6 Most Romantic Cities in India

Your honeymoon is the most important phase of your married life. It makes for the most treasured memories and sets the tone of your entire life together. Therefore, choosing the honeymoon destination needs a lot of thought. The world is laced with stunning places to explore. But you need not go too far; India in itself is no less when it comes to romantic destinations. 

To help you choose, we give you 6 most romantic ones. They also happen to be the most popular ones for a really long time.

Goa

Gentle and azure waves on white sand beaches while you walk, hand in hand, with your partner- is there anything more romantic? Apart from moonlit strolls on the beach or going for a swim, Goa has plenty of other activities that you can enjoy. Windsurfing, paragliding, sailing, etc. are some water sports that almost all hotels and resorts offer. If you do not enjoy outdoor activities, you can enjoy a little taste of Vegas right here in India by hitting one of the waterfront casinos.

Recommended Read: Beauty Essentials for a Beach Honeymoon

Things you cannot miss: 

• Sunset and sundown cruises
• Exploring old Goa
• Get a temporary tattoo by the beach
• Shopping at the beach-side flea markets
• Try Portuguese cuisine
• Join a beachside party

Recommended Read:  9 Most Romantic Date Night Ideas for Married Couples

Manali

If you enjoy the great outdoors, there is nothing like Manali. You can go skiing and explore the lovely countryside during the day, and curl up with a mug of hot chocolate in front of a blazing fireplace at night, with your sweetheart. Leisurely walks in the tiny markets, exploring the local cuisine, while gazing at the snow-capped mountains are some things you definitely cannot miss.

Things you cannot miss:

• Visit the Hadimba temple
• Hike to the mountains
• Go paragliding

Leh

A new-found favourite among young couples, Leh is the place that displays nature’s beauty at its best. Serene shades of blue, green, turquoise in the pristine waters, and tones of warm brown in the terrain, make it exotic. The best part is that despite its stunning beauty, Leh is not yet crowded and commercialised, so you can still enjoy without spending a fortune.

Things you cannot miss:

• Visit the monastic villages nearby
• Visit the Shanti Stupa
• Try Tibetan cuisine
• Take a walk by the Pangong lake

Recommended Read: 8 Surprising Things That Turn Men On

Port Blair

Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is in fact a cluster of 350 islands of which only some are inhabited; and this is what makes it so special. The serenity of this place is something that can only be experienced. Apart from the natural beauty, it is best known for its scuba diving. People from all over the world visit Port Blair for scuba diving. There are plenty of 5 star resorts here, and they are way cheaper than luxury resorts at many other locations.

Things you cannot miss:

• Try local seafood at beachside restaurants
• Visit the palm-surrounded Corbyn's Cove
• Go scuba diving
• Collect seashells

Recommended Read: 5 Ways to have a Great Time before Making Love

Jaipur

The city of royalty, Jaipur, still has an ancient regal glory clinging to it. The forts and palaces of the “Pink City” recall the glamour and majesty of the eras gone by. This is without a doubt the best place to shop for handicrafts in the whole country. Not only can you shop-till-you-drop, but you can explore the sightseeing options to your heart’s content. This is probably the only place where even a desert safari would seem romantic, given the element of exoticism attached to it.

Things you cannot miss:

• Visit the City Palace and Hawa Mahal
• Go exploring true Indian culture in the local markets full of rare handicraft and art
• Visit the ancient Surya Mandir
• Camel rides in the deserts
• Spend a night in the desert enjoying folk dance and music

Recommended Read: Sexual Health Basics for Every Woman

Kerala

Kerala has been a honeymooners' favourite for decades now. If you and your beloved love the peace and quiet that nature has to offer, Kerala is the place for you. Aptly called ‘God’s own country’, Kerala boasts of lush greenery and steady backwaters. Here you can choose go for romantic boat rides or even stay in the houseboats. There are numerous beach resorts as well. The place is known for its typical seafood recipes and hospitality of the simple people. If you do choose to visit Kerala, the one thing you cannot miss is their signature Ayurvedic massages. Many places have offers for couples as well, so you can plan that with your partner.

Things you cannot miss:

• Visit zoological gardens and wildlife sanctuaries
• Enjoy interesting aromas at the spice gardens and tea plantations
• Visit the Mattancherry Palace
• Take the Periyar Lake cruise
• Go rafting

These are just some of our favourites. India, that is considered so exotic in the west, has numerous such destinations that can help you create lovely memories to be cherished for a lifetime. Which one is your favourite? Leave a comment below to let us know.

Image Courtesy: Tripadvisor.in

10 Surprising Foods that Kill Your Sex Life

While we know that dark chocolate and almonds are great aphrodisiac, there are certain foods that can have just the opposite effect on your mood. It is important for you to know about the foods that can naturally ruin your sex-drive and harm your reproductive health as well. So, take a look at some such foods that you should strike-off from your menu, when you are in the mood to spice-up your sexual appetite!

