I have to admit that I giggled, slightly embarrassed, when an e-mail hit my in-box from Stoats, the Scottish Porridge company. Why was I pink cheeked? Well according to Tony Stone, one of Stoats’ founders, oats increase your libido;
“Oats have always been known for their rich source of energy but they also contain an extract that according to research actually helps stir up the libido and can increase testosterone production in the body”.
To keep this, erm, ‘energy’ up, Stoats recommend topping your bowl of steaming hot porridge with some fresh fruit to give that extra energy boost:
- Apple topping – apples, like wine and chocolate, contain antioxidants that can stimulate blood flow
- Banana topping – banana’s are high in B vitamins and potassium ideal for increasing the hormone levels
- Strawberry topping – contain vitamin C, potassium, folic acid and some iron and fibre – which are all vital vitamins to keep energy levels up!
Now I know all about the heart health benefits of oats and oatbran, which come from the substance Beta Glucan; a natural source of soluble fibre which has been shown to lower blood cholesterol. However the Valentine benefits of oats was defiantly news to me! A quick (and slightly scary) trawl on the internet revealed the long and illustrious love career of oats from; being ranked as a top love life food, to being cited as a ‘surprisingly sexy food’. And surprised I was <cough>.
So put aside the oysters, buy a box of oats instead of chocolates, and get ready for Valentines! And if you need a little bit of adult oaty inspiration, try my Mornflake recipe for ‘Dark Side Porridge’.
