Articles » Renée Loux Womens Health Magazine Green Column
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Women's Health MARCH 2010 > Renée Loux, GREEN your SEX
Green it!
Sex + Love
Renée Loux
Naughty by Nature
• Put the O in organic •
Earth-shattering sex doesn’t need to harm the planet.
Check out these eco-conscious bedroom essentials.
1/ RUB THE RIGHT WAY
Make your next massage extra-erotic with Pharmacopia body and massage oils. Choose from citrus and lavender scents – each is made with therapeutic-grade essential oils. $9, pharmacopia.net.
Another option: Light the wick of an Earthly Body 3-in-1 massage-oil candle. The wax melts at a lower-than-usual temperature, yielding a warm, silky-smooth oil that will keep the romance going strong. $16, earthlybody.com
2/ EVEN SAFER SEX
Wrap up a steamy evening with Glyde condoms, which are made from high-quality natural latex that has never been tested on animals. In addition to being vegan-approved (they are endorsed by both the Vegan Society and PETA’s Caring Consumer program), they’re thinner than most drugstore varieties (but just as effective) and available in five flavors. $5 for three-pack, $11 for 12-pack, glydeamerica.com for stores
3/ SEXY AND SUSTAINABLE
Slip into the Procession contour bra and bikini from the Elle Macpherson Intimates line. It’s made from all-natural bamboo and SeaCell, a fabric constructed of wood pulp and seaweed fibers. $62, for bra, $30 for bikini, barenecessities.com
4/ NO-GUILT PLEASURE
Conventional lubricants are loaded with petroleum and synthetic fragrances and colors. Not the case with Sliquid Organics – these water- or water-and-silicone-based lubes contain only natural, certified organic ingredients. Choose Natural, Sensation, or Silk. $12 to $14 each, sliquidorganics.com
5/ PLAY NICE
A lot of bedroom toys are made from soft plastic, which is likely to contain phthalate plasticizers that are toxic to the environment – and possibly to the human body. The PyreXions Lavender Scepter, handcrafted from domestic glass, is battery- and toxin-free and hypoallergenic. $112, smittenkittenonline.com
EROTIC EATS
Dark Chocolate
It contains phenylethylamine, a chemical that triggers the release of dopamine, the same compound the brain produces when falling in love. Buy fair-trade varieties such as Divine (divinechocolate.com) or Dagoba (dagobachocolate.com) when possible.
Ginseng
The extract of this plant root not only increases resistance to biological stress, it may also boost libido in men. Have your man take a 100- to 200-milligram supplement daily for best results; they are available at stores such as Whole Foods.
L-Arginine
This amino acid is dubbed “nature’s Viagra” for its ability to enhance sexual arousal and blood flow in men and women. Nuts (particularly almonds and Brazil nuts) and seafood are good sources, or pop a three- the five-gram supplement each day (iherb.com).
