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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Food is seductive. Since Eve enticed Adam with an apple, food and sex have been erotically entwined. Every culture claims foods endowed with the ability to heighten excitement between the sheets – oysters, chocolate, asparagus, ginseng, avocado, and bananas. Though most scientists scoff at the idea that a food can sexually arose a person, the potency of the any aphrodisiac is in direct proportion to the user’s faith.
Courtesans were always schooled in the foods of love. And the grande dame of them all, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty, gave us the word aphrodisiac, categorizing foods that enhance sexual desire and potency. Do they work? Scientists say “no” because it is impossible to come up with accurate and reproducible data on people. But scientists deal in facts, and anyone who has ever been in love knows love has little to do with measurable facts.
A few experiments have shed light on the how desire and food is entwined. Certain smells do induce blood flow to the penis – pumpkin pie, lavender, doughnuts and black licorice. Interestingly, when this study was designed, the food smells were initially used as control smells to form a baseline, and they turned out to be among the most provocative. So on Valentines Day, a dab of pumpkin pie spice may do more for you than a spray of expensive perfume. For women the turn-on smells were Good & Plenty candy (forget Godiva!) and cucumbers.
Spices have been used as aphrodisiacs for centuries because they heat the body with their warmth and awaken the senses with their aroma. The Puritans took this so seriously they banned the use of spices in the belief that they “excited passions.” Ginger increases the blood flow to the genitals. Garlic improves blood circulation and stimulates the production of substances involved in the mechanics of erection. The downside is garlic is excreted through perspiration and exhaled by the lungs. Your partner would either have to be turned on by your garlic smell or you’d both have to indulge beforehand.
Herbal potions are often recommended to re-ignite passion. The trouble with herbal aphrodisiacs is that they may come with unwanted side effects because of their medicinal properties. Ginseng, routinely sold to cure impotence, can also raise blood pressure. Yohimbe and yohimbine, from the bark of an African tree, have a long folklore reputation for stimulating sexual desire and performance. Though hard to get in the US, yohimbe is widely available in Europe. Does it work? One experiment with rats was promising. But the downside is yohimbe can cause serious side effects when combined with liver, cheese, red wine or nasal decongestants. It’s also been known to induce anxiety and psychosis. The sexually challenged would have to weigh these possibilities against an amorous evening.
Other well known aphrodisiacs are totally harmless, though their ability to help is anecdotal. Avocados, which mimic the curves of a woman’s body, were used by Mayans and Aztecs to enhance sexual desirability. It is also a traditional remedy for erectile dysfunction. Ancient people put faith in foods that looked like sex organs – asparagus, carrots, bananas, and oysters. Casanova is reported to have eaten up to 50 oysters a day. Foods containing seeds – pomegranates, tomatoes, figs — are often connected to sexuality and fertility. Figs, with up to 1,600 seeds per fruit, were reported to be Cleopatra’s favorite food. And, celery seeds do contain androsterone, a biochemical cousin of testosterone.
Most aphrodisiacs are taken by men, so why do men give women chocolate on Valentine’s Day? Chocolate contains a chemical (anandamide) that your brain naturally produces when you are in love. Famous lovers throughout history, Madame du Barry, Casanova and even the Marquis de Sade, all swore by chocolate’s powers to excite their partners. It may be its richness, sensuous melting properties, energy-boosting sugar, or its alkaloid stimulants, all of which have been shown to elevate a person’s mood.
Alcohol is considered an aphrodisiac because it reduces inhibitions. Casanova seduced with champagne. In excess, however, this love potion can be a sexual depressant. While some alcohol may promote desire, too much depresses performance.
So what do we conclude from all this? Maybe the most powerful aphrodisiac is found in our imaginations. But a box of chocolates or a dish of oysters can’t hurt. Happy Valentine’s Day.
© NRH Nutrition Consultants, Inc.
Jo-Ann Heslin, MA, RD, CDN is a registered dietitian and the author of 30 books.
Available as eBooks from iTunes and Kindle/Amazon:
Diabetes Counter – the most up-to-date information on managing diabetes
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Complete Food Counter – food counts and nutrition information at your fingertips
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