I see another product boasting that it contains protein. But is this growing trend actually beneficial? Not only is it not beneficial, it may actually be harmful, for multiple reasons.  Here are nine reasons to be cautious of protein bars, shakes, and other protein-enhanced foods:

1.  Adding protein to a food changes its natural composition.  If it was a whole food to start with it really isn’t any longer.  If it was a processed food then it goes through an additional stage of processing.

2.  Most of the “protein” added to everything from bars, shakes, cereals, and even water is actually a form of protein called a protein isolate, many of which contain the harmful toxin monosodium glutamate (MSG)—a well-documented neurotoxin. Russel L. Blaylock, M.D., neurosurgeon, author of Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills, spent years researching the effects of MSG and discovered its link to many diseases.

3.  Products like protein bars and cereals often contain added protein in the form of textured vegetable protein (TVP), hydrolyzed vegetable protein, or hydrolyzed plant protein, all of which usually contain MSG. Additionally, most of these food ingredients are derived from genetically-modified (GM) soy, which is drawing increasing attention as a possible contributor to health problems. Discover more about the problems of genetically-modified soy from the book Seeds of Deception.

4.  Even water can’t seem to escape the “protein-enhancement” trend. As absurd as it sounds to add protein to water, it is becoming common, particularly in flavored water.  Adding protein to water usually means masking the flavor with an artificial sweetener and flavor, neither of which is suitable for consumption. Water, in its natural state, should be alkaline so it can help rehydrate our body’s cells and help flush the kidneys. Flavored, “protein-enhanced” water is acid-forming, causing the kidneys to work harder to eliminate the excess acidity and chemical ingredients. There’s a reason flavored “protein-enhanced” water doesn’t flow through our lakes and rivers.

5.  Most protein bars and protein-enhanced cereals contain soy protein isolate, the problems with which I’ve already discussed.  Additionally, manufacturers usually add more sugar or artificial sweeteners to mask the taste.

6.  Most protein bars that contain nuts or seeds already contain protein in its natural form—as a whole food.  Adding more protein is redundant.

7.  Protein-enhanced breads are often spiked with extra gluten and/or protein isolates.  We already discussed some of the issues of protein isolates but gluten is also a problem for many people and is linked to digestive disorders, celiac disease, and autoimmune disorders, to name a few.

8.  The average American eats 248 pounds of meat every year, or about 40 percent of his or her total caloric intake.  Our much healthier ancestors, by comparison, ate only 5 percent of their calories from animal protein.  Most nutrition experts agree that we are eating excessive amounts of protein in our diet.  We certainly don’t need more added to foods and beverages.

9.  And, what do you think happens with excess protein in our diet?  It converts to fat.  There aren’t too many protein-pushing corporations telling people that. But, it is part of nutrition 101.

While not all protein bars, shakes, and other food products are harmful, many are, so it is best to read labels and stay informed about many of the problems linked to them.  There are some excellent ones that rightfully deserve their place in a healthy diet but many do not.

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Is Chocolate Good for You?

There’s so much research out there saying how healthy chocolate is. I believe the research did not take into account all the sugar added to the chocolate treats that most people eat. This means that not only are we eating sugar that will depress our immune system, but we are adding fattening calories.

It’s true that cocoa powder in the dried form has beneficial effects:

1. Increased vascular reactivity.
2. Improved arterial compliance.
3. Increased HDL-C levels.
4. Decreased oxidation of LDL.
5. Reduced insulin resistance.

(According to Clinicaltrials at the University of Utah)

Notice this refers to cocoa powder which has no sugar of any type in it.

More Cocoa Health Benefits:

1. Lowers cholesterol, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in 2003. (The white chocolate consumers, the control group in this study, experienced no health benefits.)
2. It is good for your skin; the flavonoids found in dark chocolate offer some protection from UV damage.
3. May improve your ability to see in low-contrast situations, such as poor weather according to study, from England’s University of Reading in 2011.
4. The fiber in chocolate has been shown to reduce the rate of colorectal cancer. It may even slow dementia.
5. Cocoa has anti-clotting, blood-thinning properties (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).
6. It has been shown to repair liver cells after alcohol consumption!
7. It has been shown to help stimulate insulin, thus stopping the insulin resistance that can lead to diabetes.
8. The ingredient phenylethylamine that gives chocolate the reputation of being the ‘love food’ raises serotonin and dopamine level, which stimulates the nervous system, and even raises libido.
9. Could keep you from coughing, according to doctors at the British National Health Service.
10. Chocolate helps with Math, according study in Northumbria University in the UK.
11. Women who ate more than 45 grams of chocolate a week had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke than women who treated themselves to fewer than 9 grams of the sweet stuff, according to a 2011 Swedish study.
12. Chocolate eaters have lower stress levels finds Live Science Stress Study.