Recommended Read:
Cheer-Up! 10 Common Foods that Improve Your Mood
8 Essential Oils to Boost Your Sex Drive
8 Things Women Worry About in Bed

Artificial Sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners contain aspartame, an ingredient that causes trouble for your body's happy hormone (serotonin), without which your mood and libido tends to suffer. Not only this, aspartame has other side effects as well, such as headaches, irritation, anxiety disorders and insomnia. So, next time when you are out getting your groceries, pick up some natural sweeteners like honey or jaggery, to keep your health and sex life on right track.

Corn flakes

The anti-aphrodisiac qualities of corn flakes might come as a surprise to many. Did you know that Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, made this cereal as a part of a bland diet to lower people's sex drive? So, whether you are planning a romantic breakfast in bed or a quick snack before your bed-time, it is best to stay away from corn flakes.

Cheese and more

The dairy products that you get in the market these days are not natural, anymore. The high-fat dairy products, such as cheese, can cause a lot of damage to your body. Overconsumption of such products will induce toxins that will interfere with the production of the natural, mood uplifting hormones like oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Collection of such harmful toxins in your body, can also cause sexual dysfunction in extreme cases. 

Crispy delights

A pack of chips by your bedside is enough to damage the tissues and cells of your body, along with your libido. These potato chips and crispy snacks are prepared in rancid oils and heated at very high temperatures. Hence, the combination of bad fats and high temperature can genuinely interfere with your mood for love.

Coffee

A cup of coffee in the morning can induce a happy mood but too much of it can spike up stress hormones, such as cortisol, in your body. Too much caffeine can cause stress and hormonal imbalances. So, if you are in mood for some romance and love, it is best to decrease the coffee intake from your and your partner's diet.

Soy

It is healthy and a good replacement for meat. But, soy contains phytoestrogens that competes with the male sex hormone. It is enough to cause fertility issues, male breast growth and body hair loss, it is a strict no-no for men.

Aerated Drinks

Consuming regular sodas and flavoured beverages can cause fluctuations in your weight and your mood. Such drinks can cause a number of health problems like obesity, dental cavities, diabetes, and more. It is quite obvious that if you start suffering from these health issues then it is harmful enough to even dip your libido levels. 

Mint

Think before you pop another gum into your mouth! While it benefits the digestive system and gets rid of that bad breath, it can also have adverse effects on your libido. Mint produces menthol that cools down the sex drive. So, stick to brushing your teeth or consuming natural herbs to get rid of that bad breath.

Alcohol

You might feel relaxed after a few drinks but alcohol can actually make you feel drowsy and less sensitive to your surroundings. Now can you feel romantic with a person who is falling all-over the place? It is because alcohol induces a chemical reaction that hampers the production of testosterone. Next time, if you are planning to get cosy with your partner, it is best to steer clear from alcohol.

Fried and junk food

Fried food, like French fries and hamburger, are serious romance killers! The hydrogenated fats lowers your testosterone levels, and can also cause low quality and abnormal sperm production in men. If you are in mood to impress your partner with take-out dinner, stay away from all fast food joints, especially if you are planning something romantic.

So, if you are in the mood to get cosy with your partner then it is best to kick these anti-aphrodisiac foods away from your platter. 

How to Increase Your Sperm Count

Are you ready to start having kids, but worried your sperm count is too low? Semen is most likely to be fertile when it contains more than 15 million sperm per milliliter. That count can go down when your testicles get too hot, when you're stressed out, and when you have an STI that's interfering with sperm production. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to boost your count. Here are some helpful tips on how to boost the production of your sperm.

