Valentines Day is when the restaurants hike up the prices to lure you into one of marketing’s dream days of the year. Instead, why not cook up a steamy dinner at home with these healthy ingredients that are tantalising, tasty and easy to find.

Asparagus

Asparagus is great for both male and female libidos as it is high in vitamin E, the so-called ‘sex vitamin’. It’s slightly suggestive shape may also act as a libido booster, so make sure you serve them steamed and whole rather than creamed in a soup.

Bananas

Bananas may help improve your sex drive due to the enzyme bromelain, known for boosting the libido. They’re also rich in B vitamins, which help calm the nervous system, and potassium for all over energy levels. You can add them to muffins or fruit loafs, flambé them for a quick dessert, or maximize their nutritional benefits by eating them in their unadulterated form.

Brazil nuts

Nuts play a key role in supporting the libido. They’re packed with nutrients like essential fatty acids, which help produce hormones, and they’re rich in the amino acid L’Arginine, which enhances erectile response by improving blood circulation. You only need 3 Brazil nuts a day to meet your daily requirement. Sprinkle them on cereal, add them to stir-fries and salads or make a trail mix of nuts, seeds and dried fruit.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is packed with B vitamins essential for nourishing the nervous system. They’re great as a side dish, in a risotto, a salad or a sweet pudding.

Celery

Celery boosts a powerful substance known as androsterone – the odourless hormone released through male perspiration that has that mysterious effect on women. It has the same effect as a dozen red roses, although celery is of course cheaper! You can add celery to salads or casseroles, or you can dip your celery sticks in a spicy hommous.

Chili

Try heating up your sex life by adding some chili. Capsaicin, the substance that gives a kick to spicy foods, triggers the release of endorphins and is therefore a feel-good chemical for your brain. It also raises your heart rate and stimulates each other’s nerve endings. Remember your rubber gloves if you chop the chilies yourself then add your cuttings to dressings, stir fries or even chocolate desserts

Ginger

Ginger is one of my favourite root herbs. I add fresh ginger to black tea, casseroles, soups, dressings, cordials and sweet desserts. This versatile root is excellent for stimulating circulation and increases blood flow to the sex organs.

Honey

Falling asleep is not an option on Valentines night, so you’ll need slow-release energy to keep you going. Honey is perfect. It’s rich in B vitamins and fructose and tastes great, too. Add it to teas, coffee or desserts, or you can mix honey with tamari for a Japanese style stir-fry sauce.

Pomegranate

Shares the nickname “Love Apple” with the tomato and is likewise known as an aphrodisiac. Cut the pomegranate in half and knock the seeds out by smacking the skin with a spoon. You can eat pomegranate seeds raw or add them to sandwich fillings and salads. Or why not drop a few seeds into the bottom of a champagne glass like you would with strawberries.

Tomato

This “love apple” has an even sexier reputation for helping maintain sexual health. You can’t beat a rich tomato sauce oozing over pasta, fish or meat.

Pumpkin Seeds

Containing zinc, pumpkin seeds help increase testosterone production in men and sexual desire in women. They’re rich in the essential fatty acid omega 3, needed for the production of prostaglandins – substances that play a key role in sexual health. Have a pot of mixed seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, hemp and flax) in the kitchen to sprinkle over salads, casseroles and stews, or eat them raw for a quick and handy power snack.

Spinach

Recent studies suggest co-enzyme Q10, found in spinach, can improve sperm movement and iron levels. So do as Popeye does and have it raw in a salad or add it to soups and stir-fries.

Vanilla

The sensual scent of vanilla has been used for years in massage oils as it is believed to boost sexual desire. So fill the house with the natural aroma as you add fresh vanilla essence and vanilla seeds straight out of the pod to sensuous desserts.

Water Melon

This cool refreshing fruit contains an amino acid called citrulline, which is good for the cardiovascular system and helps relax the blood vessels involved in increasing sex drive. Juicy melons make for a great snack or palate cleanser between meals or you can make them into a sorbet for dessert.

Real Raunchy Recipes

Brown Rice Salad

Serves 6

300 ml Brown rice, cooked and cooled

12 Asparagus steamed and spears cut lengthways

18 Brazil nuts, roughly chopped

2 stalks Celery, diced

100g Spinach, shredded

½ Pomegranate, remove seeds

50g Pumpkin seeds

3 Tomatoes chopped

Cook and cool the brown rice and steam asparagus until al dente. Add all ingredients into a bowl and toss with Chili and Ginger dressing.

For the Chilli and Ginger dressing

½ chilli, de-seeded and minced

1 inch ginger, grated

100 ml Olive Oil

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp balsamic vinegar

Mix all ingredients together and keep in fridge

Palate cleanser……Watermelon slices

For dessert

Bananas with Vanilla Honey

Copyright Nutrichef 2012