Rosemary Pureed Artichokes & Other Slim, Calm Sexy Foods

The January/February 2012 issue of Women's Health Magazine has an excerpt from the book by Keri Glassman, Slim Calm Sexy Diet: 365 Proven Food Strategies for Mind/Body Bliss. The author cites stress as the reason her clients struggle with weight. She offers these food suggestions to "escape the vicious cycle of stress, weight gain, and low libido."

Slim Foods
These foods "are nutrient dense and have been scientifically proven to fill you up, shrink your appetite, or help you drop pounds."

• One artichoke has just 60 calories and a ton of fiber; eat it as a snack before a meal to help fill you up. I tried the suggestion of pureeing canned artichokes with a little olive oil and rosemary (photo above). I used 1 teaspoon olive oil and about 3/4 teaspoon dried rosemary and sprinkled it with pepper. It was delicious and filling! 
• Chili Peppers contain the antioxidant capsaicin, which doubles calorie burn, pushes the body to use more fat as fuel, and reduces appetite.
• In one study, many of the people who ate half a grapefruit with each meal lost more than 10 pounds without making any other changes to the diet. I'm not a grapefruit fan, but I'll try the suggestion to add a tiny bit of maple syrup, sprinkle with cardamom, and broil for a few minutes.
• Pears have high levels of a fiber called pectin, which is known to help weight loss. 
• Tomatoes fill you up with fiber and a high volume of water for few calories. One thing I didn't know: cooked tomatoes are nutritionally better!

Calm Foods
"Studies have found that these options can help contribute to a healthy mental state, buffer against the harmful physical effects of stress, and dial up your serenity level."

• Asparagus's folate helps ward off stress.
• Avocados also contain folate (more than any other fruit), and they're rich in gluthathione, which blocks intestinal absorption of certain fats that create free radicals, the harmful compounds responsible for aging.
• All berries, including blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries, are rich in vitamin C, which has been proven to beat stress.
• Oranges are also high in vitamin C.
• The omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts keep the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline in check. 

Sexy Foods (Note of warning: Women's Health is like the Cosmo of fitness magazines!)
Research shows these are aphrodisiacs.

• Research shows that chocolate gets us in the mood because it triggers feel-good serotonin and endorphins.
• Coffee stimulates the part of the brain that regulates arousal.
• Peaches' high vitamin C is something of a fertility drug for guys. (Note to self: do not buy peaches for husband! We're happy being child-free.)
• Saffron...improves sexual performance. Seriously, that's what the magazine says.
• Watermelon has been linked to "healthier erections" and increased libido in women. Yep...there have been research studies to prove this!