Forget oysters and champagne. Serve red wine and dark chocolate instead for the perfect

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Forget oysters and champagne. Serve red wine and dark chocolate instead for the perfect "love food".

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Why? These are the foods that will help keep your lover's heart beating strong and healthy, according to Susan Ofria, clinical nutrition manager at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital. Heart-healthy love foods are not limited to just red wine and dark chocolate. From avocado to watermelon, find out eight foods that will pump up a man's sex drive. if you really want to say "I love you," serve this: 1. Red Wine All red wines -- from pinots to shirahs to merlots--are a good source of catechins and resveratrol to aid "good" HDL cholesterol. 2. Dark Chocolate The only catch is that it has to be really dark with 70 percent or higher cocoa content. Truffles, souffles and even hot chocolate can be a good source of resveratrol and cocoa phenols (flavonoids). 3. Salmon and Tuna Fish Salmon, as well as white or albacore tuna fish, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Canned salmon contains soft bones that give an added boost of calcium intake. 4. Flaxseeds Choose either brown or golden yellow flaxseeds and have them ground for a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and phytoestrogens. 5. Oatmeal Cooked for a breakfast porridge or used in breads or desserts, oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber, niacin, folate and potassium. 6. Black or Kidney Beans Both black beans and kidney beans are a good source of niacin, folate, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and soluble fiber. 7. Walnuts and Almonds Walnuts and almonds contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, magnesium, fiber and heart-favorable mono- and polyunsaturated fats. 8. Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries and Strawberries Berries are a good source of beta carotene, lutein, anthocyanin, ellagic acid (a polyphenol), vitamin C, folate, potassium and fiber.