The world is picking up on something Sadoya Peynado has known for years: when it comes to sexual performance, what you eat matters.

She laid it all out in her cookbook, Eat For A Stronger Libido: Sex, You and Food.

Her illustrations, especially, grabbed the attention of the judges of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2023. They named it a winner in the photography category, describing the pictures as “interesting, original and entertaining”.

“There have been many books about aphrodisiacs, but yours is different with a new approach, fun but serious…,” wrote founder Edouard Cointreau.

It’s the second time the cookbook has received international attention. Ms Peynado wasn’t able to make it to an awards ceremony in Gambia last year, but is hoping to be present for the prize giving in Umea, Sweden, in May.

It is the only book from Bermuda to be honoured in the 2023 Gourmand awards. Now in its 28th year, Gourmand honours the “best food and wine books, printed or digital, as well as food television”. People from more than 200 countries were selected this year.

Ms Peynado has no idea how her book was chosen.

“I don't know. I guess Gourmand, whoever does the nomination from that organisation, did it. I'm not sure.

“They reached out to me via e-mail and asked for me to send the manuscript for my book. Their response after reading the book was very encouraging,” she said.

“They highlighted how creative it is and how diverse it is, especially with the photographs that complement the book.”

Ironically, she didn’t create the images herself.

“Those pictures are internet photos. I bought them from various sites or took them from the free ones.

“What they are saying is that the pictures are unique to complement the ideas because the books that they've read previously are textual books – they don't illustrate the ideas. So the fact that I added suggestive photographs to it added a bit of flavour to the ideas.”

As the e-mail announcing her win came out of the blue she at first thought it might be a hoax.

“I was very much in disbelief when I was contacted. I actually was questioning them back and forth: can I trust you with my document? Really? Are you sure?”

Although she has a full-time job in education Ms Peynado studied nursing and continues to put that training to work as a health coach and healthcare provider. With that in mind she was “very, very excited” that the book might help raise awareness about something as important as health.

“That goes along with the idea that I'm trying to put out there, for people to pay attention to their health. I’ve stated before, people eat to lose weight, they change their diet to lose weight, but what about changing your diet for better sex or performance?

“Not many people put those two ideas together, but it's very effective. Because you are what you eat, and it will affect your life, your sexual drive, if you don't eat properly.”

As a health coach she encourages people to take “a holistic” approach to improving their health and sells herbs “to promote better sexual appetite, namely maca root, bois bande, amla powder [and] turmeric”.

“I’ve now been nominated to represent Bermuda. The idea that I've been trying to sell makes sense – other people see this and it's time for people [here] to get on board with taking care of their health for different reasons, namely for your sexual appetite.

“The idea of my book is to encourage eating for a stronger libido. I am a health coach so I also want to encourage people to take a holistic approach to their health.

“My book highlights foods that stimulate and nourish sexual appetite …. The book addresses a variety of issues related to sexual health including sperm quality, vaginal elasticity and dryness [and] premature ejaculation.

“Parallel to this we should remember to stay active, and maintain self-confidence.”

Sex is only one of many benefits of following a healthy diet, Ms Peynado said. She chose to highlight it because “people need a reason to eat” and weight loss doesn’t drive everyone.

“Losing weight does not necessarily mean you're going to actually perform better. Your genitals are a party of your body. Why not pay attention to them?

“Often, when people think about sexual health they think about STDs, but they don't think about their body being the sex object.

“If you take care of your health, you’ll take care of the sex. Why not eat for health now so you can maintain the longevity of your sex life, the stability of it?”

For more information on the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards visit www.cookbookfair.com. Eat For A Stronger Libido: Sex, You and Food is available on Amazon and in Brown & Co. For health coaching contact Sadoya Peynado on 735-1979; sexyoufood@yahoo.com; acceptit2014@gmail.com