The diet that boosts your love life
Eat your way to a better sex life. The right food might not make you a red-hot lover - but it just might help. By Ellie Evans
For those of us who could use a little libido pick-me-up, the supermarket might be a good place to start.
Catherine Zeta Jones was among the first of Hollywood's A-listers to spark interest in eating to boost your sex life when she put her 62-year-old hubby Michael Douglas on a 'virility diet', packed with liver, avocado, asparagus, spinach and beetroot.
Like many aspects of our health, our sex drive is affected by what we put into our bodies. A few glasses of wine, too much chocolate in the office and lots of snacks on the sofa may sound tasty, but it is actually a recipe for sleep - not sex.
So do both of you a favour, and take the decision to overhaul your diet; the kitchen is a great place to kick-start a better sex life.
Try cooking meatballs for your man in a delicious rich tomato sauce - the lycopene in tomatoes protects the prostate, and the meatballs are packed full of zinc which can reduce impotence and increase fertility. Low levels of vitamin C can also cause sperm to clump together which can lead to infertility, so make sure he has plenty of fresh fruit and veg.
Eating grapes is great for keeping your heart healthy, breakfast cereals enhance blood flow, blueberries help nerve function which increases sensation, and almonds contain vitamin E which keeps sperm healthy.
Tuck into soya beans, as soya stimulates oestrogen receptors which combats symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flushes.
Spices will also pep up your love life - try chilli, which triggers the release of endorphins and stimulates nerve endings, or ginger, believed to improve circulation to the genitals, which could improve sexual pleasure.
Olive oil, salmon and nuts are optimal sources of the good fats, Omega 3 and 6, which will help you feel great and ready for anything.
This diet isn't just about picking the right foods to feel sexy, it's also about giving your body a boost to provide you with the energy you may be lacking for those bedroom gymnastics that were the norm when you first met your partner.
And as you lose weight you will feel more confident about your body - and more comfortable about showing it off! Plus making love itself is also a great way to lose weight. Sex is the ultimate exercise machine because it's free, fun and has obvious physical benefits.
See page 2 for the two-week love life diet eating plan
It'll help you get back that spark with your loved one - and we've thrown in a sex tip for each day to hot things up in the bedroom too.
