Food To Put You In The Mood!
Can you just imagine if Health Canada or the FDA released a statement that said:
“Avocados may increase your sex drive!!”
Avocado farmers would get rich fast and then probably run out of avocados! And the government wouldn’t benefit one bit because after all, big pharma is making big bucks from the little blue pill. This is why I have my blog, dear readers — for the ability to share my knowledge for what mother nature has so UN-selfishly provided us for thousands of years. Food that can heal us, energize us and get us in the mood.
In the past, I’ve written about foods to get you in the mood and not surprisingly, this is still one of my most well-read blogs I’ve ever posted. And since it’s the week before Valentine’s Day and many of you hope to get lucky, here are some more foods to get you in the mood. Keep in mind, if you have low sex drive, eating avocados every day from now till Sunday may not work if you are still stressed out and not sleeping. So I just don’t want you to think that there is a magic cure. Eating well and then becoming well takes time. But if you put in the time to eat well today, you will not have to put in time for illness later on and you’ll be that much closer to getting busy in the bedroom.
In-the-mood-foods:
flickr: woodleywonderworks
Eggs
Yes, the much overlooked egg has received quite the unwarranted beating over the years due to falsely being blamed for cholesterol. Eggs are great for sex drive because they are high in stress-reducing B6 and B5. I’m sure you know firsthand that when you are stressed out the last thing you feel like doing is getting busy in the bedroom. Eggs are also an amazing breakfast food to give you sustainable energy. Always starting your day with protein is a good idea and more energy in the morning may get you lucky!
flickr_mischiru
Raw oysters
Everyone knows by know that oysters are an aphrodisiac. But what you may not know is that dopamine, a happy brain chemical that raises libido is in oysters! High in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production — which both men AND women need for a healthy sex drive (not to mention the fact that the texture of the oyster is similar to “you-know-what”, which some “sexperts” claim makes oysters a very sex-inducing food). Get shucking!
Ted Sheppard
Almonds (and other nuts – walnuts, pecans)
Essential fatty acids are found in nuts which are vital as they provide the raw material for a healthy production of hormones. And for the men out there, did you know that the smell of almonds is supposed to arouse passion in females? Oooooh yaaaaa! Burt’s Bees has a hand lotion that smells like almonds, called “Almond Beewax Hand Creme“.
flickr_sunshine hanan
Chocolate
Just like oysters, chocolate is an obvious one. But what you may not know is that chocolate contains theobromine — an alkaloid — which is very similar to caffeine means more energy – budda boom budda bing! It also contains serotonin, the feel good happy-hormone. So when your lady tells you how much she loves chocolate you know there is some science behind it. Chocolate must be dark and organic to be worthy of eating for it’s sex driving abilities and if that wasn’t enough reason, chocolate is a source of anti-oxidants, which I know you need. More reasons to love chocolate here: http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/eat-chocolate-the-good-kind/
If you are want even MORE foods to get you in the mood, then check out this post:
http://joyoushealth.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/foods-that-boost-your-sex-drive/
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well and live well. Joy is the resident holistic nutritionist at 889 Yonge, a Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto. Joy welcomes your questions or comments.
4 comments February 9, 2010
Eat Well Feel Well: 4 Tips for Joyous Health This Week
Good day lovely readers of my blog,
Today in our Eat Well Feel Well class I spoke about how sleep, stress and sex impacts your overall health and well-being. The yoga portion of the class was challenging, yet rewarding as we each balanced and came close to our personal “edge”.
Each week I provide a thought provoking take-home sheet with 4 challenges. This week, I’m sharing them with you because they are so important if you want to move your body to it’s most optimal state of well-being. Most people are okay with feeling “okay”. I challenge you to not be “okay” with this. As health is not merely the absence of disease, as you will see I talk about this a lot in person and on my blog. Health is feeling fabulous most days of the week, feeling confident and making good food choices.
These are my challenges, I hope you try them out and let me know how you feel!
