By Donna Moore

Just because your mind is in the mood for sex doesn’t mean your body is ready. Libido is affected by many factors, including diet and overall health. With these foods and recipes, however, you and your partner can sync up your sex drives by eating indulgent and exotic foods like caviar or oysters, or everyday foods like almonds and avocados that secretly work overtime to get you in the mood.

Romantic Recipes

For date night, try out these romantic recipes and ingredients that are ideal for getting your mind and body ready for bed.

1. Foie gras: Foie gras is often associated with decadence, and it’s also a natural libido booster.
2. Wild salmon: Wild salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for circulation and the brain.
3. Caviar: Impress your date with caviar, a first-class food that contains omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A, which work together to stimulate testosterone.
4. Low Fat Recipes: Meals that are low in saturated fat are good for overall sexual performance, especially in men, who want to keep their erections.
5. Olive oil: Cook with olive oil, a healthy substitute for saturated fat that still gives your body enough cholesterol to produce testosterone and estrogen.
6. Sweet potatoes: Sweet potatoes contain Vitamin E, which is a vitamin that is excellent for the heart and libido because it prevents cellular waste, slows down menopausal symptoms and is a source of estrogen.
7. Brown rice: Brown rice contains protein, Vitamin E and is good for your heart, too.
8. Halibut: Fish like halibut are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are good for sexual health in general.
9. Chicken broth: Here you can find a recipe for chicken broth that is loaded with libido-enhancing ingredients like cayenne pepper, onion, chives, tumeric and more.
10. Strawberries: According to this article, strawberries are rich in fiber, which helps blood flow, and vitamin C, which keeps erections strong by fighting free radicals. They’re also a romantic food that go well with chocolate and champagne.

Sources of Zinc and Protein

Protein is one of the main ingredients of the heart-healthy sex diet. It boosts sperm production in men and is also great for increasing your stamina.

11. Oysters: Oysters are rich in zinc, which boosts sperm production, as well as dopamine, which can increase your libido.
12. Avocado: Make guacamole or add avocado to your salad, because this vegetable metabolizes proteins and increases stamina and energy. Avocados also contain potassium and B6, which are good libido-boosters.
13. Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds are great sources of zinc, so lay some out as snacks before bed.
14. Oats: Holistic nurse practitioner Ellen Kamhi reveals that oats are wonderful for increasing your sex drive because "they contain zinc, proteins and minerals needed to produce healthy seminal fluids."
15. Figs: Figs are rich in amino acids, which can increase libido.
16. Pine nuts: Pine nuts are another great source of zinc.
17. Dried peaches: Dried peaches have the most Vitamin E of any fruit.
18. Peanut butter: Peanut butter contains dietary fiber, protein, Vitamin E and folate.
19. Almonds: Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, protein and zinc, which are all good for helping blood flow, stamina and overall libido.
20. Turkey: Make yourself a turkey sandwich or your date a whole turkey dinner. Turkey is a good source of zinc.

Spices

Add spices like curry, cumin and cayenne pepper to your meals for an instant boost to your blood flow and for heightened sensitivity.

21. Cayenne pepper: You can add cayenne pepper–a warming spice that increases blood flow–to almost any dinner dish, as long as your date is used to hot foods and won’t suffer from indigestion.
22. Chili pepper: Chili pepper improves circulation.
23. Curry: Curry is another spice that warms up your entire body and can make sexual organs more sensitive.
24. Cumin: Cumin is a warm spice that has long been associated with boosting libido.

Beverages

These drinks can also work as aphrodisiacs. Just be careful not to overindulge, or you might feel gassy or lethargic.

25. Skim milk: High in Vitamin E, skim milk can easily be added to cereal, coffee or drunk on its own.
26. Red wine: Red wine promotes blood flow and can instantly boost your desire. Too much can make you sleepy and sloppy, though, so drink in moderation.
27. Champagne: Besides being romantic, champagne is also good for circulation and blood flow.

Easy Snacks

From hard-boiled eggs to granola, this group of snack foods has some surprising aphrodisiacs.

