10 Natural Aphrodisiacs to Turn Up the Heat

10 Natural Aphrodisiacs to Turn Up the Heat
Monday, February 09, 2009

Lose the chocolates and roses this Valentine’s Day. Instead, heat up the sheets with these 10 natural aphrodisiacs. They’re sure to rev up limp libido. Plus rate your sex drive with our quiz…
Doing the deed regularly will improve your relationship and help you live longer. But what if you’re feeling less punch in your pajamas these days?
The levels of sex hormones in your body affect sexual vitality, stamina and arousal. Stress plays a role too. So does working late every night or chasing the kids all day.
Thus it’s no surprise that almost half the married couples in America have sex only a few times a month. Fortunately, you can bring back heat between the sheets with some natural remedies that you can find at most health food stores, pharmacies or online:
Ladies Come First
1. Peppermint Soap or ShampooWomen will love this simple, quick trick to heighten stimulation, especially if the Big O is elusive. And for those lucky ladies who easily reach orgasm, peppermint products may help you become multi-orgasmic.
Buy natural peppermint soap made with pure essential oil for a cheap, easy enhancer. Dr. Bronner’s liquid or bar soaps are a good choice (www.DrBronner.com). Take a shower and get some down under. The cooling effect increases sexual pleasure and intensity.
Also, try topical gels and creams with peppermint extract. Vigel, a popular product sold at most pharmacies and online (www.vigel.net), has peppermint oil and arginine, which increase sexual stimulation.
Watch out: Skip artificially-scented products that just contain perfume and chemicals. Only peppermint extract will prime the pump. Use it carefully at first: Some women find peppermint or arginine-based products a bit too stimulating.
2. ZestraThis feminine arousal liquid may arouse without irritating sensitive parts. Zestra (www.zestra.com) contains plant-derived ingredients, such as borage oil, angelica extract, vitamins E and C. Apply it to the vaginal area during foreplay to lubricate and heighten arousal.
Watch out: Zestra doesn’t taste good, so if oral sex is part of the plan, apply it to the clitoris afterward.
3. Passion RxSome over-the-counter supplements contain herbs and vitamins that may rev up sex drive. Active ingredients include: Tribulus terrestris, tongkat ali, ashwagandha, rhodiola, catuaba bark, yohimbe, maca or eleuthero extract. These aren’t immediate enhancers, but taken routinely, or according to label directions, supplements with these ingredients may pep up your passion over time.
One oral supplement, formulated by Ray Sahelian, M.D., (www.RaySahelian.com) may help correct hormone imbalances and increase libido. (Guys, you can take it too!)
Watch out: Some OTC sex supplements containing yohimbe may spike blood pressure in sensitive people. Also, some herbal combinations may interact with certain medications. Ask your doctor and pharmacist if these supplements are safe for you. Start with a low dose and work your way up.
4. FertiliTeaThis blend of herbs, including raspberry leaf, nettle and chasteberry (vitex), may improve fertility in women, increase libidio and balance hormones. FertiliTea (www.FertiliTea.com) may also help women with ovulation difficulties. If sipped daily, you may see results within two weeks.
Watch out: Don’t take it if you become pregnant.
5. CinnamonThis spice has been shown to increase sex drive over time and, in women, reduce urinary tract infections. The benefits come from its ability to lower high blood sugar, which restricts blood flow to the vagina (and the penis). So, if you can control your blood sugar, you’ll have better sex.
Cinnamon is not an immediate aphrodisiac, but it’s still reason enough to say yes to warm cinnamon buns for desert. And you have nothing to lose by adding a teaspoonful of fresh cinnamon to your morning coffee or bran muffin each day.
Watch out: Sprinkle cinnamon onto your food, but only use a teaspoonful. Too much of this good thing is dangerous, especially if inhaled or taken dry. You also don’t want to eat a spoonful, because it can trigger vomiting.
Men, You’re Up!Prescription drugs such as Viagra and Cialis might have an uplifting effect, but taking sex pills is like jump-starting your car every two miles instead of just fixing the battery. Problems, such as low testosterone, elevated cortisol, hypothyroidism, high cholesterol or high blood sugar, may cause erectile dysfunction.