- Identify people or situations that bring you stress. Notice how this affects your well-being and your food choices. Do you eat more or less when you are stressed? Choose foods to lower your stress levels and avoid foods that increase your stress levels.
- Sleep – this one is an easy task! Get to bed by 11pm at least 3 times for the next 7 days. Notice how much better you feel the next day. Even going to bed 15 minutes earlier than you normally do will have a huge impact on your health, well-being and appetite controlling hormones.
- Avoid using the TV or your computer 1.5 hours before bed. Instead read, meditate, listen to relaxing music to calm your central nervous system.
- If you have low sex drive, focus on eating foods that increase your libido. Identify these foods and how they make you feel in your food journal.
Michelle and I are excited to announce the second round of our Eat Well Feel Well class starting in April. You can check out the details on our facebook page or right here!
Oh and if you are anywhere in Canada freezing your butt off today, here’s a soup recipe to warm you from your toes to your nose that is healthy and deliciously joyous! BUTTERNUT SQUASH PEAR SOUP.
Warmest wishes today and always,
Joy
8 comments February 7, 2010
Joyous Health Vid: Sports Drinks are not the best option, I have something better!
Hydration during and after exercise is absolutely essential to replace electrolytes lost by sweating. Water alone is not enough. If you suffer from headaches, cramps, heart irregularities, low energy and more, then something as simple as replenishing and hydrating your cells properly could be the key to feeling your best during and post-exercise.
In this video I talk about one of my favourite beverages to replenish those electrolytes, and it’s not a trendy sports drink. I will tell you why those are NOT your best choice!
And that’s not all folks, I have something else to share with you that is very interesting!! I have attached my latest article. A client with a common health problem — headaches, and a solution with a home-made sports drink.
http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/02/04/post-workout-headaches-consider-your-electrolytes/
EnJOY!
12 comments February 5, 2010
Love is a Nutrient — Essential to Life as Water
flickr: abbietabbie
As I was drinking my green mango tea this afternoon while writing an article on hydration for AOL’s That’s Fit, I couldn’t help but notice the cute little heart-shaped cupcakes in the cafe. Now maybe it’s because Valentine’s day is just around the corner and I was writing an article about the importance of water, but I came to a striking realization that I want to share with you today:
Love, is as essential to life as water.
Without water to hydrate our cells to drive nutrients in and pull toxins out, our body becomes toxic and our cells die off sooner. This has numerous effects — one of the most obvious effects being premature aging. And of course, worse case scenario without water we will die.
Without love, your immune system is weaker, you have more cravings, you’ll be an emotional roller coaster or have a case of the blahs, you will be more drawn to things and people that are not good for you and your mood will reflect this.
Love, believe it or not, is absolutely essential to your survival. This fact cannot be disputed because it can be seen in studies on animals and has been repeated in history time and time again. Ever wonder who lives in the longest in a senior’s home? It’s those people who have family come and visit them and if there are no family members around it’s the friendships that keep people alive and ticking.
Have you ever met someone who didn’t want to be loved? Even criminals and people who on the outside seem miserable and unhappy, just want to feel loved and have someone to love. Without love in our lives from a lover, a mother, your cat or your best friend, you too, will simply wilt like a flower without water.
Sure I may not have years of life experience behind me as I’m only in my 30’s but I’ve been in a few serious relationships to know that when this critical nutrient was absent, things fell apart. But to be completely honest, this critical nutrient wasn’t necessarily missing from my partner. As embarassing as this is to admit, it was love for myself. Simply stated, SELF-LOVE, love for oneself is essential for your own survival. Some people discover at a very young age just how to love themselves, some people at middle age and some sadly, never do.
So the purpose of my article is to share with you that love is a nutrient, just like water that keeps us alive and happy. If you don’t have love in your life then start with yourself. When you love yourself, you will attract positive energy and someone into your life that loves you back. Simple as that.
