Moods and Foods: September 10, 2008, 7-9:30 pm

Add a hint of lavender, a whiff of pumpkin pie and your man's sexual arousal will increase 40%.  Try a pinch of chicory and a few dates and anxiety can be relieved.  For centuries food has been used not only for healing purposes but also to enhance relaxation, improve mood and of course act as an aphrodisiac. 

To register online at our secure PayPal account please click the button below.  The class cost is $45.00 and includes handouts, recipes, samples and special gift bag.

Moods and Foods

Aphrodisiacs have been used for centuries to affect desire.  They are the forbidden fruits and herbs that with their smell, taste or texture have been endowed with incredible powers. Many are only mind over matter, but science has shown that lavender, especially, when the odor is combined with pumpkin pie, can enhance a man's desire by up to 40%.  Too bad my husband's allergic to the smell of lavender!

Much of this food/mood connection revolves around the neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is well known for its calming and relaxing effect. It's the feel good neurotransmitter. High carbohydrate and low protein increases the synthesis of serotonin and an amino acid tryptophan speeds up the process.  Unfortunately, if we focus only on these foods we may find our weight increasing.  Balance is everything. 

People dealing with Seasonal Affective disorder, premenstrual syndrome and perimenopause tend to crave high carbohydrate foods for their feel good effect.  And for dieters the two week mark in a low-carb diet presents real challenges as serotonin levels drop.  The trick is knowing what food to eat at the right time and in the right combination.  In Beth and John Yim's Taming the Dragon Within Stress Reduction and Relaxation program Dr. Yim explains the importance of Eating Right For Energy.  An excerpt from this workshop is on YouTube.

Of course, the food with the highest mood profile is one we women know very well.  Chocolate. No other food can compare to chocolate's ability to make us feel good.  In North America we consume over $700 million worth of this love drug and we can thank endorphin stimulating phenylethylamine for getting our pulses racing and raising our blood pressure as well as the combination of sugar and fat.

In Foods and Moods we'll be mixing and matching these and other foods to enhance their mood altering abilities.  The best part is we'll be tasting samples of food that will have us all feeling great by the end of the evening.  Seating is limited so sign up early.