These supplements may rev up your sex drive and address some of those underlying issues:
1. Saw Palmetto (serenoa repens) Men with prostate problems, such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate, respond best to saw palmetto. Studies prove it eases weak flow, night urges (to urinate, that is) and that awful sense that you haven’t emptied your bladder.
Saw palmetto helps nourish the prostate gland and stimulate production of the sex hormone testosterone. As a bonus, saw palmetto may also help slow down male pattern baldness. Take 160 mg twice a day, and make sure your product contains at least 85% fatty acids. (Ladies, you can take it too!)
Watch out: Saw palmetto may cause bad breath, insomnia, diarrhea or constipation in sensitive people. It may enhance blood flow, so be careful, especially if you take Coumadin (warfarin), Lovenox, Plavix, aspirin and other blood thinners. Ask your pharmacist if it’s safe for you.
2. Hot Plants This herbal supplement contains nutrients clinically proven to help increase sexual satisfaction. It’s available in “him” and “her” formulas. Some of the ingredients in this product include horny goat weed, tongkat ali, Panax ginseng, rhodiola and maca, all of which are thought to support sexual health.
The supplement may reignite sexual desire, improve performance and heighten erotic pleasure. It claims to begin to work within a week or two, and nourishes adrenal glands, the prostate gland and your circulatory system.
Watch out: Hot Plants’ ingredients may interact with medications, so ask your doctor or pharmacist if it’s safe for you.
For more erotic herbs and oils, check out Nature's Rx for Better Sex.3. L-arginineArginine is ideal for men with hypertension (or coronary artery disease) and erectile dysfunction. This natural amino acid works much like Viagra, helping open up blood vessels that lead to the penis (and the heart), improving blood flow and ultimately, performance. It is found in many sex supplements, like VasoRect (www.amazon.com, www.walgreens.com) and Libido Tonight (www.RapidNutritionProducts.com).
You can take arginine orally with your daily vitamins, or apply cream on the penis for immediate action. Arginine is safe for women too.
Watch out: If you have herpes – fever blisters or the genital sort – arginine can increase your risk for an outbreak. Sex supplements containing arginine may have herbs and ingredients that can interact with medication. Check with your physician if these multi-tasking supplements are safe for you.
4. Ginkgo Biloba This centuries-old herb improves blood flow to the brain, heart and all your good parts to help obtain and maintain an erection. Ginkgo could be a good antidote to the pesky sexual side effects of antidepressants, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Prozac, Wellbutrin and others.
For other drugs that could put a damper on your sex drive, click here.
Take about 40 mg to 80 mg twice daily, and be sure your product contains 24% “ginkgo heterosides,” a potent antioxidant that also reduces free radicals. It’s safe for women too.
Watch out: Ginkgo biloba is a strong blood thinner, and may interact with Coumadin (warfarin), Lovenox, Plavix, aspirin and other blood thinners. Ask your pharmacist if it’s safe for you.
5. Pumpkin SeedsThese seeds are high in zinc, which has been shown to increase fertility and sex drive. Oysters are also incredibly rich in this mineral. But because you might not want to eat slimy critters every day, pumpkin seeds are a great alternative.
They’re also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which clean up arteries and capillaries – the ones that lead to your nether regions.
Eat ’em right out of the bag, sprinkle them on salads or grind pumpkin seeds and mix them with flour when breading chicken and other foods. Ladies, you can toss back a handful too!
Also, try zinc supplements or lozenges. Take one per day, any flavor.
Watch out: Some brands of pumpkin seeds contain artificial colorants and chemicals, so check the label for additives.
Want more? Get your own copy of The 24-Hour Pharmacist or Drug Muggers: How to Keep Your Medicine from Stealing the Life Out of You!Learn more about Suzy Cohen at DearPharmacist.com. Plus, meet Suzy Cohen.