If you enjoyed this article, you might like these ones too:
7 comments February 3, 2010
Danger in Our Food Supply: BPA in Canned Foods
A few days ago Dr. Oz spoke about various dangers lurking in our food supply from BPA to pesticides. A few weeks ago I spoke briefly about this same hazard to our health in a video blog: 5 foods to ditch from your kitchen. This danger has been linked to obesity, hormone disruption and even cancer. Learn more about it here, and be inspired to get the canned foods out of your kitchen!
EnJOY!
1 comment January 30, 2010
Eat Your Comfort Food: Potatoes!
bellybytes.com
As I was roasting some sweet potatoes last night in a bed of chopped onions, I came to the realization that we simply don’t give potatoes much love anymore, do we? Ever since the health conscious become obsessed with starving themselves on high protein, low carb diets, the good ol’ potato got the boot. But what these high-protein lovers forgot to mention was they had fewer than 3 (if that) bowel movements per week due to lack of fiber and were dumb (sorry) as a stump, due to lack of glucose from carbohydrates — the primary fuel source for your brain. Don’t feel bad, I’ve done my share of ridiculous diets too.
So I decided that I need to write a little post about potatoes. Someone’s gotta do it, otherwise the gossip-mongering potato haters will keep you thinking that taters make you fat and are full of sugar.
Here’s the deal. Potatoes are naturally higher on the glycemic index than other fruits and veggies. <Side note: The glycemic index measures the speed at which sugar in food causes your blood sugar to spike.> However, chromium, a mineral found in the SKIN of potatoes is incredible for balancing blood sugar. It enhances the action of insulin which carries glucose into the cell to be used as energy. (More detailed description here). BINGO! Case in point:
- White potato no skin: 98 on the G.I. scale (glucose is 100)
- White potato WITH skin: 69
Don’t you just love how nature makes perfect sense? GASP! It’s not the potato that’s to blame, it’s the processing. The truth is, most people are not eating a potato with it’s skin. The average person is eating french fries and mashed potatoes which equates to a lovely dose of blood sugar and unhealthy fats. Excess sugar in the blood stream, if not used for energy (and most of us have too much of it) gets stored as FAT.
So, next time you eat potatoes, make sure you buy them organic and eat the skin! Best choices are sweet potatoes (yams) and red potatoes.
7 comments January 29, 2010
5 Reasons to Eat Eggs! Boost Your Mood.
Did you know that it’s an “egg myth” that eggs raise cholesterol levels? Learn how eggs can help you manage your weight, boost your mood and more in this video. EnJOY!
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach, owner of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well and live well – through education and empowerment. Joy is the resident nutritionist at 889 Yonge — Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto, where she inspires happy and joyous lives. Joy welcomes your questions or comments.
10 comments January 27, 2010
13-Bean, “Fart-Free” Vegetarian Chili
Stick-to-your ribs doesn’t have to mean fatten-your-waistline. In fact, this recipe will satisfy your soul AND your belly for a few hours.
And if my headline caught your eye…. you will be happy to learn a tip for prepping your beans for chili to prevent flatulence and other embarrassing digestive issues. Flatulence from beans should not be expected if they are properly prepped.
This recipe is “date-safe” meaning the button on your jeans won’t pop open (at least not from a bloated belly) and keeps your waistline in check. Try it out and let me know what you think!
2 comments January 25, 2010
Are You An Emotional Eater?
The topic at my EAT WELL class today was emotional eating and the intimate connection we have with food. The second half of the session was an uplifting and rejuvenating yoga class led by Michelle Uy. Tonight during the yoga portion of the class, I totally had my own emotional release.
As I was lying on my back with a lavendar eye pillow covering my peepers, feeling like my whole body was sinking into the floor, I felt this incredible force of joy and calmness all around me. And it opened the door to clarity. Clarity about some things in my life that have been troubling me. Without going into details, I want you to know how thankful I am that you are reading this blog right now, that you are opening your heart and allowing me to share my knowledge about how food can your medicine or your poison.
There’s no doubt about it, what we put in our mouth is driven by our emotional state. This is a simple fact that no one can dispute. Yet for the thousands of diet books out there, how many really address this very important point?
