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The candles are lit, the ambient music is perfect… but then your Valentine’s Day date goes off the rails when you start to feel a little light-headed.
Was the food spicy? Or the cheese that you definitely shouldn’t have tried?
To help you avoid this scenario, FEMAIL asked an etiquette expert to share his advice on how to keep the romance alive on Valentine’s Day, from why you should avoid Caesar salad to why you should say no to a date for drink coffee.
Myka Meierfounder of Beaumont labelhe has trained in Switzerland and in London with a former staff member of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Not only have you laid out the ingredients you shouldn’t order or cook on your date, but also the ones that will keep bad breath at bay.
Watch out for hidden ingredients! Keep an eye out for onion and garlic, especially when it comes to salad dressings.
Etiquette expert Myka Meier told DailyMail.com romantics should skip the ‘horseradish and any kind of canned fish’ (file image)
No one wants to be that person, constantly checking their breath to see if their date can smell their last meal.
It’s a rookie mistake, but Myka has reminded people to avoid cooking or ordering dishes with a lot of garlic or onion.
“Also, horseradish and any type of canned fish (let’s skip the sardines and tuna, which are the most common),” he added.
Also the label expert warns ‘beware of hidden ingredients’.
You may love Caesar salad, but one of the first ingredients in the dressing is garlic, second [is] anchovy paste’, Myka told DailyMail.com.
Say no to coffee dates! Don’t risk dry mouth and bad breath.
Myka has trained in Switzerland and in London with a former staff member of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
If you’re someone who gets dry mouth when you’re nervous, don’t pile it on by going on a coffee date on Valentine’s Day.
Myka not only warns coffee drinkers, but also tea lovers.
‘Watch out for coffee dates! Both coffee and tea dry out the mouth and can cause “coffee breath,” she said.
‘To combat coffee breath, drink plenty of water.’
Sulfur-containing compounds are released when coffee beans are roasted, Healthline explains.
“Together with the acid content in coffee, these compounds can lead to bad breath,” the website says.
Coffee also causes dry mouth, which can make bad breath worse. Coffee-induced dry mouth is caused in part by caffeine, which is mildly dehydrating. Tannins, a molecule found in coffee, are another culprit.
Asparagus and oysters: why you should AVOID these aphrodisiacs
If you suspect that your date might end with you spending the night, plan ahead.
Despite being an aphrodisiac, asparagus isn’t your friend, so keep it off the menu, Myka says, because you might regret it later.
“If you’re going to be spending the night with your date, you might want to avoid the asparagus,” she said.
Despite being an aphrodisiac, asparagus is not your friend and keep it off the menu, Myka says, because you’ll regret it later.
“While it’s said to be an aphrodisiac, it can make urine smell strongly of rotten cabbage, and the odor can linger.”
Responsible for the smell is asparagus acid, which is found only in the vegetable, and when it breaks down it releases ‘sulphur-containing by-products’. he Cleveland Clinic explains.
“When you urinate, the sulfur byproducts evaporate almost immediately, causing you to smell that foul odor,” the website says.
Also, Myka suggests avoiding aphrodisiacs altogether, as they “can give the wrong impression.”
“If you want to serve or order foods that are considered an aphrodisiac, such as oysters, make sure it’s appropriate to do so,” he told DailyMail.com.
“A first date with someone where you order oysters can give the wrong impression.”
Oysters as an aphrodisiac date back to the Roman Empire, according to Smithsonian Magazine.
Apparently, the famous seducer Giacomo Casanova enjoyed the delicacy as a “manhood booster.”
Also, Myka suggests avoiding aphrodisiacs altogether, as they “can give the wrong impression” such as oysters (file image)
Not the Kind of Gas You Want: Ditch Beans and Spicy Foods
It’s something we should all know, but beans and cabbage should be on your Valentine’s Day no-food list.
There’s nothing less romantic than blowing gas in front of a potential love interest, so just take this scenario off the table but avoid these ingredients.
The reason for the gas buildup is that both foods contain sugars known as raffinose, according to Enjoy.
“A shortage or absence of certain enzymes” means that some sugars may not be digested properly in the small intestine and then pass into the large intestine, “where normal, harmless bacteria break down food.” johns hopkins explains more.
This process is what leads to excess gas.
Myka adds: “In some cases, spicy foods or even dairy can cause an upset stomach.”
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news for spice lords and cheese lovers.
Pick up some dark chocolate, cherries, and ginger.
We’ve talked a lot about the foods that give you bad breath, but what about the ones that will help you fight it? Dark chocolate is one of them (archive image)
We’ve talked a lot about the foods that give you bad breath, but what about the ones that will help you fight it?
Myka has a few suggestions: “Stick to foods that…will encourage a little more intimacy, like dark chocolate, cherries, ginger, most raw fruits and vegetables.”
As for a mint after dinner, WebMD recommends chewing gum instead.
‘The bacteria in your mouth love sugar. They use it to make acid. This wears down the teeth and causes bad breath. Chew sugar-free gum instead,” the website says.
Hygienist Pamela L. Quinones, former president of the American Dental Hygienists Association, added: “Chewing gum stimulates saliva, which is the mouth’s natural defense mechanism against plaque acids, which cause cavities and bad breath. “.