Valentine’s Day is just around the corner.
Let’s talk about food and sex.
Shapes and textures can influence our view of food as sexual aid as well as our other sensory responses to them.
There is a lot of lore about food and its effect on libido, some of it based at least partly in truth and some of it pure legend. But, the most important sex organ is the brain so if you believe in a particular food’s aphrodisiac qualities, then it might just be true for you.
Everybody knows about oysters and their reputation as romance enhancers, but did you know about asparagus? In earlier times, it was customary to serve different courses of asparagus at the wedding banquet. They didn’t know why then, but it’s because it contains histamine which is linked to better orgasms in both sexes.
I don’t need an excuse to eat caviar, but here’s a health-related reason to do so. Caviar is high in zinc. Zinc stimulates the formation of testosterone, helps keep the prostate healthy and helps maintain “male functionality.”
And then there’s the banana. We’ll skip the obvious here, but it should be noted that bananas contain the enzyme bromelain which is known to enhance male performance, according to some studies.
Alcohol is well known as a social lubricant. It can lower inhibitions. But too much of it can have a sedative effect which is not what you want when you’re looking for love. Champagne’s reputation as “the drink of love” should come with this caveat: Imbibe in moderation.
Did you know that chocolate was banned from monasteries? That’s because it has qualities that exhilarate those who consume it as well as increase their desire for physical contact. Not a good thing if you’re a celibate monk.
Historians tell us that the ancient Greeks celebrated seasonal crops of figs with frenzied lovemaking.
Ginseng is supposed to improve your memory. It’s also known to increase the desire for physical contact.
Perfumes made of aromas associated with food — like vanilla and almond and cinnamon — can act as a pheromone, a sexually alluring smell.
The pharoahs of Egypt viewed the radish as a god-given aphrodisiac, probably because it was spicy and stimulated their taste buds.
Truffles, rare and costly, exude a musky aroma and are likely to arouse more than your palate. Legend has it that an Italian bridegroom, hoping to bolster his masculinity, actually killed himself by eating too many truffles. Sadly, it was during his wedding feast.
What’s your idea of a romantic meal on Valentine’s Day? E-mail us at foodforum@dailygazette.net.
