Look no further than the produce section if lust is on the shopping list. New studies show that watermelon can have the same blood flow benefits as the wildly popular erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. According to scientists, watermelon has ingredients that deliver Viagra-like effects to the body’s blood vessels, and may even increase libido.

Watermelon contains an ingredient called citrulline. Citrulline reacts with enzymes to trigger the body's release of a chemical called arginine. The result of increased arginine levels is relaxed blood vessels, scientists at Texas A&M say the effect is similar Viagra. While citrulline is found in all parts of the watermelon, the rind is 60 percent richer in the ingredient. And even higher doses are found in yellow-fleshed watermelons.

Arginine is an amino acid that has beneficial effects on the heart and circulation system, and maintains a good immune system. Arginine also boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture study corroborates the claims saying watermelon can also help with angina, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. It's a fantastic homeopathic supplement to medical treatment. Additionally, watermelon is packed with key nutrients like lycopene, beta carotene, and other phytonutrients that help combat free radicals in the body which leads to cancer.

One known side effects of too much watermelon intakes is its diuretic effect, not to mention all that water that might have a person running to the loo more frequently. It would take a lot of watermelon to increase the body's level of arginine, about six cups worth. Watermelon is also high in sugar which could affect those with blood sugar issues.


Tagged as: love, aphrodisiac, watermelon

A good diet is important for a good health to keep all systems functioning well, including our sex drive. But most of the time the food we eat, may lack all the vital nutrients or may not be readily absorbed by the body. Taking dietary supplements gives an optimum intake of vitamins and minerals you may lack from your diet and some of these supplements provide an essential source for a healthy reproductive and active sex life. These micronutrients are crucial in maintaining a healthy reproduction and an active libido.

So what vitamins improve libido? Here we will look at them as well as some minerals you can take as supplements to increase your libido dramatically.

Zinc – This mineral is essential for healthy sexual function and the health of the sexual organs. In men, zinc is highly concentrated in the prostate gland and sperm. That’s because it is required for the production of testosterone as well as several hormones involved with genital function. It has been used to treat infertility. Low zinc levels have been correlated with delayed sexual maturation, lower testosterone levels and semen quality, prostatitis (infections of the prostate gland), infertility and sexual dysfunction.

Magnesium – Magnesium is a trace mineral that is important for the production of sex hormones such as androgen, estrogen and neurotransmitters that modulate the sex drive - such as dopamine and nor-epinephrine. It’s also involved in the transportation of oxygen in your muscle tissues which is important during erection. Magnesium promotes muscle strength and endurance. What is really great is that it also is proven to promote relaxation which is important for a more conducive atmosphere for one hot bout in bed.

Manganese – The metabolism of the female hormone oestrogen depends on manganese. It follows that a deficiency of manganese will significantly reduce fertility in women. It has a positive effect on the libido by increasing energy levels and the brain's ability to receive and send messages. It also helps the reproductive organs to work properly because of its effect on tissues and nerves.

Selenium – It is important for sperm production and motility. Around 50% of the selenium in a man is in the testes and seminal ducts and men lose selenium in their semen. Getting enough selenium is vital for peak sexual performance. For women, this mineral is vital to ensure the production of healthy egg cells.

L-arginine – Known as “natures Viagra”. It doesn’t only bolster the immune system and increases growth hormones; it also increases the amount of nitric oxide in the body which is very critical for an erection to take place. A study published in 1994 showed an 80% improvement in the erectile function of men given 2.8 grams of arginine a day for a period of two weeks.

L-tyrosine – Tyrosine supports and assists neurotransmitters in the brain. An amino acid or building block of protein, Tyrosine is frequently used to alleviate depression which can be a major block to normal sexual drive and enjoyment. Tyrosine is believed to decrease reactions to stress, stimulate the sex drive and have aphrodisiac properties.

Vitamin A – Retinol helps regulate the synthesis of the sex hormone progesterone. Furthermore, it is important for the production of oestrogen and testosterone. It regulates sexual growth, development, and reproduction by turning on genes in response to sex hormone triggers. Proper amounts of vitamin A can mean healthy sperm and virility. It also maintains the health of the epithelial tissues which line all the external and internal surfaces of the body, including the linings of the vagina and the uterus in women.

Vitamin B – All of the B vitamins are involved with production of energy, metabolism and synthesis of hormones. B vitamins may be the most important nutrient for healthy function of the nerves. Lack of sensory function can directly lead to lack of sexual fulfillment. Lower levels of B vitamins mean lower levels of sex hormones and lower libido.


Vitamin C – Ascorbate participates in the synthesis of the critical hormones that are involved in sex and fertility namely - androgen, estrogen and progesterone. Recent studies revealed that ascorbic vitamin C might improve production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is important in the erection for males and heightened sexual sensitivity in the genitals for women.