Dr. Doreen Virtue wrote an amazing book about emotional eating. And in this book, she shared that we use food and alcohol to suppress our emotions. As our day slows down we tend to be more in a position of feeling what is not going right in our lives. Then we use food or alcohol to suppress these awarenesses and feelings. But why do we do this? Because we are afraid to feel. This is why anti-depressants are one of the most prescribed drugs in North America and no one is getting happier from them other than the pharmaceutical executives. Why not truly feel your emotions? What about not hiding from them and addressing them head on?
These are some of the most common emotional connections to food. This should help bring some clarity:
- Ice cream or cheese — Filling emptiness
- Bread & refined carbs — Need for comfort and calm
- Chocolate — Hungry for love, feeling rejected
- Salty foods — Anger, stress, anxiety
Do any of these sound familiar? Understanding why you choose certain foods is key to moving past your cravings and on to feeling your absolute best ever. If you don’t address the root cause (your emotions), then these foods will always have control of you no matter how many detoxs or diet plans you try.
So how do you stop eating unhealthy foods that you are emotionally connected to and eat for joyous health? Firstly, awareness is a step in the right direction. Being aware of your emotional connections with food and writing them down in a journal. Awareness brings about change. Now here’s how you can really evolve because this topic is simply one that cannot be captured in a blog article.
We have another 6-week EAT WELL FEEL WELL class starting in April. This program may in fact change your life! We are expecting it to be sold out again. So if you are interested in embarking on a journey to create a new relationship with food and changing your life for good, for the better, then this is the course for you. Please visit the facebook page for details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=140074199050
I hope to see you there!
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach, owner of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well and live well – through education and empowerment. Joy is the resident nutritionist at 889 Yonge — Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto, where she inspires happy and joyous lives. Joy welcomes your questions or comments.
3 comments January 24, 2010
Quinoa makes me Joyous! Holistic Recipes here…
Photo credit: Joyous Kitchen
Quinoa may seem like a trendy food right now, but it’s actually been around since the Incas – it’s ancient! In fact, as I mentioned in my video, it’s been nicknamed “gold of the warriors” because it increased their stamina immensely. Stamina is important for more than just fighting, if you catch my drift — hello sex drive!
I feel joyous about introducing this food into your home (if you don’t already eat it). Because, our grocery stores are home to more junk than at the garbage dump. And the cesspool (sorry to be a debbie-downer here) of toxins in our environment from plastics, to household cleaners, the air we breathe from off-gassing of carpets, wall paint, office furniture and outdoor air pollution are at an all-time high. If you want to do something today that is positively fabulous for your health that requires very LITTLE effort, then make quinoa a staple in your kitchen.
Quinoa is so versatile. From breakfast to dinner it’s a total winner and your friends will be impressed, but you don’t have to let them know how little effort it required to make this chef-worthy dish. Here are some recipes that I make on a weekly basis.
- Goat cheese quinoa salad (just omit the cheese if you are a veg-head)
- Warm delicious cinnamon breakfast quinoa
- Quinoa-Slaw, Love thy liver!
EnJOY!
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach, owner of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well and live well – through education and empowerment. Joy is the resident nutritionist at 889 Yonge — Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto, where she inspires happy and joyous lives. Joy welcomes your questions or comments.
2 comments January 23, 2010
Get Your Booty Outside For A Winter Workout!
Photocredit: www.sheknows.com
Few things are as invigorating as getting outside on a crisp, sunny Canadian winter afternoon, wouldn’t you agree? And it’s important to get out there while the day is bright as darkness falls early and not enough sunlight can lead to Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). And when our skin is not exposed to the sun long enough to sufficiently manufacture vitamin D, we end up with deficiencies in this most important vitamin! In Canada, nearly one million people suffer from SAD. So rather than be sad (pun intended), pull on your warmest winter gear and get your booty outside. You’ll be joyous you did.
Here are five winter workouts to boost your mood, burn some fat and most importantly, put a smile on your face!
