Last Friday night, my friend ordered a pineapple juice instead of the typical “I’ll have a water too” response. We stared at her with a confused look, which she returned with a sly smile. Pineapples, along with an assortment of foods, are known as aphrodisiacs. The word aphrodisiac stems from the name of the Greek goddess of sexual love, Aphrodite. These foods are believed to stimulate sexual desire and improve your sex life. Let’s just say there is a reason behind the term “honeymoon” and why chocolate is bought on Valentine’s Day. Talk about having a sexual appetite.
Now, I apologize in advance for what I am about to tell you. But, aphrodisiacs are just about as realistic as the movies make losing your virginity. The majority of research explains that aphrodisiacs work as placebos. Yes, there is a strong link between what we eat and how we feel; however, it is much more mental than physical.
In 1989, the FDA stated that the supposed sexual effects of aphrodisiacs are based on folklore, not scientific fact. A study published in the journal of International Society of Sexual Medicine asserts that aphrodisiacs are an unsupported myth. In terms of their effectiveness, researchers affirm that it is not possible to actually become aroused by food. Yet, food stimulates the same pleasure triggers in the brain as sex does. They do not directly affect the sexual epicenters of the body. However, food and the physical act of eating can bring sex to the mind.
5 Common Types of Aphrodisiacs:
1. Hot foods are thought to make you “hot” and arouse heated passion
2. Foods resembling genitalia are believed to increase sexual desire
3. Reproduction foods increase sexual potency
4. Exotic foods cause erotic behavior
5. Foods that engage one’s senses in a pleasurable way relate to stimulating passion
I encourage you to experiment these unproven theories with the following list of foods:
1. Chocolate: The chemical phenyl ethylamine evokes feelings of well-being and excitement.
2. Hot chilies: The chemical capsaicin increases circulation of blood flow, which stimulates nerve endings and makes one feel turned on.
3. Avocados: Vitamin E produces hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone, which stimulate sexual responses like clitoral swelling and vaginal lubrication
4. Bananas: Potassium helps with muscle strength, which will make the contractions when you orgasm more intense.
5. Oysters: The mineral zinc produces testosterone which is supposedly linked with a higher sex drive.
http://www.webmd.com/sex/features/aphrodisiacs-fact-or-fiction
http://time.com/3984196/aphrodisiacs-that-work/