What is Cocoa and Where Does it Come From?

Cocoa comes from the Theobromo cacao evergreen tree which grows well the tropical rainforest. It is a small tree of 4–8 meters and does well in the shade of the larger trees.

Half of the cocoa bean is made of fat in the form of cocoa butter. Cocoa powder is the edible non-fat part of the cacao bean. Most of the fats in chocolate are saturated, but it also contains lots of the “good” fats: oleic and linoleic acids.

Nutritional Benefits of Cocoa:

• Has one of the highest antioxidant concentration of any foods, in the form of the flavonoids: catechin and epicatechin.
• Contains insoluble fiber, which helps lower cholesterol levels.
• Full of magnesium, which helps soothe the nervous system, relax muscles, reduce PMS, and build teeth and bones.
• Contains copper.
• Has vitamin E and vitamin B.

Chocolate’s History:

• Ceramic vessels containing cacao beverage residue have been found by archeologists dating back to 1900-900 BC. One such vessel found on the Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico dates as early as 1750 BC.
• 500 years ago cocoa was called the nectar of the gods.
• Aztec Emperor Montezuma in the 16th century was an admirer of cocoa, calling it the divine drink which builds up resistance and fights fatigue.
• “A cup of this precious drink permits a man to walk a whole day without food” ~ Hernan Corte’s/1519.
• Later cocoa became a luxury item in Europe as an exotic drink and later used with sugar to make solid chocolates.
• Cocoa was used as medicine for a long time; it wasn’t until 1930s that cocoa and chocolate became a sweet treat.
• What I have found in my travels is, the European chocolates are darker which means they are richer in cocoa phenols than those made in North America.

I have “Chocolate Concerns.”  Is Chocolate as Healthy as Claimed?

We know that dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate due to its higher polyphenols and lower sugar content. Still, it is made with fat and sugar and those ingredients, as we know, are not good for the body. We regularly test individuals for dark chocolate and it always tests as energy draining.

Do not replace healthy foods such as fresh fruits with chocolate. One raw apple is only 52 calories and has added health benefits. A 100 gram serving of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 531 calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. You could eat 10 apples!

The serotonin and dopamine boost by chocolate is only temporary. Like any “high” it will come down, and it is better to enhance your mood with overall good nutrition and lifestyle.

“Our findings indicate that milk may interfere with the absorption of antioxidants from chocolate…and may therefore negate the potential health benefits that can be derived from eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate,” says Mauro Serafini, PhD, of Italy’s National Institute for Food and Nutrition Research in Rome.

Most cocoa studies are funded by chocolate manufacturers because that industry wants to sell you chocolate by convincing you of all the health properties of cocoa.

Most chocolate products are made with GMO cocoa beans. Make sure your chocolate is GMO free.

Today’s chocolate is made with a high fat and sugar content; this is what makes it not at all healthy. There is much evidence that the combination of fat and sugar is toxic to the body. It can cause insulin resistance, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This combo has been found to activate the same receptors in the brain as cocaine. This is why there are so many chocoholics. It is addictive.

What Kind of Chocolate to Eat:

• If buying chocolate, check the ingredients; do not buy it if it has refined sugar such as cane sugar, brown sugar, or fructose.
• Also, stay away from chocolates made with sugar alcohol or artificial sweeteners; these have many toxic side effects.
• Even the chocolate made with healthy sugars and fats is best taken in moderation.
• Chocolate can fit into a healthy eating plan, but it is best to make your own chocolates for optimum health benefits.
• Lastly, but extremely important: buy fair trade chocolate. There is “…a vast gulf between the children who eat chocolate on their way to school in North America and those who have no school at all, who must, from childhood, work to survive. The children who struggle to produce the small delights of life in the world I come from have never known such pleasure, and most likely, they never will.” – From Bitter Chocolate, by Carol Off

I have been making my own chocolate with healthy ingredients for a few years now and never buy or eat the commercially made stuff. Even the chocolate in health food stores is filled with unhealthy ingredients. All of my chocolate recipes are made with healthy sugars in small quantities.