Egg intake linked to diabetes risk

Egg intake linked to diabetes risk
Monday, February 02, 2009

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who sit down to a daily breakfast of eggs may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.
In a long-term study of 57,000 U.S. adults, researchers found that those who ate an egg a day were 58 percent to 77 percent more likely than non-egg-eaters to develop type 2 diabetes.
The findings, published in the journal Diabetes Care, do not necessarily mean that eggs themselves put people on a path to diabetes, according to the researchers. But they do suggest it is wise to limit your egg intake.
"Based on the current data, our recommendations would be to consume eggs in moderation and not to exceed six eggs per week," lead researcher Dr. Luc Djousse, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, told Reuters Health.
The study does not explain exactly why eggs are linked to diabetes, but cholesterol may play a role. The study participants' daily cholesterol intake was also related to diabetes risk, and when the researchers factored this in, the relationship between egg intake and diabetes weakened.
In animal studies, high-fat diets have been shown to raise levels of blood sugar and the sugar-regulating hormone insulin -- suggesting a way that a cholesterol-heavy diet might promote diabetes.
According to Djousse, it's important for people at risk of type 2 diabetes -- due to factors like family history and obesity -- to pay attention to their overall cholesterol intake, and not just cholesterol from eggs.
Even more important, he noted, is a focus on overall health -- maintaining a normal weight, exercising regularly and eating a well-balanced diet -- rather than any one food or nutrient.
He pointed out that eggs also contain important nutrients like protein, vitamins and minerals, and "good" unsaturated fats.
SOURCE: Diabetes Care, February 2009.

Top 10 tips for getting fit

Top 10 tips for getting fit

Right now, you’re probably feeling the effects of overindulgence, thanks to all those holiday goodies you devoured. So does that mean you should sprint to the gym immediately? No, it’s more important to first spend time building your inner fitness. This will ensure that your commitment to eat more nutritiously and work out more in 2009 aren't empty promises…
Here are 10 steps to help you start the new year on a healthy, fitness-forward note. And be sure to watch for my 8-Minute Fitness Challenge in January!
Step #1: Identify Your GoalAll my successful clients share at least one trait: They plan their goals. It's not enough to just say “I want to lose weight.” You need to outline steps to your goal.
So I want you to take out a notepad and write down these two things: How many pounds do you want to lose? By when do you want to lose this weight? (Divide how much you want to lose by two – losing two pounds a week is healthy and recommended by doctors.)
Committing to a date may sound intimidating, but it will set you on the path to change.
Step #2: Believe Believing in yourself will give you a big advantage. My clients who have lost weight believed failure was not an option for them. They were able to envision a new life filled with health, energy and vitality.
Step #3: Make It a Lifestyle If you try a new fitness or eating plan that isn't sustainable, you won't see lasting results. You have to think of eating smarter or exercising as part of your way of life – a better life.
Step #4: It's Never Too LateAs we get older, we may think it's too late for us to change our health habits. But it’s never too late! Many of my clients are in their 50s and older.
You can take charge of your health and energy today. It's not about age, but making smart choices. About 80% of your wellness success will come from what you eat and drink. No matter your age or level of fitness, you can make smarter eating choices starting now.
Step #5: Thinking Negative Thoughts? Oops! As difficult a lesson this is, you must first accept your body – with all its quirks and inconveniences – before you can change it. Take a moment to reflect upon your feelings about your body. Often, when I ask my clients to do this, a slew of negative thoughts crosses their minds.
Nasty thoughts can unravel your best intentions. They erode your self-confidence and motivation to succeed. You must get past them to experience true, lasting results.
So when you find yourself thinking something bad about yourself, just say “oops” out loud. It may sound silly, but it’s a great reminder to stop negative thoughts in their tracks and return to positive thinking.
Remember, your body is a precious gift!
Step #6: Harness the Power of FrustrationFrustration can create a powerful desire for change. In fact, it’s one of the most valuable motivational tools. Think about how being unfit has cost you, whether in your career, intimate relationship or family life. How many activities have you missed because you physically couldn’t do them? How often have you stayed home because you felt too ashamed or embarrassed about your body?
Be honest with yourself. Explore every aspect of your life in which inactivity and overeating has held you back. Then pick up a pen and let your dissatisfaction tumble onto the pages of your journal. (If you don’t already write in a journal, start one!)
Once you’re done, you’ll have the genesis of your success in front of you. Use it to propel you toward your goals.
Step #7: Start Your Day with SunshineOpen your curtains when you go to bed at night. That way, your room will become gradually lighter as the sun rises, slowly arousing your body and mind out of sleep. You’ll be alert long before your alarm clock sounds – no more waking up to that annoying buzzer! You’ll awaken happy, refreshed and ready to start the day.
Step #8: Cut Back on TV-Watching All of us have what I call a Loser Zone, where we spend way too much time. You fall into this zone when you do something that produces no significant improvement in your life.
Can you guess what the #1 Loser Zone activity for Americans is? If you said watching television, you’re right!
The average American spends 30 hours a week staring at the boob tube. You may enjoy zoning out to your favorite shows, but think how much you could accomplish with that time. Even if you just cut your daily TV time by one hour, you’d have seven extra hours a week.
Step #9: Hang with the Right CrowdSurround yourself with happy, successful people whose goals you share. We tend to emulate the behavior of the people around us, either consciously or subconsciously. If you spend time with fit, health-conscious people, you’ll be inspired to adopt their ways. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t spend time with friends whose habits you don’t admire; just wisely choose when and where you socialize with them.
Step #10: You're Not Perfect – So Stop Trying to Be!Perfection is not only unrealistic, but it’s also a huge burden. Perfectionists may start out with the best intentions – wanting to better themselves or their situation – but they end up as control freaks. When something minor goes wrong, they feel like it’s the end of the world. This creates a level of stress that’ll drive anyone batty!
When it comes to your body, you need to learn to accept your imperfections.
Maybe you compare yourself to glossy photos of supermodels. Guess what? They’re airbrushed to look perfect. In real life, they have imperfections, problem areas and bad hair days just like everyone else. So remember: Nobody’s perfect… and that’s the beauty of it.
Here's to your health in 2009! Visit jorgecruise.com for more smart choices you can make to start living a healthier life. Plus, download a free copy of his new Belly Fat Cure report.
Want more? Meet Jorge Cruise.