Vitamin E – Often referred to as the sex vitamin, vitamin E is a powerful anti-aging antioxidant that protects cell membranes from free-radical damage. It is required for the synthesis of hormones and hormone like substances known as prostaglandins. Vitamin E plays a key role in production of sex hormones and protects it from oxidation and degradation.

Taking these dietary supplements are especially important to improve and boost a flagging libido linked with stress, ill health, fatigue, mental exhaustion, smoking and even excessive alcohol intake. But we must stress finally that you need to live a healthy lifestyle that means no heavy drinking smoking or recreational drugs. These are all known sex drive killers. If you are in good health and take the above supplements you should see an increase in both sexual desire and performance.


Tagged as: love, sex, libido, vitamins

Manganese is an essential element that is necessary for the normal activity of the brain and acts as a catalyst for certain enzymes to work in the body. Though only found in trace amounts in the body, good health is impossible without it. A deficiency of this mineral could lead to several malfunctioning problems within your system which could include poor libido and fertility.

Also called the "brain mineral", manganese is important in the utilization of all mental functions. It aids memory and other brain and nerve faculties keeping it healthy and fit all the time. Manganese supplements can help strengthen the immune system of people diagnosed with depression. It also strengthens tissues, ligaments, and linings in the outside of organs. If the human body is well supplied with manganese, various tissues, cells and nerves become more ductile, tensile, and elastic. This mineral also has the ability to increase our resistance and recuperative ability; and, like iron, aids in oxygen transfer from lungs to cells. It is also thought to be involved in balancing blood sugar levels.

Manganese makes up part of a molecule known as mucopolysaccharides, which are used to form collagen, the strong fibrous connective material that builds tissue, bone, and cartilage. This mesh of collagen is the framework on which calcium, magnesium, and other bone hardening minerals are deposited. This mineral is required to have healthy bones. Women with low bone density, or osteoporosis, have mostly been associated with low level of manganese. Changing their diet to one rich in the cereal may strengthen bones and lower the risk of the bone disorder. Manganese deficiency could also lead a serious case of multiple sclerosis.

Apart from maintaining the health of our nerves and lubrication to the joints, manganese is also needed to make use of protein in the diet and aids the formation of sex hormones. It has a positive effect on the libido by increasing energy levels and the brain's ability to receive and send messages. It also helps the reproductive organs to work properly because of its effect on tissues and nerves. To produce the hormone estrogen, the body depends on manganese. It follows that a deficiency of manganese will significantly reduce fertility in women and hormonal balance in men which greatly affects libido. It can also help reduce menstrual cramps and PMS.

Human diets with too little manganese can lead to slowed blood clotting, skin problems, changes in hair color, lowered cholesterol levels, and other alterations in metabolism. Other symptoms of manganese deficiency may include: Carpal-tunnel Syndrome, deafness, depression, gout, hearing problems, infertility, loss of libido in both sexes, lack of concentration, memory loss or mental confusion, miscarriage or still births, Multiple Sclerosis, nerve problems, poor muscle coordination, PMS, retarded growth rate, ringing in the ears (Tinnitus), stiff tendons, stuttering, and tremors.

Generally, manganese supplements are considered unnecessary as simply maintaining a well-balanced diet rich in magnesium is enough to keep an individual healthy. Spinach, chestnuts, tea, oats, wholegrain cereals, wheatgerm, raisins, pineapple, beans, peas and nuts are all good sources of manganese. You could also get your supply of this mineral from desiccated coconut and brown rice. Certain vitamins like C, B1, E, K and the mineral zinc helps improve the absorption of manganese while too much calcium and phosphorus would interrupt the body's absorption of this mineral. The use of antibiotics, alcohol and taking too much refined foods in your diet could also reduce the amount of manganese stored in the body. Manganese supplements and medication are usually done to people suffering from extreme cases of manganese deficiency as prescribed by their physicians.

Manganese is one of the least toxic minerals and no RDA suggestion has been set. 2-5 mg is considered to be adequate for normal healthy adults. However, doses up to 10mg daily are still considered to be safe because the body simply doesn't absorb the mineral. This is the case of manganese entering our system through digestion, of course.

Digested manganese interacts with the body very differently than inhaled manganese. When manganese is ingested (eaten) the body is much better at regulating the manganese levels and ridding itself of excess manganese. However, when inhaled, the manganese remains in the blood stream long enough that it penetrates the blood-brain barrier and causes brain damage.

Some individuals exposed to very high levels of manganese for long periods of time in their work developed mental and emotional disturbances and slow and clumsy body movements. This combination of symptoms is a disease called "manganism." Workers usually do not develop symptoms of manganism unless they have been exposed to manganese for many months or years. Manganism occurs because too much manganese injures a part of the brain that controls deliberate body movements (i.e., walking, swallowing, and speaking).


