Best Aphrodisiac Foods

From the known (oysters) to the bizarre (banana bread), the sexiest foods
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 10, 2010 1:09 PM CST
Best Aphrodisiac Foods
The smell of Good & Plenty can be an aphrodisiac for women.   (©oskay)

If you're looking for a Valentine's Day meal to put you and your lover in the mood, skip the chocolate—you'd need to eat 25 pounds to feel its euphoric effects. And despite the inclusion of popular aphrodisiacs like oysters on many V-Day menus, most meals are so heavy "you want to fall asleep afterward, not do the horizontal cha-cha-cha," a cookbook author tells the New York Times. More tips on foods to turn you on:

  • Oysters: Zinc increases sperm production, and the act of slurping them is seductive.
  • Garlic: Increases blood flow.
  • Chili peppers: Releases endorphins, and the spiciness will quicken your pulse and induce sweating—just like sex.
  • Cucumbers: Seen as an aphrodisiac due to phallic shape; the same can be said for asparagus or, on the lady side, figs.
  • Lavender and pumpkin pie: A study found these smells, when combined, to be the most potent turn-on for men. Another weird smell combo that worked: donuts and licorice.
  • Good & Plenty candy and cucumber: According to the study, women are most aroused by this combination. In second place? Good & Plenty with banana nut bread.
  • Honey: Along with basil, rosemary, saffron, grapes, and pine nuts, ancient cultures believed it would stoke the libido.
  • Wine: “Wine is an aphrodisiac," the cookbook author says. "There it is. In a nutshell.”
(More Valentine's Day stories.)

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