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4 Unexpected Health Benefits of Basil

While you might only think of basil as “nice in a pasta sauce,” would you believe that basil is not only delicious, but could help protect your heart? Read on to learn about the wonderful health benefits of eating basil!

Vitamins and other important nutrients in basil:

Vitamins: Vitamin K, Iron, Calcium, Vitamin A.*

* Basil is either an excellent or very good source of all of these nutrients and vitamins. There are many other nutrients, minerals and vitamins present in basil that are not listed here such as omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin C.

Health benefits of basil:

DNA Protection: Basil leaves come complete with an array of antioxidants and other wonderful phytonutrients. Some of these phytonutrients, orientin and vicenin, which are in the flavonoid family, have been found to “protect cell structures as well as chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage.” – whfoods

Anti Bacterial Properties: The antibacterial nature of basil is linked to its volatile oils (essential oils) such as: estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene.

“Essential oil of basil, obtained from its leaves, has demonstrated the ability to inhibit several species of pathogenic bacteria that have become resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs.” – whfoods

Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Eugenol (one of basil’s volatile oils) can also help block the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX) in the body. This is important because COX is the same enzyme that anti-inflammatory medicines like aspirin and ibuprofen are formulated to help block, making basil a natural anti-inflammatory.

Cardiovascular Health: Basil comes complete with vitamin A (through beta-carotene), magnesium, and many other nutrients that can help protect cell walls from free radical damage (in the blood system and other body structures), improve blood flow and help stop cholesterol from oxidizing in the blood stream.

How to use basil:

-       Add fresh basil to salad dressings, smoothies, herbal teas or your favorite pasta sauce.

Basil will not only give any drink, dressing or dish a great flavor, but can also help kill any microbes that might be hiding in your greens or other food.  I love adding a sprig or two of basil to my green drinks in the morning!

Dried basil still has many of the health benefits listed, but your best bet is fresh! Try growing some in your garden and add fresh basil to raw dishes or at the end of the cooking process to preserve its nutrients and other beneficial properties.

-       Add basil essential oil to natural store bought or homemade cleaning products:

Adding basil essential oil to your natural cleaning supplies (Sal-suds, Castile soap, vinegar etc.) or hand/body soap (Dr. Bronners) in a low concentration (1% or less*) can add natural anti bacterial (anti microbial) properties.

*I often use one drop of essential oil per one ounce of carrier solution (you can try using more or less, but test for sensitivity before using on your skin.) I would not add essential oils to a chemical cleaner or soap.

Sources:

-       whfoods

-       en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil

- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference.

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7 Food Cravings Explained

Food cravings: we all get them. But what do they mean? If you’re craving a particular type of food, is your body trying to tell you something? Is there something missing from your diet, or is it purely an emotional response? The answer is, unsurprisingly, that cravings are rooted in both your mind and your body. Beyond the obvious emotional link, comfort food exists for a reason, of course, craving a specific type of food can mean particular things about your body. Pining for sweets? Does your mouth water at the cheese counter?

1. Craving: Chocolate.

Most of us probably associate cravings with chocolate more than any other food — but it’s not just a silly, sexist trope — you may crave chocolate because you aren’t getting enough magnesium in your diet.

2. Craving: Salty Food.

Can’t get enough salt? You could be too stressed, and, in turn, harming your adrenal glands.

3. Craving: Ice.

Though doctors aren’t clear exactly why, craving ice cubes is a sign of anemia, an iron deficiency.

4. Craving: Cheese.

Crazy for cheese? You might not be getting enough fatty acid, like omega-3, in your diet.

5. Craving: Sweet & Salty Food.

When you’re craving a food that is both salty and sweet, you could be tired and sluggish — in need of a salty and sweet food’s glucose and sugar.

6. Craving: Spicy Food.

Is it scorching outside? People often crave hot food when they’re literally hot themselves. Spicy foods make you sweat, which in turn cools you down.

7. Craving: Sugar.

Sugar cravings often indicate that you have low–or fluctuating– blood sugar.

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10 ways to spice up your love life

Check out our top ten aphrodisiacs guaranteed to spark desire.