28. Asparagus: Asparagus sometimes gets a bad reputation for making urine smell bad, but if you eat it well ahead of time, it helps with histamine production, which men and women need for orgasms.
29. Bananas: Bananas can instantly boost energy, and they contain the bromelain enzyme, which helps increase men’s libido.
30. Artichokes: Artichokes were apparently considered to be a strong aphrodisiac in the 16th century, and women weren’t even allowed to eat them.
31. Celery: Celery contains androsterone, the same hormone that is released through male perspiration and attracts women.
32. Hard-boiled eggs: Eggs contain B6 and B5, which are especially useful in boosting libido on men and help reduce stress
33. Chocolate: Besides being delicious and a sexy food staple, chocolate, especially dark chocolate, containes antioxidants, serotonin and theobromine, which are stimulants that can improve your mood.
34. Granola: At first, granola doesn’t sound like a sexy food, but mixes full of walnuts, cashews, root vegetables and oatmeal are rich in L-Arginine, which helps male sexual performance.
35. Cinnamon: Sprinkle cinnamon on your yogurt or make your date some cinnamon cookies. Cinnamon is said to be another warming spice.
36. Fruit salad: A Vitamin E-rich fruit salad contains apples, blackberries, apricots, grapes and mangoes.
37. Caffeine: For women, caffeine is being studied as a possible libido booster.
38. Sardines: Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and are especially good for increasing male libido.

Herbs

Cook with herbs like maca, basil and ginger to add extra libido enhancers to any meal.

39. Maca: Maca is an herb that improves stamina and endurance, elevates your mood, reduces menopausal symptoms and reduces erection problems.
40. Ginger: Ginger increases circulation in the genital area.
41. Basil: Basil is a warming herb, promotes circulation, and was once considered by the Greeks to be their royal herb.
42. Korean ginseng: Korean ginseng is a natural stimulant and when taken over long periods of time, increases testosterone levels.
43. Yohimbe: This West African herb increases circulation in the genital area in just one hour.
44. Garlic: Garlic, or garlic capsules, works to increase blood flow to your genital area.
45. Saffron: Saffron is rich in picrocrocin, which makes sexual organs more sensitive.

Miscellaneous

For even more aphrodisiacs, check here. You’ll find foods and ingredients like soy, Goji berries and more.

46. Soy: Soy helps women stay lubricated and can lower or even prevent some signs of menopause.
47. Goji berries: According to NaturalNews.com, goji berries "are known as a strong sexual tonic" in Asia, and "they increase testosterone levels, which stimulates libido in both men and women."
48. Ho shou wu leaves: This plant is supposedly high in Lecithin, "which is known to help produce the sexual juice and fluids," according to RaiseLibido.com.
49. Bee pollen: Bee pollen increases sperm count.
50. Raw foods: Raw foods can improve energy, promote weight loss and digestion, and boost your mood.

By Donna Moore

Staying healthy the natural way doesn’t have to be difficult. If you have a positive attitude, good nutrition, exercise and fitness, and mental health, you are on your way to a solid foundation for natural wellness. The following blogs touch on these topics and more and provide you with many excellent ways to keep your health and wellness in top shape. Take a look below to see what you can do to change your lifestyle for the better today.

Wellness Blogs

These blogs share ideas on staying well naturally through positive attitudes, finding balance in life, embracing happiness, and plenty more great perspectives.

1. Health and Wellness Blog. Covering topics such as organic gardens, fitness, sleep, and fortifying your immune system through food, this blog will keep you stocked with great ideas for natural wellness.
2. Well Blog. From the New York Times, this blog covers healthy eating, a positive approach to a cancer diagnosis, and more.
3. Wellness Bites. Read the latest news and research in health and wellness with this blog that provides a natural approach to it all.
4. Balanced Life Center. Find guidance, tips, and a sense of community through the posts at this blog that helps readers find balance and wellness.
5. authenticinsight.com. This blog, written by a life coach, focuses on subjects that include meditation, yoga, positive thinking, and other wellness topics.
6. BeThree. This super-cool blog teaches how to find the best balance between body, mind, and soul.
7. Rituals to Invite Balance and Well-being. Read what others have to say or submit your own ideas on how to maintain well-being at this blog.
8. The Happiness Project. Join the experiment as this woman experiments with various ways for finding happiness. Be sure to check in on Wednesdays for tip day.
9. The Positivity Blog. Become inspired to stay positive and find the beauty in life with the posts on this uplifting blog.
10. Fingertips. While this blog is written by a massage therapist and does focus some on massage, the general tone is that of promoting health and wellness through natural means.

