Most of us know that Vitamin C is needed for a healthy immune system, but did you know that Vitamin C is also required for healthy functioning of over 300 metabolic processes, including a healthy libido? Your body does not naturally produce Vitamin C, so it must be obtained through what you eat. C aids in the production of anti-stress hormones, helps the body fight off toxins and may even reduce your levels of LDL (the "bad" cholesterol).

How does Vitamin C directly affect your sexual health?
For one, C can help make a man's little swimmers strong and healthy by protecting sperm from free-radical damage and toxins, thus increasing fertility. C also helps to build and maintain blood vessels throughout the body, including the female genitals. Proper blood flow through these vessels is key for female stimulation and healthy lubrication during sex. C is also involved in the synthesis of the sex hormones, estrogen, androgen and progesterone, all of which are involved in sexual function and fertility. C is required for the metabolism of Folic Acid, which is needed during pregnancy to regulate embryonic and fetal nerve cell formation and is vital for normal development.

Vitamin C is now being used in many menopausal products to help reduce symptoms, as well as in vaginal creams to help eliminate dryness, which can make sex painful. A healthy and de-stressed immune system, strong viable sperm and a lubricated vagina with the ability to get aroused? It sounds like it's time to load up on Vitamin C enriched foods!

Food Choices: citrus fruit like lemons and limes, pomegranates, kiwi, guava, pineapple, chili peppers, pumpkin, cabbage, cranberries and cruciferous vegetables like, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

Try this simple recipe for Cauliflower Poppers to Feed You Libido with Vitamin C tonight.

Vegan Cauliflower Poppers

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 40 min

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

1 large head of cauliflower

2 tablespoons olive oil

juice of 1 lemon

2 teaspoons dijon mustard

2 cloves of garlic-minced

1 ½ teaspoons dill

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ cup Whole Wheat Panko Breadcrumbs

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cup tofu sour cream (optional dipping sauce)

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 400.

2) Cut cauliflower into bite size pieces. Try to keep them all approximately the same size for even cooking.

3) Whisk together all remaining ingredients, except the breadcrumbs and toss with the cauliflower until evenly coated.

4) Pour in breadcrumbs and lightly toss again.

5) Spread out cauliflower onto a baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes, stirring once about halfway through.

Brace yourself for the most delicious cauliflower experience you have ever had!

Rachel Venokur is a Certified Holistic Health Coach through The Institute for Integrative Nutrition and the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Rachel specializes in helping clients transition away from the standard American diet (SAD) to a more plant-based way of eating for optimum sexual health and overall vitality. Whether you are looking to clean up your diet, lose weight, control your symptoms, increase your quality of life or make a full transition, her coaching will empower you to make long lasting choices that work specifically for you.