Aphrodisiacs are named after, Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, fruitfulness, and beauty. An aphrodisiac is a substance that puts one in the mood for love and can include food, herbs, good conversation, moonlight and lingerie! Aphrodisiacs may have a direct effect on the erogenous zones. Some may stimulate, irritate or act as a diuretic, causing one to experience more sensation.

Aphrodisiacs may affect the mind, cause relaxation and prolong lovemaking. Their shape, texture or smell may be reminiscent of sex. There is an ancient worldwide belief called The Doctrine of Signatures that believes plants give us hints as to what they are good for, by the way they look, smell, taste, and grow. They may be highly nutritious and by improving health, bring about healthier libido. Both sex and food are closely related by being pleasurable and physical.

In times past, many foods were thought to be aphrodisiacs simply because they were scarce. For example, when potatoes first made the trek from the Americas to Europe, they were elevated to the status of “spuds of love” due to the fact that only the elite could enjoy them. But as their availability increased to the point at which they became a preferred food of the peasantry, the potato’s allure as an aphrodisiac waned. 

Truffles, too, have long been lauded as romance enhancers, but again, their reputation for amoré is more likely due to the scarcity of the expensive and elusive fungus rather than any romantic effect the chemical compounds they contain might produce.

The Unavoidable Oyster Issue

So, what about oysters, you ask, since the bivalve mollusk is usually found at the top of every top ten list of aphrodisiacs?

Served at Roman orgies, and endorsed by the likes of Don Juan and Casanova, some theorize this veritable Viagra-on-the-half-shell resembles female genitalia, and is therefore stimulating to the act of love. (Ew?) However, it’s more likely their potency lies in the powerful punch of rare amino acids D-aspartic acid (D-Asp) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) oysters and other bivalves pack.

In lab experiments (with rats), injections of these substances triggered progesterone production in females and testosterone in males. Since hormonal components are integral to increased sexuality…well, you draw the conclusion.

Menu for the Modern Cupid

But slimy bivalves, no matter their romantic efficacy, aren’t to everyone’s taste. Fortunately, we’ve gathered a list of more palatable and scientifically proven foods for love that you can work into your plans when romance is on the menu.

Chocolate

Nothing new here: cocoa has been cited as an aphrodisiac for centuries, only now there’s science to back up what chocolate lovers have always known. The name Theobroma cacao, the trees from which chocolate is sourced, translates to “cacao, food of the gods.” The ancient Maya used the beans as brothel currency, and cocoa legend also has it that the Aztec emperor Montezuma drank upwards of 50 cups of chocolate daily to maintain the sexual stamina required to satiate his myriad wives.

According to scientists, chocolate contains two chemical substances that aid in passionate pursuits: phenethylamine, a stimulant associated with the act of falling in love; and tryptophan, a catalyst to the production of serotonin, the brain chemical associated with elevated moods and sexual arousal. And did we mention it tastes beyond great?

Vanilla Bean

As early as the 1700s, the vanilla bean was being touted by medical professionals of the day as a male performance enhancer. In fact, in a 1762 thesis, “On Experiences,” German physician Bezaar Zimmermann cited “no fewer than 342 impotent men, by drinking vanilla decoctions, had changed into astonishing lovers of at least as many women.”

The vanilla love affair continues with Founding Father Thomas Jefferson. After returning from his gig as Ambassador to France in 1789, Jefferson almost immediately sent an urgent request to his French attaché for the vanilla pods to which he’d become accustomed (that were as yet unavailable in America). Jefferson, who had a reputation for sexual prowess (among other things), recommended the passionate pod for many applications, from the flavoring of ice cream to use as an aphrodisiac.

In the mid-1990s, neurologist Alan Hirsch, of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, conducted tests to distinguish the connection between the sense of smell and sexual arousal. Volunteers wore masks infused with a variety of aromas, several of which were found effective in increasing tumescence. But of all the scents mature men tested, vanilla had the absolute highest potency.

Watermelon

The watermelon, native to the continent of Africa, has been cultivated in the Nile Valley as long ago as the Second Millennium B.C. Watermelon seeds have even been found at the tombs of such notable Egyptians as Tutankhamun.

It’s likely that the ancient Pharaohs were clueless as to why the sweet red fruit enhanced sexual performance, but some modern scientists liken it to “natural Viagra.” Watermelon contains large amounts of the phytonutrient citrulline. When digested, citrulline is converted to an amino acid called arginine, which relaxes blood vessels and improves cardiovascular and immune functions. (Since the highest concentration of citrulline is actually found in the rind of the watermelon, if you’re a culinary aficionado, you might want to test out a few recipes for watermelon pickles.)

Pomegranate

When Eve reached for that forbidden fruit, many scholars argue that it wasn’t an apple that caused the ruckus that got the seminal pair booted from Eden, it was a pomegranate. Whatever the case, the fruit certainly got around. In Greek mythology, Aphrodite, the mother of all aphrodisiacs, is credited with planting the first pomegranate tree, and Persephone found herself bound to Hades after eating only a few seeds.

In a 2011 study by Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University, it was determined that a daily dose of pomegranate juice reduced levels of cortisol (which lowers stress) and increased levels of testosterone in both male and female study participants, which may result in increased sexual desire in both sexes. While there’s no hard data, pomegranate proponents also posit that thanks to its high levels of antioxidants, consumption of the red fruit may also up genital sensitivity–but in a good way.

Chili Pepper

As recently as the 18th Century in Europe, many aphrodisiac concoctions were based on the recipes of the great Roman physician Galen. Galen had a penchant for potions that favored foods that were “warm and moist” and also “windy,” meaning gas inducing. Galen may have been laboring under the mistaken belief that flatulence could inflate a limp male member, but some of his science has been since proven true.

One ingredient Galen championed for bedroom bounty was spice, including chili peppers. Peppers contain the naturally occurring chemical capsaicin, which serves several arousing functions: raising the body temperature, increasing blood flow, and stimulating the release of endorphins. In addition to that trifecta, capsaicin naturally plumps the lips and causes the skin to flush, both of which send subliminal signals that suggest your pump is primed and ready for action.

Whatever dish you plan on cooking up, using these ingredients might just get you ready for cooking up a little something else, as well. Enjoy.