10 Tips to beat Depression

10 Tips to beat Depression

Looking for a blue-mood pick-me-up? Don’t crawl back into bed with the sheets over your head. Check out our 10 ways to beat the blues. Plus, could you be depressed? Take our quiz to find out…

1. Unload Your Schedule

Between driving carpool, working, volunteering at the kids’ school and managing your daily to-do list, your life is a whirlwind. Not only is that exhausting, but it also can make even the fun stuff un-fun. And work overload can cause depression, says Harold Levinson, M.D, a New York-based psychiatrist and neurologist.
So why do we say “yes” in the first place?
“As humans, we’re inherently social,” says Catherine Birndorf, M.D., founding director of the Payne Whitney Women’s Program at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “The problem is that party or bake sale is part of a week that includes 20 other things.”
What’s the solution?
Prioritize. “Look at the bigger picture,” Birndorf says. Which activities do you really want to do and will they realistically fit into your schedule?

2. Laugh MoreLaughter really is the best medicine.

Studies have shown that simply putting a smile on your face will make you feel better physically. It’ll send serotonin levels soaring, making you feel great all over.
So put some fun in your life, whether it's reading a good book or learning to parasail. Even simpler, learn some new jokes and share them with co-workers – just keep it clean so you don’t get in trouble!

3. Avoid Alcohol

Your social calendar is jam-packed with happy-hour drink specials and cocktails with the girls. A drink or two may keep the mood festive, but they’ll also have you belting out post-party pity tunes. Why?
“Alcohol is actually a central nervous system depressant,” Birndorf says.
Besides, you’ll pay the next day with a hangover. “You’re not as functional as usual, which can make you feel even worse,” she says.
So pace yourself, experts say. If you have three get-togethers in one week, decide how many drinks you’ll have at each and alternate between cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. Also, fill your tummy with food to cut alcohol’s impact.
4. Accentuate the PositiveFocus on the good things in your life, especially when you feel buried under by stress and worry.
“You’re much more in control once you take a step back and look at what’s going on and what you might do to help yourself feel better,” says Donna Colabella, a clinician at the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester in New Hampshire.
Is work getting to you? Take a time-out: Turn away from the task at hand, close your eyes for a minute and think about something in your life that makes you happy.
It may be as small as a new pair of shoes or as big as having good health. Hold on to the thought, and visualize something you’re looking forward to – maybe an evening out with friends or a date with a hot new guy.
5. Food, Glorious FoodCertain vitamins and nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids, play a role in changing the brain chemistry that affects your mood.
“Studies have shown that there’s some mood benefit from eating foods high in omega-3 fatty acids,” says Jill Weisenberger, LifeScript nutrition expert and a nutritionist at National Clinical Research – Norfolk, Va.
Fatty cold-water fish, such as salmon, anchovies, herring and mackerel, are one of the best sources of omega-3s. But “women of childbearing potential or nursing mothers shouldn’t eat mackerel because of its high mercury content,” Weisenberger says.
B vitamins – especially B6, B12 and folic acid – may also help. So eat foods such as sunflower seeds, oranges, beets and leafy green vegetables every day to avoid mood swings.
Vitamin D offers a double dose of nutritional goodness. It can cut the risk of osteoporosis and may lift seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depression that typically occurs in winter, when there are fewer hours of sunshine.
6. Don’t Deny the PainTrying to get through life when missing a loved one – especially the first year or two – can trigger depression and loneliness. The same holds true if your children are with the ex or a close friend or family member has moved away.
You can’t avoid the pain, says psychotherapist Richard O'Connor, Ph.D., LifeScript’s depression expert and author of Happy at Last (St. Martin’s Press, 2008). “What makes the difference is what you do with those feelings.”
