Feb
08
By: admin
| As anyone who has seen the film 9 1/2 Weeks will know - food can be seriously sexy (and hard to get out of your hair). |
| Mankind has in fact linked food with sex and love for thousands of years. The ancient Greeks, for example, believed that sparrows were a powerful inducer of lust because Aphrodite (from whose name we get the word ‘Aphrodisiac’) believed them to be sacred. |
| The Romans, meanwhile, followed the advice of the physician Galen, who wrote that spices, vegetables and mustard would make one feel particularly amorous, while St Thomas Aquinas claimed a balanced diet was key to a healthy libido. |
| While there is some debate surrounding the science of aphrodisiacs, some experts say the link does exist and there is no doubt that the human mind, consciously or subconsciously, can be stimulated by eating, or watching others eat, certain foods. |
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| It might not be one of the most well known aphrodisiacs, but vanilla has nevertheless been frequently linked to increased feelings of lust because of its distinctive scent. |
| The Aztecs believed in its potency and a 1762 German study even claimed vanilla could cure impotence (not something we would endorse). |
| More recently, research at Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation revealed that, compared to other scents, men were most aroused by a whiff of vanilla. A couple of drops on the boyfriend’s pillow at night, ladies |
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| That St Valentine knew what he was doing when he chose February 14 as his day of celebration; it is right in the middle of truffle season. Truffles contain a chemical which is similar to a man’s sex hormone and the smell is thought to arouse females. |
| The pheromone, called androstenol, is also found in male pigs, which is why sows are used to hunt for truffles in the wild. Our perfect Valentine’s Day breakfast would be scrambled eggs with truffle shavings. Then back to bed afterwards, of course. |
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| Like many of the foods on our list, oysters have been coveted for their romantic properties for thousands of years. Roman satirist Juvenal wrote that women lost their inhibitions after eating oysters and, perhaps more tellingly, drinking copious amounts of wine. |
| More believable is the theory of the law of similarity, which says that objects which resemble genitalia can stir our libidos into action. It has also been said that the high zinc content of oysters can boost a man’s sperm count. The way we eat them probably has something to do with it too. |
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| It’s not to everyone’s taste, but celery contains the hormone androsterone, which occurs naturally in men and is thought to stimulate sexual arousal in women. The hormone is released through perspiration after eating, which may sound unpleasant but it does not give off any perceptible odour. |
| Tests are yet to confirm whether the amount of androsterone found in celery is enough to significantly affect us, but keep in mind that you will be eating a potent superfood which is low in calories and packed with fibre. If he doesn’t like to eat it raw, hide it in a stew - he’ll never notice. |
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| A poll by sweet maker Cadbury found that 52% of women would prefer chocolate to sex, apparently because chocolate ‘never disappoints’. To which we say; why not have both? |
| Chocolate is of course the treat most commonly associated with Valentine’s Day and, while it is not exactly original, the legions of men who will give them as presents may actually be on to something. Chocolate contains a chemical called phenylethylamine which releases a ‘feel-good’ reaction in the body. |
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| The aphrodisiac qualities of peaches stem from the fact that this humble fruit is, like oysters, guilty by association. The fruit’s distinctive cleft and soft skin is said to remind us of a woman’s cleavage. |
| But the peach’s best qualities are on the inside; they are packed with vitamin A, which is known to improve the appearance of our skin. If you want his hands to feel silky soft skin this Valentine’s Day, start stocking up on peaches now. |
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| Many different types of nuts are thought to yield aphrodisiac properties, including walnuts for their alleged link to improved fertility and ginkgo nuts for their high concentration of antioxidants and ability to boost circulation. |
| Pine nuts are said to be amongst the most potent. Again it is the high concentration of zinc, a lack of which has been linked to infertility and impotence, which gives this aphrodisiac its special powers. As well as high levels of zinc to stir you and your partner’s libido, pine nuts also contain a compound called boron, which stimulates brain activity. |
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| The famous British herbalist Nicholas Culpepper, writing in the 17th century, said that this delightful vegetable “Stirs up lust in man and women” and in France it used to be tradition to feed bridegrooms with platefuls of the stuff on the night before their wedding. |
| Asparagus is full of vitamins A, B and C as well as potassium and folic acid, which is thought to contain a compound which may help men and women to climax during sex. So, remind me when asparagus season starts again? |
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| Before you jump to conclusions, it isn’t all to do with phallic symbolism. This pleasingly shaped fruit delivers a huge payload of potassium and B vitamins, which we need to top up our energy stores. Bananas also contain an enzyme called bromelain, which is said to boost a man’s libido. |
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| Next time your lover tells you he has a headache or is not in the mood, make him eat basil. Then he’ll have no excuse. A member of the mint family, basil is thought to cure a headache, improve circulation and get the blood pumping. |
| With thanks to |
| So there you have it ladies! |
| Start planning that Valentines Day menu now! |
