Turning to food to spice up your love life!
Thursday, February 11th 2010 @ 12:48 PM
This week, you might be thinking about cooking an extra-special meal for someone, or simply want to attract & entice a lover with an aphrodisiac-infused menu of delights. But do aphrodisiac foods really work? Do they really spice up your love life, and even your sex life?
Well, according to tradition, and even some science… you bet they do! Aphrodisiac foods extend way beyond oysters! Many foods we know and love are in some way connected to sexual health, libido and fertility. Others are simply a symbol of love!
Certain foods are thought to represent the male and female genitalia, such as bananas, figs, asparagus and oysters, which is partly if not fully responsible (in many cases) for them being seen as aphrodisiac foods. Figs are seen as a symbol of fertility and recommended in Ayruveda to increase “Ojas”! Other foods in this respect include milk, dates, honey, avocado, almonds, pine nuts, flax, sesame and pumpkin seeds, many of which represent either “seed or semen”, or are simply the “fruits” of the plant, and are therefore the plants reproductive tissue! Incidentally, back in the 1600s the ancient Aztecs used the avocado as a sex stimulant and called the avo tree “ahuacatl”, translated as "testicle tree"!
"What in my mind is very interesting is that these are still the foods we recommend today to either nourish the reproductive system or boost and balance “sex” hormones. Scientists and nutritionists alike know that these foods (and others too) contain the necessary essential fats, proteins and minerals needed for glandular support and production and balance of hormones! SO - it’s not all together myth and tradition!”
Moving on…
Asparagus is considered to be a potent aphrodisiac and not simply because of its phallic shape. Shatavari is a well-known oriental herb, used widely too in Ayurvedic Medicine, and is member of the asparagus family! It often combined with rose flowers as a tonic (see Tea of the Month), and is used for many conditions relating to hormone imbalances, menstruation, fertility and reproduction. Shatavari translates as “who possesses a hundred husbands”, due to its rejuvenative action on the female reproductive organs. It is said to give the capacity to have many husbands! I am testing it out! There are a few spices that have stimulant effects on the circulatory and nervous system. Some are therefore thought to enhance libido, via their “excitory” mechanisms. Quite a few spices have also been studied in modern research (in many areas of health and disease), and also within the area of sexual health! Some animal studies prove there really is some spice in the mix!
For 2 delicious treats for Valentines, try Organic Chocolate-Coated Figs, or Rose Tea
Do aphrodisiacs work for humans?
There aren’t many research studies; in fact very few on humans, that shed any light on the truth (or not) behind aphrodisiac foods. However certain herbs and spices show a lot of promise, as well as an amino acid called L-arginine.
The spice nutmeg may have potential in boosting sexual prowess, if a study with male rats is anything to go by! Nutmeg’s active ethanolic extract was administered to male rats for a period of 7 days. This produced significant increases in sexual activity, in quite a few interesting ways relating to their sexual function and potency! The researchers concluded that nutmeg really does have aphrodisiac qualities, and most likely due to the spices’ nervous- stimulating properties. This does seem to give some scientific rationale behind its traditional use in the treatment of male sexual disorders. In China, nutmeg is highly prized by women as an aphrodisiac, so if that doesn’t convince you to get more spice into your lives, then nothing will!
Ginger may be a “hot” talent too! An extract of ginger in hot water was tested, again on male rats, to examine its effects in varying doses, on male sexual competence and fertility. All doses had some effect on the monitored sexual behaviour 3 hours after administration. The highest dose given also produced an elevation in testosterone, so there were hormonal influences at play here. All the observations suggested very powerful aphrodisiac actions of ginger, and they concluded that ginger extract could be a safe oral aphrodisiac – at least for rats!
Similar studies have also shown aphrodisiac potential for clove, a pungent African spice called the Guinea Pepper, and the Brazilian rainforest herbs damiana and suma, supporting many of the traditional beliefs about these! Suma is a plant that is thought to enhance oestrogen activity, as do many other plants and foods worldwide such as red clover, vitex agnus castus, hops, dong quai and of course soy. Incidentally, the herb yohimbine has been found in one isolated study to be a successful fat loss supplement for soccer players! Unfortunately the researchers didn’t test sexual prowess!
L-Arginine is an amino acid that amongst other things boosts production of Nitric Oxide (NO) in the body. NO plays a vital role in blood vessel dilation and is responsible for blood flow to organs, including sex organs and the heart. One recently researched supplement containing L-Arginine has shown to be effective in boosting sex drive in women. ArginMax also contains damiana, Panax Ginseng and a general mix of vitamins and minerals. The study published in 2006, in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy shows further promise for L-Arginine. Unfortunately it’s impossible to tell from this research, which was the active ingredient at work here, or whether there was a synergistic effect of the nutrient and herbal combination.
Although there are some herbs and spices that clearly play a role in sexual health there are also many foods that haven’t been researched, and may not have the effect they say they do. But hey, who cares ! Suggestion can be a powerful thing! Using so-called aphrodisiac foods or any food for that matter, as part of your seductive plans will undoubtedly add spice to any side of your life - if you want it to!