1. Light jog or power walk for a minimum of 30-60 minutes: Experts suggest that you should do minimum of 60 minutes of exercise everyday. If that seems like a lot, I bet that once you get out there you’ll feel so refreshed you’ll keep going for 60. Try a lunchtime power walk.
2. Walking lunges: If you want to kick your light jog or power walk up a notch, then do walking lunges at the end of your jog/walk. They are fantastic for achieving what I like to call a “perky bum” and strong legs and they are great for the hamstrings and quadriceps. Do 15 lunges forward and then back and again. As you get stronger, bump it up to 20.
3. Play hockey: It’s an amazing cardiovascular workout, wow! The few times I’ve joined my nephews playing street hockey, I was wiped after 10 minutes. Not only does it burn calories, but it really trains your core and balance. So for me, it was a humbling experience as I like to think my fitness level is pretty good — until my nephews put me to shame.
4. Skating: You can burn up to 450 calories per hour skating depending on how fast you go. I fell in love with skating all over again when I was in New York City for the holidays one year. There’s something completely magical about it – whether it’s at the park near your house or Rockefeller Square, strap on those skates!
5. Hiking: Journeying through the great outdoors can be a hugely enjoyable and fun winter activity. There are literally hundreds of hiking trails in every province across Canada. All you need are some good hiking shoes or boots, warm clothes and you are good to go. Hiking can burn a whopping 500 calories per hour. Don’t forget your camera because you never know what you might see deep in the bush.
Joy McCarthy, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach, owner of Joyous Health, loves to inspire others to eat well and live well – through education and empowerment. Joy is the resident nutritionist at 889 Yonge — Yoga & Holistic Lifestyle Spa in Toronto, where she inspires happy and joyous lives. Joy welcomes your questions or comments.
2 comments January 20, 2010
10 Foods for Sexy Skin, Healthy Hair, Lovely Libido, Weight Control
Add these 10 foods to your grocery cart this weekend instead of refined or processed foods. These are WHOLE and REAL foods. EnJOY!
1. Avocado
2. Extra virgin olive oil (cold pressed, dark bottle)
3. Wild salmon (never ever buy farmed even if it’s organically farmed)
4. Organic eggs aka. happy hens!
5. Leafy greens
6.Organic coconut oil
7. Chia seeds
8. Apples
9. Lemons
10. Pumpkin seeds
Add comment January 15, 2010
Phytonutrients & Why You Need To Get Some!
Did you know the power to be healthy is in YOUR hands? What you put in your grocery cart may determine how long you live, the strength of your immune system and how many sicknesses you get, how well balanced your mood is, your sex drive, how much your skin glows or your hair shines or how much you smile. Your food choices impact how well you live.
These phytonutrients I’m going to share with you are naturally-occurring compounds found in plants and in my opinion, better than any pill you will ever find. Food has the ability to heal your body and make you well. Don’t be satisfied with feeling okay. Expect the best from yourself, because nothing short of this should suffice.
Add these foods to your grocery cart and here’s why:
Sulfurophanes – Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach
Source: flickr Rachell Taylor
The compounds found in these foods, sulfurophanes are like a hot poker (well, not literally) for your liver. They activate the liver to produce enzymes which bind to carcinogens (cancer-causing-free radicals) and eliminate them from the cells. If you smoke, these substances help to ride the body of toxins from cigarette smoke. The liver is the master organ of detoxification and it is essential to provide it with the raw materials to function optimally.
Catechins – Green Tea & Red Wine
www.herbalextractsplus.com
Catechins are flavanoids found in green tea and red wine. Cancer is the result of cell mutations and uncontrollable reproduction of these cells. These substances prevent this mutation from occurring in the first place and help to keep cells reproducing normally. Your immune systems job is to destroy these cell mutations, but when your immunity is compromised from things like stress, catechins can work their magic, if you are drinking green tea that is!
