Appetite for Seduction

By Sacha Cohen, February 2006


From chocolate to chilies, these eight (bolded) aphrodisiacs will keep you healthy in the bedroom and beyond, as will the following "delights": ...


Baked Garlic for Two
Basic Basil Pesto
Belgian Endive Salad with Apples, Toasted Walnuts, and Fig Vinaigrette
Black Mission Fig Tart with Walnut Cream
Chiles Rellenos Gratin
Easy Oyster Stew
Grilled Tuna Steaks with Pineapple-Chili Sauce
Honey Oatmeal with Spiced Pears and Pecans
Honey Walnuts
Mixed Winter Squash Soup with Honey and Sage
Perfectly Simple Dark Chocolate Tart
More Recipes in Our Recipe Guide

From: Eating Well Channel (AARP.org)

Food has often played a significant role on the sexual stage. Whether as the star (the famous kitchen scene from 9½ Weeks) or as a bit player (Godiva on Valentine’s Day), it’s not much of a leap from kitchen to bedroom.

Imagine the pure tactile sensuality of rich dark chocolate, the dangerous heat of a chili pepper, and the ripe lusciousness of a fig. What could be more enticing? "The most powerful aphrodisiac is the brain, and when you tell a sexy story, usually the insinuation speaks as loud as the ingredient. All aphrodisiacs boast a racy story to support their authenticity," says Diane Brown, author of The Seduction Cookbook.

Montezuma, for example, supposedly drank 50 cups of chocolate beverage a day, hoping to strengthen his prowess in the bedroom. Hippocrates recommended honey to help one's libido. And legend has it that Casanova, the ultimate playboy, ate dozens of oysters a day to keep the ladies satisfied.

"Whether it is the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, or Aztecs, the belief is the same: food is about a whole mind-body connection," says Marlo Mittler, M.S., R.D., a nutritional consultant at Fairway Market in New York City. "With a little meal planning, a touch of culinary skill, and an understanding of how foods act as aphrodisiacs, your love life may get just the lift you are looking for."

While the list of amorous foods is long (albeit scientifically unsubstantiated), a few in particular have notable health benefits. Oysters and pine nuts, for example, are high in zinc, a mineral used in the production of testosterone, while chili peppers trigger endorphins, giving you a natural high. And let's not forget about the substantial antioxidants in garlic and honey. So even if they can't replace that little blue pill (or the sex drive of an 18-year-old), they're worth adding to your healthy eating repertoire.

Chocolate

No list of aphrodisiacs would be complete without this Valentine's Day staple. With a heady combination of caffeine (to keep you up all night) and a stimulant called phenylethylamine, the "love chemical," it's no wonder that chocolate is romance's MVP. And here's good news for chocoholics everywhere: the American Dietetic Association says the antioxidants in chocolate may prevent cholesterol from building up on artery walls (a risk factor for heart attack and stroke), while its flavonoids fight disease. Keep in mind that darker chocolate has more of these compounds.

Chili Peppers

Ready to heat things up? Try adding chili peppers to your seduction menu. The effects of the chemical capsaicin in these sassy vegetables mimic sexual arousal—sweating, increased heart rate, and flushing—and may cause you to mistakenly attribute the reaction to feelings of passion for your partner. The good news? Capsaicin helps fight inflammation, clears congestion, and may even help you lose weight.

Figs

Since Adam and Eve first adorned themselves with fig leaves, figs have been inextricably tied to fertility and reproduction. "Figs may have become known as an aphrodisiac because of their suggestive shape, but have a heady sweetness and creamy consistency perfect for amorous dining," says Brown. Figs are an excellent source of potassium, the mineral that controls blood pressure, and are full of fiber and calcium.

Garlic

Ezra, the Jewish priest and scribe from the fifth century B.C., commanded the Jews to eat garlic on the Sabbath eve to activate sexual drive. Clearly, he was on to something. While you may want to keep the Altoids mints handy, if both you and your beloved partake of this pungent herb, you'll not only ward off vampires and keep the fires stoked, you'll also profit from its long list of health benefits. The powerful antioxidants in garlic purportedly help lower cholesterol, fight colds, improve blood circulation (boosting sexual performance), and may even help reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Honey

One of the oldest sweeteners known to man, honey has long been touted as a cure for sterility and impotence. While these claims are questionable, honey's fructose content aids stamina and provides a slow and steady release of energy, explains Dr. Barry Swanson, a food historian with the Institute of Food Technologists. Hindu tradition calls for grooms to have honey on their wedding day, and "sweet liquid gold" is tied to love in everything from the Bible to the Kama Sutra. Honey contains vitamin B6, riboflavin, and pantothenic acid, as well as minerals like calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc. It also contains several compounds that function as antioxidants. Oh, and did we mention that it also has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties? Now that's a superfood.

Oysters

Since the days of Aphrodite, oysters have been associated with all things sensual. Lovers the world over have turned to the salty bivalve for its purported lust-inducing qualities. While oysters are high in zinc, which contributes to the production of testosterone, its main attribute is its ability to stimulate not the body but the imagination. Just be sure to double-check the freshness and quality of these slippery seducers from the sea before you and your lover indulge.

Pine Nuts

As far back as medieval times, pine nuts have been used to stimulate the libido because they are rich in zinc, a key mineral for maintaining male potency. "Pine nuts first got their aphrodisiac reputation from the effort required to get them. They're nestled in the cones of the pine tree, and the best were said to come from the Himalayas," says Martha Hopkins, author of InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook. Like most nuts, they also offer protective cardiovascular benefits and are especially good sources of thiamin, iron, magnesium, and manganese, explains Mittler. Zinc also helps the immune system and promotes wound healing.

Walnuts

Ancient Romans threw walnuts instead of rice at weddings because they associated walnuts with fertility. Nowadays, you're better off snacking on them. "Walnuts are among one of the healthiest things you could eat," says Mittler. The omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts are helpful in protecting the body from cardiovascular disease by preventing erratic rhythms in the heart, making the blood less likely to clot inside the arteries, and improving the ratio of good to bad cholesterol, she adds. In fact, research suggests that 1.5 ounces of walnuts per day as part of a diet low in saturated fats and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
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JACQUES' NOTE: The above alimentary pornographic recipes (LOL) come (no pun intended) from today's AARP Magazine, of all places---proving once more that Love, Romance, Sexual Drive and Activities come (there it goes raising its head again!) :o)...from the Brain and Mind - thus, are ageless, unless or until one Thinks or Decides to "give up on it"!

And what better time than at the start of the weekend to share these goodies with you? So, Make It A Memorably Great Weekend, my good Friends!

Jacques