Aphrodisiacs in Your Kitchen

Strange are ways of Cupid. There are times when he ducks the ‘good old arrow’ for a fork to strike at lovebirds. Agreed, today love is in the air and fireworks are flying between couples. But, such is life that passion ebbs and flows with deadlines, to-do lists and overflowing agendas. Need not despair, as we have hunted high and low for an assortment of nourishing ingredients that may stoke the fire of passion forever. To know more, read ahead.

To put you in good mood

Aphrodisiac comes from the name of Greek goddess of love—Aphrodite—Venus of the Romans. Today, aphrodisiac has acquired the connotation of lust, anything that puts you in good mood. Years ago this was not the case, aphrodisiacs were meant to put you in good mood and enhance the functional and pro-creational aspects as well.

History

Ancients in their quest on finding sexually stimulating facets of food gave paramount consideration to its shape and its resemblance to human genitalia. Consequently, symbolically phallic foods– bananas, asparagus, rhino horn and cucumbers increased virility and potency in men. So did ovary like foods pears, pomegranates, eggs and oysters. While this theory is not totally devoid of truth as many foods mentioned are rich in essential nutrients, which make your plumbing better in ultimate analysis, the theory in itself is flawed. Rhinos have been pushed to the verge of extinction in an effort to enhance man’s potency. The fact is that the raw ingredient of this horn is keratin, the stuff with which human nails are formed of.

Top ten foods to keep close for a crackling romance

1. Oyster is the king among edible aphrodisiacs. The magical potion of oysters come from zinc, just six oysters supply 43 mg of zinc—a mineral that plays pivotal role in sexual maturation and builds your immunity. Oysters are also high in dopamine, the so-called pleasure chemical of the brain.
2. Chocolate. There has to be some reasons for chocolate to become an indispensable feature of Valentine celebration. Chocolate contains substances called phenylethylamine and seratonin, both of which (put simply) are mood lifting agents found naturally in the human brain. They are released into the nervous system by the brain when we are happy and when we are experiencing feelings of love, passion or lust. Still, a generous dose of dark and decadent chocolate is not going to fix plumbing the way blue pill does.
3. Caviar is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone, maintaining male functionality. It is a rich source of vitamins A and D, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which some researchers say can aid in deterring depression. Arginine, a vascular dilator in caviar, helps increase bloodflow, thus the claim as an aphrodisiac.
4. Asparagus. Three courses of asparagus were served to 19th century bridegrooms due to its reputed aphrodisiacal powers. Other than the suggestive shape asparagus is rich in vitamin E, a vitamin considered to stimulate production of our sex hormones and may be essential for a healthy sex life.
5. Chilly peppers. A pepper’s heat comes from “capsaicin,” a chemical that stimulates our nerve endings, raising our pulse and making us sweat. Some researchers believe that eating hot foods also triggers the release of endorphins, body chemicals that gives us a natural high that is conducive to love-making.
6. Bananas. You never thought this humble fruit could do the trick, for your love life. But, sometimes truth is beyond our realm of imagination. For starters, behind that slick peel, the slender banana’s fruit is packed with nutrients essential to sexual hormone production, including potassium and B vitamins.
7. Ginseng. An herb very commonly associated with love is ginseng. Some say ginseng is an aphrodisiac because it actually looks like the human body. (The word ginseng even means “man root.”) Traditionally, ginseng has been believed to–rejuvenate immune system, help tide over chronic fatigue and increase vitality.
8. Figs are another fruit that claims aphrodisiac qualities based on its appearance. An open fig is thought to look similar to female sex organs. Few of us know that figs are enriched with nutrients to suit our busy lifestyles. One quarter-cup serving of dried figs provides 5 grams of fiber — 20% of the recommended Daily Value. That serving also adds 6% of iron, 6% of calcium, and 7% of the Daily Value for potassium. And, they have no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol. Recent research has shown that California figs also have a high quantity of polyphenol antioxidants.
9. Champagne. No one is sure what makes champagne an aphrodisiac – its alcohol, thousands of tiny, magical bubbles, popping the bottle open or the fact that the good stuff just costs so much. But virtually everyone agrees that nothing heats up a romance faster than a chilled bottle of bubbly. And to think it may well have been invented by a monk.
10. Honey. In medieval times, people drank mead, a fermented drink made from honey, to promote sexual desire. In ancient Persia, couples drank mead every day for a month (known as the “honey month” — a.k.a. “honeymoon”) after they married in order to get in the right frame of mind for a successful marriage. Honey is rich in B vitamins (needed for testosterone production) as well as boron (helps the body metabolize and use estrogen). Some studies have suggested that it may also enhance blood levels of testosterone.

Never mind, whatever edible aphrodisiac you choose from the list, it has to be taken with a pinch of salt. If you believe it works, it does; and finally, the biggest aphrodisiac lies between your ears!

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