Aphrodisics: The Taste of Love

By John Balentine

With advertisements for products such as Cialis and Viagra seemingly everywhere, baby boomer couples seem to have much to be happy and thankful about these days.  In fact, the recent successes of bedroom pharmaceuticals makes one wonder if aphrodisiac foods have a place anymore.  Is there room for chocolate bars before intimacy, or perhaps oysters on the half-shell and a few green M&Ms?

Debbie Pepper-Dougherty, a registered dietician and owner of DPD Nutrition consultants in Westbrook, said a popular nutrition book cites the benefi ts of chocolate, saying the first bite or two can stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain.  “Whether that works or not, I don’t know. There aren’t many studies on the subject. But, without a doubt, there is a link between eating a healthy diet and feeling better,” Pepper-Dougherty said.

Chocolateers, especially with the upcoming Valentine’s Day holiday, will be selling tons of chocolate to sweethearts young and old. Len Libby Candy Shops, located on Route 1 in Scarborough and in business since 1926, is one such place to buy heart-shaped boxes fi lled with chocolate goodies this Valentine’s Day.  While store management certainly won’t be using advertisements touting the alleged sexual benefits of chocolate, they will say that love and chocolate go together well.

“Who knows if it has aphrodisiac benefits but it sure brings a closeness to the two who share it together. No doubt, the gift of chocolate gives the warm and fuzzies,” said Gisele DeGrinney, assistant manager.  According to the federal Food and Drug Administration, alleged aphrodisiacs like chocolate may make you feel good mentally because they contain stimulants such as caffeine, not because they hold any mysterious powers over the erogenous zones.

According to the FDA’s Web site, “The reputed sexual effects of so-called aphrodisiacs are based in folklore, not fact.”  In 1989, the agency declared there is no scientific proof that any over-the-counter aphrodisiacs work to treat sexual dysfunction.

Aphrodisiacs have been around for thousands of years and have created akind of cult following. The FDA defines an aphrodisiac as a “food, drink, drug, scent, or device that, promoters claim, can arouse or increase sexual desire, or libido.”  Named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love, the list of supposed sexual stimulants includes such foods as anchovies, ginseng, licorice, scallops on the half shell and Spanish fly (made of dried beetle dung), and hundreds of other items.

One particularly famous believer in the use of aphrodisiacs was Montezuma, king of the Aztecs and proud owner of hundreds of concubines. He would reportedly drink 50 cups of liquid chocolate each day to increase his virility. It’s unclear whether all that sugary concoction produced additional sexual vigor or just plaque on Montezuma’s teeth, but one thing is for certain, the excess caffeine that Montezuma would have ingested with 50 cups of chocolate would be enough to keep him awake for any number of activities.

Montezuma’s encounter with chocolate is similar to many aphrodisiac foods that are claimed to get the juices flowing. Rather than being legitimate sexual stimulants, however, experts say they are merely garden- variety stimulants producing similar effects to coffee, sugar or blood thinners such as aspirin.

Misunderstanding the side effects of some foods may be one false cause leading to the rise of aphrodisiac lore through the ages; another is nutrition. When people who are deprived of certain vitamins and minerals finally get to eat a nutritious meal, leaps in association can be made and powerful myths can develop. As a result, some purported aphrodisiacs such as rhinoceros horn were alleged to elevate the libido.

Chemically, rhino horns are rich in calcium and phosphorus. And while the horns resemble the male reproductive organ (which for some primitive peoples has been reason enough to consider them sexually beneficial), there’s no evidence that the consumption of rhino horns, bananas or asparagus or any number of other phallic foods help to stimulate the sexual organs, the FDA reports.

In short, the addition of healthy foods to a deficient diet, according to the FDA, “could improve general physical vigor and possibly lead to an increased sexual interest,” but it doesn’t directly impact the propensity to reproduce.

Foods & Claims These foods reportedly act as aphrodisiacs. Some are said to be aphrodisiacs simply because of their shape and some because of their aromas, while others claim a chemical basis for their “love” powers. This is by no means a complete list and, unless otherwise noted, there is no readily available research to back up their claims.

Aniseed

Also known as anise, the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that you could increase desire by sucking on anise seeds.  Aniseed does include estrogenic compounds (female hormones), which have been reported to induce similar effects to testosterone.

Avocado

The avocado tree was called a “testicle tree” by the Aztecs because its fruit hangs in pairs on the tree, resembling the male testicles. Its aphrodisiac value is based on this resemblance.

Bananas

In addition to the phallic shape of the banana itself, the banana flower also has a phallic shape. Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, which are said to be necessary for sex-hormone production.

Basil (sweet basil)