Nothing sexy about phoney aphrodisiacs
Best bet might be an old- fashioned glass of wine
Ifully understand the motivation for people’s passionate interest in aphrodisiacs. Who couldn’t use a few more happy endings? The real question is, do any of these aphrodisiacs actually work?
Oysters have been touted as an aphrodisiac for millennia, probably because they actually look a bit suggestive. But there may be more to the oyster myth than pure esthetics.
According to the Mayo Clinic, zinc deficiency is a possible cause of erectile dysfunction and oysters are a fairly rich source of zinc. You can get several times your recommended daily allowance of zinc from a single oyster.
I think for oysters to work though, you have to really like them and not everyone does. A queasy partner is not your ticket to the promised land.
Chocolate is another food persistently named as an aphrodisiac, especially for women. A 30- year- old study from the New York State Psychiatric Institute suggested a chemical found in chocolate known as PEA triggers a release of hormones that make you feel like you’re in love. Really though, there isn’t any convincing evidence chocolate increases a woman’s sex drive. And you can’t eat enough chocolate to raise your blood levels of PEA.
The chocolate aphrodisiac myth may be busted, but that doesn’t make it a bad idea. If chocolate makes your wife happy, that’s a pretty good start.
Researchers at the University of Guelph recently examined hundreds of studies about various foods and concoctions purported to be aphrodisiacs. A few obscure substances from Africa, South America and the digestive systems of whales have demonstrated effects on male performance, but they are difficult to find. The researchers decided ginseng and saffron showed some promise. They also noted that clove, nutmeg, garlic and ginger are linked to increased sexual activity in animal- based studies.
Despite the sexy headlines, the authors urged caution. There isn’t enough evidence to support using any of those spices for anything but a nice curry. You shouldn’t eat any of them in large amounts hoping to increase the effect — especially nutmeg, which will poison you.
In the end, your best bet for an amorous evening might be a good old fashioned glass of wine. In addition to lowering your inhibitions, a moderate amount of alcohol has been shown to increase sexual arousal, but it doesn’t always lead to improved performance and your best intentions won’t overcome drunkenness.