Aphrodisiacs have existed since the dawn of time If a food has a reputation as an “enhancer” of sexuality, people will want to try it.
Thanks to the goddess of love Aphrodite, it was later coined the term “aphrodisiac” commonly used over time to indicate the ability of a food to stimulate sensuality in men as in women
Between myth and reality, shape and color, smell and taste, food has always been associated and traced back to sexuality and stimulated the most unmistakable fantasies. Lack of libido and problems and dysfunctions related to sexual performance affect, albeit in different ways, both men and women. Since ancient times man has tried to increase sexual desire and resistance, often affected by problems of a physiological, pathological or psychological nature, through the use of plants and aphrodisiac foods, foods that can awaken sexual desire, counteract erectile dysfunction and tone the body, improving its resistance. Unlike women, in which generally problems related to the sexual apparatus are manifested with the arrival of menopause, in men the problems related to the sphere of excitement, the dysfunctions of the sexual apparatus, the lack of resistance, tonicity and functionality of the organism, are much more variable and depend on a number of different causes and factors, which make what could be defined as “andropause” a phenomenon diluted over time, changeable and unpredictable.
In fact, for the action exerted on the blood circulation there really are some foods that have a concrete action against libido or erectile dysfunction. This approach has brought cultures and civilizations very far apart, each of which has chosen different foods, herbs and spices to the degree of aphrodisiac foods. In the past, it was mainly shapes and colors that struck the imagination of our ancestors, who could associate apples, pears and oysters to femininity, fruits rich in seeds – such as figs and pomegranates – to fertility, and to manhood foods aesthetically traceable to male genitalia. Through these foods are provided nutrients that also improve the health of the sex organs. It is believed that these foods increase sensations related to excitement such as body temperature, heartbeat and physical energy, amplifying the desire to have sex”.
Of course, a placebo effect could be involved, for example: you’ve heard that figs act on the sex drive so you feel more inclined to have sex just because your expectations for that fruit are high. What we think about, what we believe in, and how we feel affects the matter in our bodies. Trust, hope and determination can really make a difference in the healing process. The placebo effect has shown that beliefs are powerful, even when they are false. Placebo is a form of intention, a stratagem of intent. When the doctor gives a patient a placebo or a sugar pill, he relies on the fact that he believes in the effectiveness of the drug. The belief of a placebo will create the same physiological effects as an active agent, to the point of creating enormous difficulties for the pharmaceutical industry in designing drug trials. Our body does not distinguish between a chemical process and the thought of a chemical process.
Intense experiences such as those of an artistic or spiritual nature, accompanied by a strong emotional charge, such as emotion and enthusiasm, also produce neurons, while normal everyday experiences produce simple neurons. When something significant happens, our thoughts and feelings activate genes that build the proteins or components necessary for its storage as a memory in the brain, biologically codifying it. Science denies: there are no foods that have a proven aphrodisiac power. Not officially, at least. It is true, however, that the desire for food and sexual desire share the same neurophysiological basis. They have a common neurotransmitter, dopamine. Dopamine, also known as the “hormone of euphoria”, is related to the sphere of pleasure: you can’t increase it in a direct way through nutrition – that’s true – but you can stimulate the production by raising the levels of phenylalanine and tyrosine, its important precursors, and this is possible.
The way you choose and present food, the attention to detail with which you set the table, the way you chew, you wear make-up or you pose says a lot on the important role that food plays within the life of a couple especially in the fateful moment of conquest.
Sensuality, in addition to the chemical component, is strongly linked to the emotional aspect that plays just as well its cards. As if to say, fascination is more a matter of head and sensory stimuli than of chemical-physical reactions that then turn off to rekindle towards new joys. In order to better understand the underlying assumptions of beliefs about aphrodisiac foods, two different areas of interaction with the organism can be distinguished, traditionally recognized:
stimulating and exciting. This first type – the most empirical and largely associated with the aspects listed above – is associated with the increase in libido and sexual desire, in turn linked to the increase in body temperature, heartbeat and physical energy.
Functional foods due to their nutritional properties. In the large set of aphrodisiac foods, many are counted thanks to the content of nutrients useful for body functions that contribute to sexual and hormonal efficiency, starting from the cardiovascular system. As we shall see, in this sense scientific research sometimes offers a shore, confirming an effective positive action, albeit limited and in general for the benefit of the whole organism.
Food has always been a friend of love, a method of courting that always works. The saying ‘man should be taken by the throat’, it always works and in every age. Other foods instead act as hormonal regulators. When hormones are upside down, it is possible that the libido is affected or that the physique does not respond as desired. Stress is also an inhibitor of pleasure. Food can therefore be a moment of extremely sensual relaxation to rekindle eroticism.