Alyll Sulfides - Garlic & Onions
flickr: Living in Monrovia's
These little “stinkers” that add so much life to your food are incredible for health! Anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and immunity boosting — they work by increasing the production of the enzymes that rid the body of carcinogens BEFORE they cause a cell to mutate.
Lignans – Flaxseeds, oats, walnuts, brown rice, legumes
Flickr: Doug Greenberg
Even cute little squirrels love lignans! Bad estrogens are produced from the fat cells of your body and can increase your risk of breast cancer. This means, the more body fat you have, the more bad estrogens you will produce — therefore, the higher your risk for breast cancer. Lignans actually inhibit the production of estrogen, lower cholesterol levels and prevent other cancers, such as prostate. These are little superstar antioxidants.
These foods are so easy to find in any grocery store, wouldn’t you agree? There are plenty more phytochemicals, thousands literally and it is absolutely fascinating. Scientists are discovering new phytochemicals every single day. In my opinion, it’s not always the best course of action to isolate these antioxidants and pop a pill. It’s better to consume the whole food, so you get the benefit of more than just one antioxidant because one food will have many!!
I hope you enJOYed this article as much as I did writing it.
Be well and joyous!
Add comment January 12, 2010
62 Ways to Make 2010 Your Best Ever!
About 10 or so years ago, I was meandering through a book store and I picked up one of my first inspirational books and ironically, I had no idea that it was a so-called “self-help” book (but it was just what I needed at the time). “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” really brought things into perspective for me. Fast forward to 2010 and Robin Sharma still inspires. This is an excerpt from his blog that I am joyous to share with you, to make 2010 your best ever.
Number 16 and 17 is my personal favourite and something I’ve put into practice.
1. Remember that leadership isn’t about your position. It’s about your influence.
2. Get fit like a pro athlete.
3. Lift people up versus tearing people down.
4. Protect your good name. An impeccable reputation takes a lifetime to build. And 60 seconds to lose.
5. Surround yourself with positive, ethical people who are committed to excellence.
6. Remember that even a 1% daily innovation rate amounts to at least a 100% rate of innovation in 100 days.
7. Believe in your dreams (even when others laugh at them).
8. Measure your success, not by your net worth but by your self worth (and how happy you feel).
9. Take an intelligent risk every 24 hours. No try-No Win.
10. Read “Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist“.
11. Watch “Man on Wire“.
12. Regardless of your title at work, be a team builder.
13. Remember that business is all about relationships and human connections.
14. Say “please” more.
15. Say “thank you” more.
16. Know your Big 5: the five things that need to happen by the end of this year for you to feel its been your best year yet.
17. Read your Big 5 every morning while the rest of the world is asleep.
18. Read “As You Think“. At least twice this year.
19. Be willing to fail. It’s the price of greatness.
20. Focus less on making money and more on creating value.
If you want to read the remaining ways to make 2010 your best year ever, then go to Robin Sharma’s blog.
Have a joyous day!
Joy
4 comments January 8, 2010
Pancake Syrup Substitute Recipe – YUM
Photo Credit: L. Martin
If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to cut out refined sugar, then you will love this recipe because it adds sweetness to a dish without all the calories. Cutting out sugar is a fantastic idea when you consider all the reasons why sugar is not good for us — from expanding our waistline to lowering our immune system and more.
Read more here:
http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/01/07/healthier-than-syrup-on-pancakes-delicious-sugar-substitute-rec/
1 comment January 7, 2010
5 Strategies to Fit Exercise Into Your Life
If you are feeling a little overwhelmed with the craziness of life — career, kids, spouse, family and errands, you are not alone. Studies prove that when women are stressed, the first two things they sacrifice are sleep and exercise. And it’s no wonder we are stressed because these are the very things we NEED to help us better manage stress.
Finding time to exercise doesn’t have to be a chore. Try these five strategies for making it a priority in your life…
+++Joy is a writer for AOL’s That’s Fit. Here’s the remaining article here: http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/01/04/5-strategies-to-fit-exercise-into-your-life/
Add comment January 4, 2010
