Libido Quiz Answer 10/22/11

Which one of these foods did Dr. Oz recommend last week to support libido?

Garlic

Coffee

Edamame

Brocolli

The Answer: Garlic

Your Answers:

Garlic 66%

Coffee 11%

Edamame 11%

Brocolli 11%

Dr. Oz recommended garlic as one of the foods that is good for libido on the 10/12/11 episode, in the segment Recharge Your Body 5 Ways in 5 Days.

Garlic

Dr. Oz says garlic contains a chemical called allicin which opens the blood vessels and engorges the areas that need to be engorged. He also recommended pears which support production of the sex hormones and watermelon to support circulation.

Coffee

Coffee was on the bad list for the libido as it spikes levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Contrary to popular belief, taking an energy stimulant, like caffeine, does not support the libido in the same way it supports your ability to clean the kitchen in record time before guests arrive.

Dr. Oz has recommended coffee in moderation for a whole host of reasons including for it's antioxidant activity. On the other hand, during times of high stress, extreme feelings of being overwhelmed, exhaustion, and the like, Dr. Oz has recommended to say away from the caffeine.

Edamame

Edamame contains phytoestrogens that disrupt the ratio of the libido hormone, testosterone, that is present in both men and women. Consuming 25g soy can create the disruption. We have a love-hate relationship with soy.

Decades ago, soy was promoted as being heart smart and hormone healthy and tons of soy based products hit the shelves so that now you can buy soy milk, soy butter, soy cream cheese, soy desserts and on and on. The idea was that if Asian cultures are so healthy, it must be the soy they eat. From there, Americans began eating soy for most meals and many snacks.

Turns out that Asian cultures don't eat soy all day everyday. Soy, in all it's manifestations, is treated like meat is in Asian cultures – as a side to vegetables and grains. American's took hold of a good idea and applied the more of better philosophy.

Today, we know that too much soy can disrupt hormones and can feed estrogen-dependent cancers.

Say it with me: moderation, people. Moderation.

Broccoli

Broccoli wasn't mentioned in connection with libido but it is continually recommended as a nutritionally packed veggie that I thought I would throw it in the list. Broccoli is part of the brassica family of veggies that includes mustard and cabbage. The family is rich in fiber, Vitamin C and indol-3-carbinol which is believed to block the replication of cancer cells. Being a popular family of foods they even have their own tea, Brassica, with green and black tea and chalk full of antioxidants.

On the list of foods bad for the libido, Dr. Oz also included sauerkraut due to its high sodium level. He did say that rinsing the sauerkraut prior to eating can get rid of some of the sodium. Given the benefits of the natural beneficial bacteria creating during the fermentation process of sauerkraut, I think the eating it in moderation, and perhaps giving it a little wash, is still a wise health food choice. And it is yummy on a hot dog – in moderation, of course, everything in moderation.

Thanks for visiting Watching Dr Oz and reading through the weekly quiz. Each week a quiz will feature a question taken from blog posts on Watching Dr Oz. Check back every Saturday for the answer and details.

If you enjoy Watching Dr Oz, please click on ads to support my work! Thanks for making Watching Dr Oz a success!