Be honest with yourself. “If you try to deny the pain, stuff it away and put on a happy face, it’ll get to you, often as depression,” O’Connor says.
Instead, acknowledge that you’re missing someone and share your feelings with a trusted friend or family member.
Find a way to connect to your absent loved one, Birndorf says. Little reminders of them may help. For example, wear a piece of your grandmother’s jewelry or make your son’s favorite recipe.
7. Try an Alternative ApproachAromatherapy Breathe in and soothe your mood with aromatherapy using concentrated essential oils from plants. Those that may help include clary sage, bergamot, geranium, lavender, lemon and rose.
Dilute them with vegetable oil and massage into your skin, add a few drops to the bath, or warm them over a diffuser (the heat will spread the scent throughout the room).
AcupunctureMany acupuncture practitioners also encourage meditation and relaxation during the session, which can help clear the mind of stress and negative thoughts. Acupuncture may also give some patients a new appreciation of their body’s capabilities and strengths.
Make sure your acupuncturist is certified; many acupuncturists are also medical doctors.
8. Understand Your SymptomsIf you are still having trouble beating the blahs, you may be clinically depressed. See a doctor if you have at least six of the following 10 symptoms: - Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or emptiness - Decreased appetite and weight loss - Insomnia, waking up early in the morning or oversleeping - Restlessness - Fatigue or less energy - Feelings of hopelessness and pessimism - Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness or excessive guilt - Loss of interest or pleasure in once-enjoyable activities - Difficulty concentrating, remembering and making decisions - Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
9. Talk to Your DocYour doctor can determine if medication is a treatment option, says Josh Klapow, Ph.D., associate professor of health care organization and policy at the University of Alabama in Birmingham and co-author of Living SMART: Five Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever (DiaMedica Publications, 2007).
Antidepressants relieve depression by working on brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Those chemicals – serotonin and norepinephrine – give you that “happy feeling” and raising their levels can help boost your mood.
Here are three classes of antidepressants your doctor may prescribe:
Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs): These are the newest class of antidepressants − they include Cymbalta, Effexor and Pristiq − that increase the activity of both serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain. Unlike older antidepressants, SSNRIs can be prescribed at full dose immediately, so you may feel better faster. Common side effects include diminished appetite and sexual function and sleepiness or insomnia.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These antidepressants, which include Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, boost only serotonin levels and have fewer side effects than other antidepressants. Side effects include dry mouth, nausea, nervousness, insomnia, headache and sexual dysfunction.
Tricyclics: Like SSNRIs, this older family of medications – including Elavil, Norpramin and Tofranil – affects both serotonin and norepinephrine levels. However, tricyclics are dosed gradually and take longer to provide relief. Side effects are also more severe, including dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, difficulty urinating, impaired thinking and fatigue.
10. Think about TherapyResearch shows that medication and therapy together are more effective than either by itself, says O’Connor.
“Medication can help more quickly than therapy alone and can help to prevent the out-of-control mood swings that will come during recovery,” O’Connor says. “Therapy can help us resolve the problems that led to the depression and teach us how to prevent future episodes.”
When looking for a therapist, consider these questions:
- Does gender matter to me? - Does he or she accept my insurance? - What is the attendance policy? - Where is the office located? For more information, check out our Depression Health Center.