Foods that Fuel the Libido – Ten Natural Aphrodisiacs
We've all heard of over-the-counter stimulants that increase your sex drive, but not many college students are popping these pills willingly and without significant forethought. Is there a way to enhance your boyfriend and your sex life sans the same pill your 75-year-old grandfather swears by? There are indeed natural solutions or additions, if you will, to your sex life. The following list brings a whole new meaning to the word foodgasm.
- Honey
Honey is known as the nectar of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of sexual love and beauty. Honey is a great source of B vitamins, which are needed for the production of testosterone. Honey also contains boron, which helps the body metabolize and use estrogen.
2. Celery
Boys should listen up. Sweating after eating celery acts as a pheremone that arouses women. Androsterone, a male hormone found in celery, is said to stimulate this arousal. The Romans noticed the effects of celery, even dedicating the vegetable to Pluto, the "god of sex." Feed your boy some celery and watch to see if he becomes any more attractive (if that's even possible, of course!).
3. Tuna
Tuna contains B3 vitamins, which cause your blood to dilate and can help those who have trouble "getting it up". B3 also increases one's sense of touch, enhances orgasms, and improves a guy's erection. Other sources of B3: salmon, halibut, peanuts, mushrooms, asparagus, broccoli, and lean cuts of turkey, beef tenderloin, and lamb tenderloin.
4. Garlic
Yes, that's right. Garlic. I know--it's hard to reconcile, considering everyone knows to avoid it on a date. But, alas, garlic has more than just one, albeit stinky face. According to the priestesses of ancient Rome, garlic was capable of making women fall in love and men powerful. And there is some truth to it—garlic increases blood circulation and can aid in sexual performance.
5. Vanilla
Take it from the experts at the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago. According to them, the scent and taste of vanilla increases blood flow in the penis. Try pulling out the vanilla candles, spraying on the perfume, or just inviting Ben & Jerry into the bed.
6. Avocado
The Aztecs themselves dubbed the avocado tree, "testicle tree". In addition to its appearance, the avocado increases libido in both men and women. For men, the avocado's high vitamin B6 content increases hormone production. For women, the avocado's high potassium content regulates the thyroid gland.
7. Oysters
Raw oysters are high in zinc, which aids in increasing the production of testosterone and sperm. Oysters also contain the hormone dopamine, which is said to increase libido. Other sources of dopamine: almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, lima beans, pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds.
8. Watermelon
This highly hydrating sweet fruit is more than a poolside treat; in fact, it can mimic the effects of Viagra. This is largely due to its citrulline and arginine content. These substances incite the production of nitric oxide in the body, relaxing the body's blood vessels. Other sources: meats, fish, eggs, milk, edamame, and other legumes.
9. Chocolate
If chocolate had any physiological, as opposed to psychological, aphrodisiacal properties, the explanation would be in its chemical content of tryptophan and phenylethylamine. Tryptophan is a building block of serotonin, a brain chemical involved in sexual arousal. Phenlethylamin (aka the "love chemical") is released when people fall in love and it peaks during orgasm. The effects of these chemicals in chocolate are said to be too small to make a noticeable difference. I say we ignore that last bit and eat up, ladies.
10. Basil
Around the world, basil has been associated with love and sex. In Italy, basil is called "kiss me Nicholas" (bacia-nicola) and is thought to attract husbands to wives. According to Moldavian folklore, a man is expected to fall in love with the woman from whom he accepts a sprig of basil. Scientific justification: basil has a warming effect on the body and promotes circulation.
Experiment!
Why not cook your beau a fabulous dinner ridden with all of nature's hidden aphrodisiacs? See if you can pull it off all in one meal. Perhaps the allure of their sexual properties will prove arousing enough? Oysters with chocolate-honey sauce served on watermelon slices, anyone?
Sources
http://www.naturalhealthnbeauty.com/vitamin_B3.htm
http://www.smellandtaste.org/
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/857505/viagra_in_fruit_form_watermelon_is.html
http://www.eatsomethingsexy.com/aphrodisiac/celery.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2000_Feb_1/ai_59107872/
http://www.livescience.com/health/top10_aphrodisiacs-1.html
http://www.tstonramp.com/~soaringspirit/html/little_known_facts_1.html
http://www.lovecarnival.com/aphrodisiac/