Tagged as: love, sex, vitamins, manganese

Did you know that vitamin A is actually responsible for our sexuality? Without proper amounts of vitamin A, the gonads can't manufacture our sex hormones. These hormones regulate our sexual desires and abilities. For males proper amounts of vitamin A can mean healthy sperm and virility. For females it means responsiveness, and the ability to conceive, and to carry the fetus to full term in the womb.

Vitamin A is an essential human nutrient which is commonly attributed to better vision, healthy skin and bone growth (besides calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium). But besides these, it is also involved in many of our body’s processes such as cell growth and development, immune function, reproduction, embryonic development, reduction of heart diseases and cancer, and its antioxidant activity. In fact, it doesn’t only reduce the possibility of cancer but some sources are also citing its ability to cure both cancer and leukemia even better than chemotherapy.

Vitamin A is required for our gonads to convert cholesterol into sex hormone to release it to the blood stream and increase our sexual desire. It is involved in the production of sex hormones like progesterone, estrogen and testosterone. This vitamin is also responsible for the health of the mucous membranes and responsible in fact, for the entire epithelial package inside and out.

Without vitamin A, the outer covering of ovaries in women, and the prostate gland in men stops producing mucus and sex hormones. The covering hardens (no mucus) and cannot function properly (no sex hormones). A domino effect comes into action and your whole reproductive system is in danger. Because of this, men's sperm count can decrease, and women's fertility can go down if they are not getting sufficient vitamin A. Women can experience a reduction in sexual desire, lower fertility, and more problems with the delivery of their children. Vitamin A not only causes reproductive cells to secrete mucus, but also causes most other cells in your body to secrete mucus. This mucus protects the cell from invading bacteria and viruses. This is an important part of the immune system and can even protect against cancer. Some doctors and scientists think that some forms of cancer are caused by viruses. When the cell membranes are coated in mucus, they stay intact longer, extending the cell life and keeps you looking young.

For many women menorrhagia, or excessively prolonged menstrual periods, can cause anemia, and the cramps can be at the least, debilitating. But there is almost no other problem associated with a woman's cycles that can't be corrected by simply getting proper amounts and dosages of the vitamins A and E. Studies have shown that women suffering from this condition were invariably always deficient in vitamin A. In a study, these women were given 60,000 IU of vitamin A per day for a month, 90 per cent of them were cured. The other 10% saw remarkable improvement. Pain, spotting and irregularity also were corrected or dramatically improved creating over all better health.

People who are heavy drinkers often have problems with their vision. That’s because ninety percent of all the vitamin A in your body is stored in the liver. Alcohol kills your liver, and not as much of the vitamin can be stored there. Alcohol also makes you urinate a whole lot of vitamins, including A. If you are a heavy drinker and cannot cut back, you might consider eating more foods rich in vitamin A.

Vitamin A is found in quite high amounts in oil-rich fish such as herring and mackerel and in shellfish such as oysters. Liver, egg, yolk, cheese, butter, squash and carrots are also good sources of vitamin A. Vitamin A can occur in two different forms - as retinol, which is easily absorbed by the body, or as carotenoids, which are less easily absorbed and have only 50% of the absorption rate of retinol.

Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin. That means it is eaten, absorbed, transported and stored with fat. You must be careful when cutting out a lot of fat in your diet, not to cut out the A and all the other fat soluble vitamins. Even if you eat a healthy diet, you may be getting less vitamin A than you think. Processing takes vitamin A out of foods, and additives kill it. Most refined foods are much lower in vitamins than "the real thing". Cooking can also render much of the vitamin A in foods useless. You can get more carotene from steamed carrots than raw, though. Boiling, however, makes A inactive. You should be careful how you prepare your foods, so you can get the full amount of vitamins possible.

As vitamin A is fat-soluble, disposing of any excesses taken in through diet is much harder than with water-soluble vitamins B and C. As such, vitamin A toxicity can result. This can lead to nausea, jaundice, irritability, anorexia (not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, the eating disorder), vomiting, blurry vision, headaches, muscle and abdominal pain and weakness, drowsiness and altered mental status. These toxicities only occur with preformed (retinoid) vitamin A (such as from liver and supplements). The carotenoid forms (such as beta-carotene as found in carrots), give no such symptoms, but excessive dietary intake of beta-carotene can lead to carotenodermia, which causes orange-yellow discoloration of the skin.

Recommended daily allowance of vitamin A are as follows:
(Infant 0-1 years) - 375 RE
(1-3) - 400 RE
(4-6) - 500 RE
(7-10) - 700 RE
(11+ (men)) - 1000 RE
(11+ (women)) - 800 RE
Pregnant - 800 RE
Lactating 1st 6 months - 1300 RE
Lactating 2nd 6 months - 1200 RE

*RE = retinol equivalent
*1 microgram of retinol (animal vitamin A) = 1RE
*6 micrograms of beta-carotene (most common plant vitamin A) = 1RE
*12 micrograms of other provitamin A carotenoids (plant vitamin A) = 1RE


Tagged as: love, sex, vitamin A