ARTICLE FROM HITCHEDMAG.COM
Many people have heard that chocolate is for lovers. But it’s not just because women love chocolate and get excited about opening a red heart-shaped box.
There’s a biological basis for chocolate’s sexy effects. Dark chocolate possesses substances that affect our moods, energy, and sexual function in truly remarkable ways. Dark chocolate also has fantastic health benefits for the heart.
Here are four ways chocolate can help you feel healthier and sexier.
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Chocolate contains L-arginine, an amino acid that can be an effective natural sex-enhancer for both women and men. It works by increasing nitric oxide and promoting blood flow to your sexual organs, which increases sensation, satisfaction, and desire.
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Chocolate is known as a super libido food partly because it is a rich source of PEA, the acronym for phenylethylamine, sometimes referred to as the “love supplement” or the "romance chemical." As a stimulant and mood elevator, PEA can induce sensations of euphoria—and it’s naturally released by your brain when you’re in love. This chemical promotes the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which enhances feelings of well-being, joy, and pleasure.
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Chocolate really packs an aphrodisiac punch because it also contains the compound theobromine, found in tea and kola nuts as well. This substance works on the central nervous system, causing one to feel stimulated and excited.
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In Chinese medicine, the heart is considered our emotional center. It’s no accident that we clutch our chest when we talk about love. There’s a profound connection between a healthy physical heart and our capacity to feel and love deeply, and to live fully. Our heart is the organ associated with love, caring, bonding, and intimacy. Dark chocolate is a heart-healthy food. L-arginine in chocolate lowers blood pressure. And a substance called flavonols found in cocoa beans helps the body’s cells resist damage caused by free radicals. In the heart, this substance helps prevent atherosclerosis, or plaque buildup in the arteries, which also improves blood flow through the heart.
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Read the original article at Hitchedmag.com, written by Dr. Laurie Steelsmith a licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, and nutrition expert with a 20-year private practice in Honolulu. A leading spokesperson on natural medicine, she has appeared widely on TV, radio, and in print. She and her husband, Alex Steelsmith, are co-authors of "Great Sex, Naturally: Every Woman’s Guide to Enhancing Her Sexuality Through the Secrets of Natural Medicine" (Hay House, 2012).
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