EditPart 1 of 3: Changing Your Habits

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   Avoid overheating your testicles. There's a reason our testicles rest outside our bodies: they need to stay a bit cooler than the rest of our internal organs. When testicles get too warm, they aren't able to produce as much sperm.^[1] There are a number of ways to make sure your testicles don't get overheated:
   • Don't wear tight pants and jeans.
   • Wear loose, cotton boxer shorts instead of briefs.
   • Sleep without underwear so that your testicles stay cooler.
   • Avoid hot baths and saunas.
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   Wear a jockstrap when you play sports. It goes without saying, because most men know this from experience, but a blow to the balls will hurt you and kill your sperm.
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   Massage your body with herbal oils. This, along with regular exercise, improves overall blood flow and circulation. Increased circulation means healthier sperm.
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   Reduce stress levels. Stress can decrease your sexual function, leading to reduced sperm production.^[2] If you work 12 plus hour days and never give yourself a chance to rest, your count might be down as a result. Try practicing relaxation techniques throughout the day to keep yourself feeling calm. Keep your mind and body healthy by regularly practicing yoga and meditation, or take up running or swimming.
   • Stress hormones block Leydig cells, which are tasked with regulating testosterone production. When your body experiences too much stress, it can actually stop producing sperm altogether.
   • Make sure you're getting enough sleep every night. Exhaustion can also lead to increased stress and cause decreased sperm production.
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   Stop smoking. Smoking cigarettes causes sperm counts to be lower, makes them move more slowly, and causes the sperm themselves to be misshapen. According to one study, men who smoke have 22% fewer sperm than men who don't. Marijuana seems to have a similar effect on sperm.^[3] Cutting back on both of these substances is a good idea if you want to boost your count.
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   Drink alcohol moderately. Alcohol affects your liver function, which, in turn, causes a dramatic spike in estrogen levels. (Yes, men have estrogen.) Since testosterone is directly linked to sperm health and sperm production, this isn't a good state of affairs. Even two drinks a day will have long-term effects on sperm production.
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   Ejaculate less frequently. Frequent ejaculations can lower sperm count. Your body produces millions of sperm each day, but if you already have low sperm count, consider storing them up longer between ejaculations. If you have sex or masturbate daily, cut down on the frequency for increased sperm production.
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   Be careful around toxins. Exposure to chemicals can affect the size, movement and count of your sperm. It's more and more difficult to avoid exposure to toxins, but it's absolutely necessary for your overall health and the health of your sperm. Do the following to decrease your exposure:
   • If you work around chemicals all day long, protect your skin with long sleeves and gloves, and make sure you wear a mask and goggles to protect your face.^[4]
   • Use natural cleaning supplies instead of cleaning with chemicals.
   • Don't use pesticides or herbicides in your house or yard.
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   Be wary of medications. Certain medications can lead to decreased sperm count and even permanent infertility. If sperm production is a big concern for you, make sure you ask your doctor whether any medication prescribed might affect your sperm count.^[5]Look at the labels on over-the-counter medicines, too.

EditPart 2 of 3: Improving Your Diet and Exercise Regimen

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   Exercise regularly. Finding out a workable exercise regimen is a tough task in the modern world, but rest assured that exercise will help you produce more sperm. Exercise releases testosterone into your body, helping with sperm production. Use compound exercises and lift heavy weights, but refrain from working the same set of muscles the day after. Giving your muscles time to rest and rebuild should help you produce testosterone.
   • Do not exercise too much! Excessive exercise causes the release of adrenal steroid hormones that actually cause a testosterone deficiency. So whether you want to put on that extra muscle or help out your sperm, remember not to stress your body too much.
   • Do not use anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids may help you pack on the pounds, but they shrink your testicles and may cause infertility. If you're trying to conceive, stay far, far away.
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   Eat healthy foods. A diet that's low in fat, and high in protein, vegetables, and whole grains is good for your health and for your sperm.
   • Eat plenty of fish, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
   • Peanuts, walnuts, cashews, sunflower and pumpkin seeds are also considered to increase sperm count.
   • Avoid soy-based foods and high-fructose corn syrup. Soy foods have a mild estrogenic effect on the body. While that may be good for women, it's not great for grooming sperm. High-fructose corn syrup causes insulin resistance, which lowers fertility. Men who drink a quart of Coke regularly have 30% less sperm than men who don't drink Coke.
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   Lose weight. Losing weight will help you counteract low sperm count. Scientists don't know why obesity correlates to low sperm count, but a recent French study found that obese men were 42 percent more likely to have low sperm count than their non-obese counterparts. In the same study, scientists found that obese men were 81 percent more likely to have no sperm at all in their ejaculate.^[6]
   • There are a number of different theories for why this is. Some speculate that fatty tissue converts testosterone into estrogen; others speculate that more mass in the thighs could make the testicles too hot.
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   Try supplements.^[7] Try supplements that are made from natural herbal ingredients to specifically help the body make more semen. Researches found that men who consumed 5 mg of folic acid and 66 mg of zinc sulfate a day for 26 weeks experienced an almost 75 percent increase in sperm count. Folic acid and zinc sulfate are critical in the formation of DNA.
   • Vitamin C and selenium may also be good supplements to take in order to increase sperm production.

EditPart 3 of 3: Getting Medical Treatment

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   Get tested and treated for STIs. Certain sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, can cause scarring that interferes with the passage of sperm.^[8] Get regularly tested for STIs; if you have one, be sure to get the proper treatment. In most cases you'll be prescribed a course of antibiotics to clear up the infection.
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   Determine if you have a varicocele. This is a swelling of the veins that drain the testicle. It can lead to increased temperature of the testicle and decreased sperm count. See your doctor to determine if this might be affecting your fertility. If so, a surgical procedure can take care of the problem.^[9]
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   Try hormone treatments and medications. It's possible that your sperm count is low because your hormones are out of balance. Hormone replacement treatments and medications can change your hormone levels and help you produce more sperm. Talk with your doctor about whether this option is right for you.
   • Hormone replacement treatments and medications usually take at least 3 months to work before you start seeing results.