Alternative Healing Blogs

From Ayurvedic remedies to qi gong to herbal medicine, these blogs bring you many styles of alternative, natural healing modalities.

11. Leung’s Chinese Herb News. This blog shares the experience of an expert in Chinese herbs.
12. Ayurvedic Home Remedies. Find remedies for a number of problems–all based on the Ayurvedic approach to medicine.
13. Fran’s House of Ayurveda. Get healing Ayurveda recipes with explanations for appropriateness or alterations for each of the three doshas.
14. Herb-blog-ogy. If you are interested in the healing properties of herbs, get news, research, and reviews about herbs on this blog.
15. Reiki Matt’s Blog. Find the latest news and information about the Japanese practice of Reiki in Matt’s blog.
16. Qigong Blog. Learn about this ancient art of Chinese medicine that incorporates breathing and body postures to maintain good health.
17. Meditation Oasis. A companion to the Meditation Oasis podcasts, this blog offers guided meditations.
18. Stone Lantern Shiatsu. This blog, devoted to Shiatsu, talks about natural healing and also offers links to other Shiatsu resources as well.
19. Reflexology Live. Get information, tips, and techniques on hand and foot reflexology you can use in your daily life.
20. Applied Alexander Blog. Find out about the Alexander Technique and how and why it works as a hands-on approach to healing at this blog.

Exercise and Fitness Blogs

Staying fit through exercise, nutrition, and healthy living is an excellent way to help stay well naturally. These blogs will help you do just that.

21. That’s Fit. From a healthier Hanukkah to the top 5 fitness moves, find ways to stay fit naturally with this blog.
22. Grounded Fitness. With posts about healthy eating, various exercises, and more, this blog will help you find your fitness groove.
23. Fit Bottomed Girls. These two women post about fitness and health, with a little humor thrown in for good measure.
24. MizFit. Don’t take MizFit too seriously, except when it comes to fitness. This popular blog includes videos by MizFit, tips and trends, and much more.
25. Go Healthy Go Fit. From celebrity fitness routines to amino acids to staying fit in a sedentary world, this blog offers interesting fitness posts with a bit different perspective.
26. Coed Fitness Tips. This husband and wife team blog about easy ways that everyone can get fit with posts about their exercise and fitness routines, body facts, and more.
27. Mark’s Daily Apple. Get daily health and fitness tips from Mark at this blog.
28. Healthbolt. Peppered with plenty of give-aways, this blog also offers advice and tips on health and fitness.
29. The Fitness Blackbook. With a title and photos that infer this site is targeted to men, the posts include tips for motivation, exercise and training, food, and more.
30. Cranky Fitness. Get health, fitness, nutrition, and more at this blog written by Crabby McSlacker and Merry Sunshine.
31. Living Healthy in the Real World. With posts that cover nutrition, diet, exercise, and healthy living, this blog offers lots of food for thought.
32. The Everything Yoga Blog. Read the posts to gain information that will help you improve your yoga practice.
33. Tai Chi Blog. This blog shares the benefits of tai chi as well as techniques and links to videos to help improve your tai chi practice.

Nutrition Blogs

Good nutrition is one of the smartest ways to keep your body and your mind in top shape. Read these blogs for great ideas and education on nutrition.

34. TheIFLife. Find plenty of advice on ways to stay fit and healthy at this blog that covers topics on health through better nutrition.
35. Farmgirl Fare. In between all the "daily dose of cute" photos, you can find information topics such as homemade bread, mushrooms, and farm-fresh eggs.
36. CalorieLab Diet News. Find out about dieting, exercise and more on this blog.
37. Modern Forager. Learn about nutrition and healthy foods with this blog.
38. Tri to Cook. Delicious meets nutritious at this blog that provides both delicious recipes and photos.
39. eating bender. This young woman, interested in health and wellness, blogs about food, especially as it pertains to eating healthily and intuitively.
40. Hangry Pants. Meet the Hangry Pants couple, Heather and Mark, who both blog on their experiences at eating healthier. They both often try 30-day experiment diets such as going vegetarian or with no high fructose corn syrup.
41. Megan’s Munchies. Promoting a healthy lifestyle and "everything in moderation," Megan offers lots of delicious sweet treats.
42. Meals from the Girl in the Little Black Dress. With the goal of eating healthily and balanced, this blogger shares her meals that help her stay energized and wearing her little black dress.
43. Eating Bird Food. Find out what type of healthy foods this woman eats on her blog.
44. Elise’s Eats. With a combination of both store-bought and home-made foods, this blogger shares her healthy meals.
45. Kath Eats Real Food. Starting the blog at the request of family and friends, Kath posts photos and recipes of healthy meals and snacks.