Watermelon is a rich source of citrulline, a non-essential amino acid. Citrulline relaxes and dilates blood vessels a bit like Viagra and other drugs designed for erectile dysfunction do. Pomegranate and berries provide vitamins A, B and C, antioxidants and nitric oxide, excellent for health, even if they are not enough to demonstrate the effective aphrodisiac power, which also applies to figs, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, polyphenols and flavonoids.
Perhaps a plant less known than the classic foods counted among the “aphrodisiacs”, in traditional medicine for centuries tribulus terrestris is used for the treatment of impotence and erectile dysfunction and for increasing fertility, as well as cardiovascular diseases and abdominal swelling. Its main property is linked to the stimulating action on the production of androgens, fundamental hormones for men but also for women, responsible for the regulation of libido, sexual characteristics and the development of muscles.
Unfortunately, current studies suggest that chocolate has no statistically significant effect on libido, explained Steve McGough, professor of clinical sexology at the Institute of Advanced Study in Human Sexuality.
That said, chocolate contains chemical elements such as phenylethylamine, which can cause feelings of excitement and general well-being. If all goes well, you can invest your good mood in some healthy sex with your partner.
The meca also called Peruvian ginseng, is a plant known for its stimulating properties on the male (increase in the number and motility of sperm) and female (hormonal regulator). It also proves to be a valuable aid for women with problems related to menopause such as annoying flushes and the physiological lack of desire. The Muira Puama or Pthychopetalum ovata, also known as the ‘tree of potency’, is a plant that, as you can imagine from the name, is known for its aphrodisiac and invigorating properties. It is an excellent sexual stimulant, as it improves both the erection in the man and the inturgitation of the genitals in the woman. It has aphrodisiac properties, increases vigor and sexual desire and it is also an excellent neuromuscular tonic for the whole body, offering a remarkable effect against fatigue.
Ginger works by improving circulation and, like all reflex vasodilators, it works by stimulating and improving sexual performance. You can use it to flavor teas, infusions and herbal teas or to make your cakes special.
Ginseng is an oriental root now very well known and appreciated in Italy. Its tonic and stimulating characteristics make it a good post-flu remedy and is well suited to all convalescent states and in cases of fatigue and in those situations where you need an aphrodisiac action. ‘A damiana’ it’s a powerful aphrodisiac, whose action seems to affect the center of localized erection at a parasympathetic level. It is an excellent antioxidant, useful to reduce testicular toxicity and prevent aging of the testicles. It improves sexual performance and is a tonic, stimulant and antidepressant, used since the time of the Maya as a tonic for this purpose, to counteract impotence and decreased libido.
Vitamin B6 to cite an example is able together with other components to exert a considerable action on testosterone. This means that those suffering from male impotence or decreased desire may need to enrich their diet with this vitamin. All foods that contain vitamin E in good quantities are to be considered “aphrodisiacs”. It seems that vitamin E acts directly on sexual desire improving the appetite that is a little off. It would seem far-fetched – and it could make most people turn up their noses – but garlic and onion are considered «the viagra of the poor»: they stimulate blood circulation a lot.
Oysters have an epic history as an aphrodisiac: legend has it that Casanova, the famous seducer of the 18th century, filled up on raw oysters every morning, to maintain its energy. The oyster also has a certain resemblance to the female genitalia and savoring the meat, soft and moist, can be a little allusive.
Oysters contain large amounts of zinc, an important mineral for the production of testosterone and sperm and for immune functions, they also contain large amounts of the amino acid tyrosine, a nutrient that plays a role in the production of dopamine. It is well known that insufficient dopamine levels negatively affect libido When it comes to aphrodisiacs, food is just one factor in the libido equation, since even the individual body’s reaction to food and atmosphere (a romantic candlelit dinner against a crowded and noisy restaurant) could help.
Asparagus: this plant, which vaguely resembles a phallic form, has to thank the French for its unseemly reputation. In the 19th century, French spouses were served three plates of asparagus the day before the wedding, in the hope that this would intensify their sexual desire in view of the great night (hopefully their pee didn’t smell like asparagus, because it’s not sexy at all). Asparagus is a source of sexually stimulating nutrients, including vitamins E, B, and potassium.
Chili peppers contain an oily compound known as capsaicin that stimulates the nerve endings on the tongue,… creates a tingling sensation and increases the release of epinephrine – also known as adrenaline – and endorphins, natural opiates for the body, pairs well with another food considered aphrodisiac, the nutritious avocado.
Figs have long been considered an aphrodisiac, mainly because they are mentioned in the Bible among the fruits present in the Garden of Eden. Some even believe that the fig tree was the true forbidden fruit that drove Adam and Eve into all that trouble. Figs contain a high concentration of antioxidants, flavonoids and polyphenols that can generate feelings of relaxation and well-being.
Vanilla is a powerful aphrodisiac, perhaps one of the oldest in the world; it is a very sweet spice but at the same time and sensual, with an effect on libido and sexual arousal. Although these properties are still under study, vanilla still has undoubted calming and antioxidant properties, and it is useful in combating stress.