Get connected

Nothing is sexier than remembering why you fell in love with each other in the first place. "By undertaking some sort of bonding activity, you can reignite chemistry," says Dr Morrissey. "Look for aspects of your partner that you first admired before you started focusing on what they weren't doing," she says. "Go back to the kind of dating behaviour that you undertook at the start of the relationship, whether that's scuba diving, going out dancing or to the movies, as having fun together helps you to reconnect. By looking at your partner through fresh eyes, you'll see them with a new appreciation that will reignite your sexual spark."

Take a big whiff

Remember when a mere hint of your partner's smell induced all-out lust? Take yourself back to those heady days by wearing the same scent you wore back then as you snuggle on the sofa tonight.

Have a seafood feast

For centuries, oysters have been known as aphrodisiacs, with amorous Casanova said to have eaten 50 for breakfast! Scientists have proven that Casanova was on the right track. A team of scientists at Barry University in Miami analysed bivalve molluscs, a group of shellfish that includes oysters, and found they were rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones. So go on a date to your favourite seafood restaurant and order a dozen raw oysters for starters and shellfish for a main.

Face up to your problems

If your lack of interest in sex is causing problems in your relationship, sex therapists and psychologists can help enhance your libido. "Sexual dysfunction can be the result of many issues, including depression, hormone levels, fatigue or psychological disorders, which can seriously harm the self-esteem of both partners," says Brett McCann, NSW president of ASSERT (Australian Society of Sex Educators, Researchers and Therapists). "Therapists can help by identifying the problem and moving onto a solution."

Have a chocolate and red wine night

There's something undeniably sensuous about chocolate. This is because cocoa contains phenylethylamine and serotonin, two chemicals that light up pleasure areas in the brain. Alcohol is known to induce feelings of horniness, so enjoy a glass of wine with a little dark chocolate for a sensuous treat. Remember, a moderate amount of wine has been said to arouse, but much more than that will have the opposite effect

Exercise more

Working out increases your urge for sex because it activates the same feel-good brain chemicals and sends the blood racing to the pelvic region, getting you in the mood. "During and after exercise, blood flows to the genitals," says Dr Gabrielle Morrissey, body+soul's sex and relationships columnist. "This can increase sensation once you start to become turned on." A study at the University of Texas illustrated this when women aged 18 to 34 were asked to watched an X-rated film twice. The first time the women cycled vigorously for 20 minutes beforehand, but the second time, they did no exercise. Researchers calculated their sexual excitement was 169 per cent greater if they exercised first! Being fit and toned also means lovemaking sessions last longer and you are more flexible when it comes to trying new positions.

Lift your libido

Epimedium, also known as horny goat weed, which grows in China and Asia, may just live up to its reputation, according to researchers at the University of Milan. When looking into natural aphrodisiacs in traditional cultures to establish their potential as alternatives to Viagra, researchers found that horny goat weed contained icariin, a compound that inhibits the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. Viagra's active compound, sildenafil, works by inhibiting PDE5. Try Fusion Health's Libido, a Chinese herbal tonic formulated with horny goat weed and tribulus, designed to enhance sexual desire and physical performance. 

Magic potion

The herb damiana has been keeping Latin Americans hot and frisky for centuries. Mexicans in particular swear by its aphrodisiac qualities, drinking damiana tea to get them in the mood as well as to treat conditions ranging from constipation to depression. According to herbalist Ellie Dyson, damiana helps with depression, energy levels, low oestrogen levels, female libido, impotency, menopause and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). To make the tea, add 250ml boiling water to one gram of dried leaves and steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink three cups per day over two weeks. You'll find damiana at your local herbalist, 

Pitch in

According to marital researcher Dr John Gottman from The Gottman Institute, men who do more housework and child care have better sex lives and happier marriages than men who don't. Why, then, did a survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, How Australians Use Their Time, find that women still do much more housework than men? So guys, pick up the vacuum cleaner, clean the toilet and pack the kids' lunches and marvel at how much your sex life improves! Dr Morrissey says when women feel more respected, they give more to their partner and the relationship prospers. "Relationships are supposed to be equal, but often women carry more of the responsibility," she says. "When men take on more of the burden, the woman feels cared for and appreciated, and more connected to her partner." Hence more sex!

Oil up

Infused with four ancient herbal aphrodisiac properties and four essential oils, including Liriosma ovata, known as "the viagra of the amazon" and ylang ylang, which enhances attraction between lovers, Wildfire All Pleasure Oil can be used for massage and as a lubricant. It's $29.95 from Woolworths and pharmacies.

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