What is an aphrodisiac?
Since ancient times, people have sought to increase their sexual potency. Even in the Stone Age, ritual dances and hunting served as demonstrations of male potency. Later, various cultures began to use bioactive substances of plant, animal, and mineral origin – aphrodisiacs.
Named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, aphrodisiacs are believed to increase libido, enhance potency, and enhance sexual pleasure.
An ancient Chinese text describes a potion made of 22 ingredients, which, after drinking, allowed the emperor to “possess 1,200 women and achieve immortality”.
In later times, the Romans and Chinese shared the same concept (or rather misconception) that eating animal genitalia could improve male sexual function.
Products with an aphrodisiac effect
So, is there a food that improves your sex life? We studied modern research on this topic and found out that yes, there are aphrodisiac foods. Here is a list of them.
Oysters
According to legend, Casanova, the great 18th-century lover, ate 50 oysters for breakfast, which gave him the strength for his sexual exploits. In 2005, a team of Italian and American scientists discovered that oysters may indeed contain something akin to an aphrodisiac. George Fisher, a professor of chemistry at Barry University in Miami, who led the research team along with his graduate student Raoul Mirza and Antino D’Aniello of the Laboratory of Neurobiology in Naples, reported that the shellfish contain a special amino acid, D-aspartic, that stimulates the production of sex hormones in rats, both male and female.
Pistachio nuts
In Turkey, a small sample of 17 married men tested the effectiveness of pistachios in supporting erectile function. The men were asked to eat 100 grams of pistachios per day for three weeks and then report whether their sexual function had changed. The subjects reported feeling an increase in blood flow to the penis and stronger erections. Experts suggested that these effects may be related to the ability of pistachios to reduce blood cholesterol levels and improve blood flow throughout the body. However, this study did not have a control group, making it difficult to interpret the results.
Avocado
An interesting fact about avocados: the Aztec word for it, ahuacatl, translates to “testicle”. Dr. Diana Hopp, author of Healthy Sex Drive, Healthy You: What Your Libido Reveals About Your Life, believes that avocados have every chance of being considered an aphrodisiac. They may indirectly affect libido and erectile function because they contain nutrients, including vitamins B9 and B6, which help the body produce more energy and increase testosterone production.
Watermelon
Thai scientists, conducting a study on rats, found that those individuals who constantly ate watermelon pulp had an increased duration of sexual intercourse. The authors of the study suggest that this is due to citrulline, an amino acid that can improve blood circulation and increase blood flow to the vessels of the penis.
Maca root
Maca, a plant native to the highlands of Peru, has long earned a reputation as a powerful natural energy booster. However, it has also been used for centuries as an aphrodisiac.
A group of Peruvian scientists decided to test this effect of maca. The experiment involved 175 women and men. Half of the participants were asked to take 3 grams of maca for 12 weeks. The subjects from this group reported that their mood improved, they had more energy, and their sexual desire increased.
Those who did not take maca did not show such effects. A possible explanation may be an increase in testosterone, which, by the way, also provides libido in women.
Apples
340 women who participated in an experiment by scientists from the University Hospital of Santa Chiara in Italy reported that eating one apple a day improved the quality of their sex life. In particular, according to the study participants, their production of vaginal lubrication increased.
Chocolate
Cocoa appeared in Europe in 1528, when the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes brought samples of cocoa to the King of Spain, telling about the wonderful properties of the drink made from this “brown gold”.
Cocoa powder and, accordingly, chocolate contain components that cause the release of anandamide. The name of this substance comes from the word “ananda”, which means “bliss” in Sanskrit. Anandamide does indeed cause a state of euphoria, a feeling of well-being, and also increases sexual activity in male rats.
But chocolate as an aphrodisiac is more likely to work through the sensory experience of eating it. “It’s all about context,” says Jennifer Evans, a senior lecturer in history at the University of Hertfordshire who studies the history of food and fertility. “You don’t think of chocolate as an aphrodisiac every time you eat a bar. It needs the right context,” she explains.
By treating each other to chocolate, partners become physically closer and experience the pleasure of food together. Chocolate is more likely to be associated with a relaxed and easy-going atmosphere that encourages intimacy.
Ginseng
Ginseng is used in Chinese folk medicine to treat many diseases. Experiments on rabbits have shown that ginseng affects the release of nitric oxide (NO) and thus dilates blood vessels and enhances erection. Other active components of ginseng – ginsenosides – also enhance vascular relaxation, but through nerve stimulation.
Saffron
The golden spice, native to Iran, India, and Greece, has been used for centuries not only in cooking but also as a healing superfood. Legend has it that Cleopatra took milk and saffron baths to enhance sensuality. This is perhaps a rare exception when modern research confirms ancient practices.
Saffron improves sexual function in men and women – increases arousal, desire, satisfaction from intimacy, and intensity of orgasms. The supposed mechanism is support for erectile dysfunction by improving blood circulation and relaxing blood vessels. Also, the active components of saffron (crocin, safranal) stimulate the production of serotonin and dopamine, harmonizing the psycho-emotional state and enhancing libido.
What do experts think about aphrodisiac foods?
Food can act as an aphrodisiac in several ways, says Dr. Lauri Wright, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and an associate professor at the University of North Florida. Some foods have an aphrodisiac effect because they relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the genitals. But people who don’t have circulation problems won’t notice any changes after eating these foods.
Products can act as aphrodisiacs through psychological mechanisms, i.e. by creating the right atmosphere or associations. For example, strawberries create a romantic mood for many people, since pop culture depicts the berry in this context.
In addition, personal experience plays a key role in which products arouse sexual desire, notes Jean-Christophe Billeter, associate professor of social and sexual behavior at the University of Groningen (Netherlands): “Our brains are designed to strongly remember situations of sexual success. If something was present in the environment during intimacy, it can become a trigger for desire in the future”.
Things to remember:
- Food can often ruin a romantic evening. For example, it can cause diarrhea and allergies. So think about whether it is worth the risk.
- You can find advice on the Internet about food products that need to be rubbed into the skin. But such manipulations can also cause an allergic reaction, and there is no scientific evidence that these methods improve sex life.
- It is worth mentioning over-the-counter herbal teas and dietary supplements that promise an aphrodisiac effect. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expresses a clear opinion: “…any product labeled as an aphrodisiac for over-the-counter use is either mislabeled, ineffective, and possibly even unsafe”. No dietary supplements can compete with prescription drugs for improving potency, and any claim that they work the same is simply misleading consumers.