Vegetarian Blogs

People embrace vegetarian and vegan diets for many different reasons, but there is no denying that if done properly, these diets can help you stay in great health. These blogs offer recipes, food ideas, and more.

46. Albion Cooks. Find healthy, nutritious, and delicious vegetarian recipes at this blog.
47. 28 Cooks. This blog features recipes for vegetarians who eat seafood and fish and includes great photos of the dishes as well.
48. zenpawn. Read about vegan food, the politics of food, and more at this blog with a conscience.
49. Tinned Tomatoes. This Scottish vegetarian posts include delicious recipes with enticing photos, food contests, and more.
50. Say Yes to Salad. Find everything from snacks to dessert to bento lunches at this vegetarian blog that is much more than salad.
51. A Fat Cat Who Created a Vegetarian. With a focus on healthy living through better nutrition, this blogger posts vegetarian and vegan recipes along with plenty of other information.
52. VeggieGirl. Find healthy vegan baking ideas and recipes at this blog.
53. Bread and Butter. Not only will you find delicious vegetarian recipes and their gorgeous photos on this lovely blog, but each is also accompanied by a quote relevant to the dish.
54. Bok Choy Bohemia. The recipes here are all vegetarian, and mostly vegan. Try some of these mouth-watering dishes for healthier eating.
55. Mental Masala. With plenty of posts about food and recipes, this blog also offers posts on other topics such as family farms and what makes a person litter.

Gluten-Free Blogs

Whether you have a gluten sensitivity or are just searching for a healthier way to eat, these blogs will provide you with plenty of delicious recipes.

56. Karina’s Kitchen. After a diagnosis of Celiac disease, this cook started creating delicious gluten-free recipes and shares them on her blog.
57. Our Gluten Free Family. This blog not only provides gluten free recipes, it also offers news and information with a holistic approach to health.
58. A Gluten Free Guide. Written by a woman with Celiac disease, this blog offers recipes, suggestions for restaurants, and more for those eating gluten-free.
59. Gluten Free for Good. Get great recipes for gluten-free food and more from this blog written by a nutrition therapist.
60. Gluten Free Goodness. This gluten-free blog offers recipes that are not only gluten-free, but also dairy, soy, egg, and corn-free.
61. Book of Yum. Find gluten-free, vegetarian recipes on this blog that also features reviews of restaurants and commercial food.
62. Gluten-Free Girl. This incredibly popular blog features healthy gluten-free dishes created by Shauna and often features the culinary skills of her husband, a professional chef.
63. Gluten Free Gobsmacked. Get great gluten-free recipes and also follow along as this couple is adopting a baby girl from Korea.
64. Gluten-Free Fun. This woman has plenty of experience living gluten-free and not only shares recipes and food ideas, but gluten-free information about products as she finds it.
65. Daring to Thrive. The posts at this blog not only provide recipes for gluten-free food, but they also contain the background to the dish or other interesting information.

Other Alternative Diet Blogs

From dairy-free to macrobiotic to allergy-friendly, the diets in these blogs offer nutritious and healthy ways to eat on alternative diets.

66. Cindalou’s Kitchen Blues. Get great gluten-free and dairy-free recipes from this award-winning blog.
67. My Paleo Kitchen. Get photos and descriptions of this woman’s approach to eating a paleo diet on the cheap.
68. The Milk-Free Blog. Get product information and recipes to help support a dairy-free diet on this blog from GoDairyFree.org.
69. Fear and Loathing in the Kitchen. Learn to enjoy food no matter what type of diet restrictions you may have with the experience of this blogger who has followed various types of health diets including gluten and dairy-free.
70. The Hip Chick’s Guide to Macrobiotics Blog . This blog will tell you what you need to know about a macrobiotic diet and offers a few recipes as well.
71. Eat Wheat-Free, Dairy-Free, and Low-Sugar Blog. Heather Strang posts recipes as well as packaged foods that fit the criteria of the blog name.
72. Please Don’t Pass the Nuts. Allergic Girl shares her food and restaurant experiences at this fun blog that shows you can still enjoy food with food allergies.

