The moment Eve bit into that crisp, candy-red apple in the Garden of Eden, shame washed over her. Since then, some pretty suggestive food science has come to show that maybe she just chose the wrong fruit. Put a pomegranate or celery stalk in place of that apple and our first biblical love story could have unfolded quite differently.
Throughout history, many foods and drinks have had a reputation for raising the pulse and increasing the pleasure. These foods are known as aphrodisiacs. There hasn’t always been agreement on which foods are actually aphrodisiacs but the ancient lists included many of the common healthful and whole foods of today.
Historically, aphrodisiacs, which get their name from Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love, were first used to treat sexual anxieties like inadequacy fears or to amp up fertility. There was a time when procreation was an important moral and religious issue and aphrodisiacs were used to promote both male and female potency. Nutrition was lacking in ancient times because of food scarcity. And, as most of us can attest, hunger can diminish even the most potent of libidos, which in turn decreases fertility rates. Foods are considered to be aphrodisiacs for myriad reasons, from shape to aroma, to specific chemical properties. Food that resembled eggs or seeds was especially revered for its potential sexual powers. And foods that resembled genitalia in appearance were even more alluring. This is based on the doctrine of signatures, which is an ancient European philosophy, which asserted that plants bearing parts that resembled human body parts, animals, or other objects, had useful relevancy to those parts, animals or objects. For example, the asparagus, given its phallic shape, was frequently enjoyed as an aphrodisiac food. Other aphrodisiac qualities were derived from mythology.
(Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty was said to consider “sparrows” sacred because of their “amorous nature” and had them included in various aphrodisiac brews.)
These days, whip cream and chocolate sauce are thought to have more sex appeal than fennel and gingko nuts (or sparrows), but chemically speaking (and taste and texture aside), we may want to reconsider.
In the vegetable world, celery is known to contain androsterone, a male hormone that is able to stimulate the sexual arousal of females. The phallus shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid in seduction. The use of fennel as an aphrodisiac dates back to the Egyptian times where it was used as libido enhancement.
As far as fruits go, bananas are both aesthetically and chemically pleasing. Rich in potassium and B vitamins — necessities for sex hormone production — bananas have chelating minerals and the bromelain enzyme, which are thought to improve male libido. An open fig is thought to emulate the female sex organs and traditionally thought of as a sexual stimulant. Serve fresh Black Mission figs in a cool bowl of water, as it is done in Italy, and be sure to eat them with your fingers! The pomegranate, which is a symbol of fertility with its abundant seeds, also symbolizes prosperity and abundance in Chinese culture. Finally, the peach, a seductive fruit by virtue of its shape and texture, has also been attributed with sexual qualities. Hence, “I really like your peaches, wanna shake your tree…”
In the category of nuts, gingko is very popular. This nut improves blood circulation to extremities, which drives up the libido. The almond has also been a symbol of fertility throughout the ages. The Aztecs called the avocado tree “Ahuacuatl,” which translates to “testicle tree.” The ancients thought the fruit hanging in pairs on the tree resembled the male testis. Pine nuts are also thought to maintain male potency due to their high zinc content and have been used to stimulate the libido as far back as medieval times.
A spicy sex life doesn’t have to include beaches and lingerie, but instead can be helped by a healthy serving of herbs and spices. (These added flavors not only add excitement to your food but also your sex drive.) Aniseed is a very popular aphrodisiac with many culinary uses. It has been used as a love potion since the Greeks and the Romans, who believed aniseed had special powers. Sucking on the seeds is said to increase sexual desire. Asafoetida is an Indian herb used as a sexual stimulant in Ayurvedic medicine. The book “The Arabian Nights,” which is more than 1,000 years old, tells a tale of a merchant who was childless for 40 years and then cured by a concoction that included coriander. Ginger, garlic and onions are forbidden in ashrams due to their heat, which is thought to stir amorous feelings. Mustard is also believed to stimulate the sexual glands and increase desire. Nutmeg has been highly prized by Chinese women as a philter.
Have you heard the saying, “Go sow your wild oats?” Oats are a powerful stimulant that encourages the release of testosterone to help boost libido.
Do you need any more reasons to include whole foods into your diet? The numerous health benefits that have been repeatedly documented can help add spice to your sex life. So move over Viagra, hello coriander!
Jennifer Adler, M.S., C.N., provides nutrition counseling at her private practice Realize Health, www.realizehealth.com. She loves the flavors from as well as the added benefits of her pantry spices.