Myth about Aphrodisiac Foods
To be honest with you, there are no miracle ingredients to stimulate sexual desire in so-called aphrodisiacs. There is no such thing as an aphrodisiac. There is no scientific evidence that any food can act as aphrodisiac – reliably increases libido and takes effect in a short time. Classically, to be considered an aphrodisiac, a substance should have 3 qualities:
- Can be taken orally
- Can act assuredly (you can rely on it)
- Take effect in a relatively immediate time frame (minutes or hours, not days or weeks)
In ancient times, when food was not readily available, undernourishment creates a loss of libido as well as reduces fertility rates. Back then the key issue was nutrition; people had to search for anything that could be used as food. Better nutrition meant better sex drive. Substances that “by nature” represent “seed or semen” such as bulbs or eggs were considered inherently to have sexual powers. Other types of foods were considered stimulating by their “physical resemblance to genitalia”
Bottom line, aphrodisiac food is more likely a “Love Potion Number Nine” – the song written in 1959 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller describes it exactly to the point.
Love Potion Number Nine
I took my troubles down to Madame Rue
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She’s got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin’ little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
I told her that I was a flop with chics
I’ve been this way since 1956
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said “What you need is Love Potion Number Nine”
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said “I’m gonna make it up right here in the sink”
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like Indian ink
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I didn’t know if it was day or night
I started kissin’ everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
Aphrodisiac foods are more about belief than science. But scientists do agree that if you think chocolate is aphrodisiac then eating it inspires an appropriate psychological response that will get your heart beating faster. Just thinking about these foods could kick-start a chemical reaction that leaves you emotionally aroused. If you believe in it, then you are well on the way to making it happen, and who cares about all this biochemical mumbo-jumbo.
Scientifically and actually, lots of foods can improve your sexual life. In a while.
VITAMIN E
Regarding sex, vitamin E plays an important role in the production of sex hormones. It protects them from oxidation and degradation, and also shows a protective effect on sperm cell membranes. Vitamin E deficiency can cause a decline in the formation of enzymes responsible for sperm production and ovarian health and reduce sperm motility. Several studies have shown that vitamin E can assist in easing hormonal imbalances during menopause, hot flashes, and low libido in women. Most plant seed oils are very good sources for Vitamin E.
BORON:
Although, the exact physiological role of boron in the animal kingdom is poorly understood, it is suggested that boron helps regulate estrogen and testosterone levels and provides a natural energy boost. Many plant-based foods offer decent to wonderful amounts of boron. Some of the best include: chickpeas, almonds, beans, vegetables, bananas, walnuts, avocado, broccoli, prunes, oranges, red grapes, apples, raisins, pears, and many other beans and legumes.
ZINC:
Zinc enables the male body to produce testosterone and because of this may affect erectile dysfunction. Median intake in the U.S. around 2000 was 9mg/day for women and 14mg/day in men. Oysters, lobster and red meats, especially beef, lamb and liver have some of the highest concentrations of zinc in food.
LYCOPENE and CITRULLINE
These two amino acids are both found in a newly discovered natural aphrodisiac – watermelon. They work by relaxing blood vessels, improving blood circulation in the genitals, just like Viagra but without many side effects associated with the drug.
Before explaining why they work, we’d like to say a few words about how erection happens. When a man gets sexually stimulated, the nervous system releases nitric oxide that stimulates a chain reaction causing the arteries in the penis to get wider, allowing the blood to flow into the penis more easily. The erectile tissue itself fills with blood, and both of these processes result in an erection. VIAGRA works for men with erectile dysfunction by “injecting” nitric oxide thus, increasing blood flow to the penis so they can get and keep an erection hard enough for sex.
Lycopene and citrulline play key-roles in the process. Kidneys convert citrulline into arginine that will then convert into nitric oxide. This means supplementation with citrulline is a solid way to increase nitric oxide levels naturally. Watermelon’s diuretic properties can also help keep your urinary tract in healthy working order. Lycopene is an antioxidant that could possibly help ward off prostate cancer.
Try spritzing your watermelon rind with lemon juice and sprinkling some chili powder on it. Both additives also are good for your heart, and for the organ in question.