Mental Health Blogs

The connection between mind and body is undeniable. Keeping healthy mentally is a key to overall wellness. Follow these blogs for ways to stay mentally healthy.

73. Finding Optimism. This blog focuses on creating strong mental health through a positive outlook.
74. Centre for Emotional Well-Being. This blog offers advice for those looking to improve their outlook on life–with a heavy emphasis on body image.
75. Beach Walks with Rox. Join Roxanne and her dog on their walks along a Hawaiian beach with this inspirational video blog.
76. A Highly Sensitive Woman’s New Perspective on Mental Illness. Share this woman’s experience as she blogs about her journey to mental health.
77. Between Us Girls. Get life lessons to help you grow into the person you want to be with this blog.
78. A Woman’s Guide to Saner Living. Learn how to live a more fulfilling life through a shift in perspective and thoughtful choices with this blog.
79. Sally Huss–Addicted to Happiness. This inspirational blog provides tips on how to appreciate the beauty of life and find your happiness.
80. BwhoUR. Going from a hectic urban lifestyle to life on a cattle farm in Texas, this blogger shares her journey to slow things down and find herself.
81. Becoming Your StellarSelf. This blogger offers tips to learn how to improve your quality of life through better living.
82. Nantes Daily Photos. From to unusual sky shots to pieces of everyday life, these daily photos offer a fresh perspective that is sometimes humorous and often thought-provoking and moving.

Going Organic and Green Blogs

Eating and wearing organic goods and going green in your lifestyle will help your health and the environment. These blogs offer lots of ways to do it all.

83. Natural Health & Organic Living Blog: NaturalBuy.com. From the climate change debate to snowflakes to the healing properties of salty air, this blog covers a wide range of natural health and organic topics.
84. ecosalon. Be eco-friendly and healthy in style with the posts at this blog that touch on raw food, organic produce, and looking good while going green.
85. Green Daily. Find out about topics such as the safety of supplements from China to surcharges for not finishing your food in a restaurant.
86. care2 Blogs. With a focus on green living, community, and social issues, this blog offers information, tips, news, and more.
87. Organic Guide. Included in this blog are posts about organic food topics such as growing your own sprouts, finding a good juicer, and recipes.
88. Natural Health & Organic Living Blog. From organic peppers to organic coconut oil to the top five health issues in America, this blog touches on lots of organic and health issues.
89. DeliciousLiving Magazine Blog. This blog brings a variety of topics including nutrition, alternative healing, living green, and more.

Healthy Family Blogs

From pediatric massage to no high fructose corn syrup to breastfeeding, these blogs are all about a natural approach to wellness for the family.

90. Nature Moms Blog. This mom shares ideas and suggestions for a more healthy, natural approach to parenting.
91. Liddle Kidz Infant and Pediatric Massage Blog. This blog discusses health benefits of massage for infants and children and also discusses other pediatric health and wellness subjects.
92. Dr. Shu Says. This pediatrician, who is also a mother, blogs about keeping kids and families healthy with posts ranging from exercise to healthy lunches to harmful chemicals in plastics.
93. Healthy Child Healthy World. With an emphasis on organics and going green, this blog provides tips for improving children’s health through better nutrition.
94. Smart Foods Healthy Kids smart mama blog. This blog promotes nutritional education for children, parents, and caregivers with topics that revolve around smart food choices.
95. Nourishing Thoughts. Written by a nurse, this blog focuses on healthy nutrition for children.
96. A Life Less Sweet. Read about this family’s experience of following a diet without high fructose corn syrup with recommendations for food as well as news on the subject.
97. Natural Childbirth for the "Hip Chick". This experienced mom talks about childbirth and caring for a newborn on this blog.
98. Breastfeeding123. An experienced mother of three and breastfeeding counselor offers tips, news, and support for breastfeeding at this blog.
99. Allergy Moms. Focusing specifically on food allergies, these moms blog about allergy-safe lunches, food allergies and grades, money-saving tips, and more.
100. YummyAllergenFree. Written by a mother of three children with food allergies, this blog provides recipes, support, and more for families dealing with food allergies.