Food of love: Are aphrodisiacs actually effective?

Let’s get personal for a moment: what turns you on?

Is it seductively looking into a partner’s eyes over dinner while swallowing sumptuous, tender sips of red wine? Sucking on a square of chocolate and allowing it to melt exquisitely on your tongue? Eating a platter of oysters with a cheeky hit of spicy Tabasco? Or a feed of asparagus spears smothered in butter?

If none of the above has tickled your sexual desire, fret not. That is the most common scenario.

Aphrodisiacs have been lauded as the food of love for millennia even though there is little to no scientific proof behind their effectiveness. Still, the belief in these elixirs for a healthier sex life persists.

It probably stems from food’s intrinsic link with our lives. We need it for sustenance, obviously, but it also shadows every major moment in our lives, from birthdays and naming ceremonies to weddings and funerals. We choose food to celebrate our milestones and we turn to it for comfort in times of need.

An aphrodisiac is defined as any food or drink that arouses sexual desire. Natural aphrodisiacs are considered to have nutritional compositions that are dense in sexually stimulating properties such as zinc, potassium, and a range of vitamins. However, what can’t be accounted for in nutritional density or otherwise, is the intimacy factor that food can often bring to the table.

Sharing a meal is a very intimate thing to experience with someone; it’s no wonder it’s so often chosen as a dating activity. Cooking for someone is equally as intimate. Often, it doesn’t matter what’s actually served; the act is a stimulant, the food a placebo.

What the experts say

Sex and intimacy specialist Grace Alice Ó Sé advises that aphrodisiacs won’t be enough to fix the varied underlying issues that can cause a dip in desire, but they could certainly be a fun addition to healthy sexual realtionship, if that’s what pops your cherry.

“It might be fun to experiment with aphrodisiacs,” she said, “but [sexual desire] is so individual, you can’t just read an article or tips on how to sort out your love life.”

It’s important also to remember that sexual appetites will naturally ebb and flow, and healthy relationships are not defined by the gauge of a ‘sex drive’.

“There’s nothing wrong with having a low sex drive if you still have a happy fulfilling life and relationship,” says Grace Alice. “You don’t have to increase your desire.”

So, before you turn to culinary stimulants to improve your chances of a sexy dessert, you should first try starting a conversation with your partner about any concerns. Grace Alice has seen many couples where one person’s desire is not matched to the other, “then really neither of them are feeling fulfilled or connected in that way,” she said.

If you feel this is a problem in your relationship, speaking to a professional will help you get to the root of any problems. Or if you’re struggling to even talk about it, check out Grace Alice’s masterclass on healthy sex communication.

But if you and your partner are simply curious about new ways to spice up your sex life, doing some of your own research into the validity of aphrodisiacs can certainly be a fun adventure. At the very least, you’ll have a good feed trying!

Food facts

Find out where some of the aphrodisiacs used throughout history got their reputation.

Oysters

Legend has it that Casanova, the famed 18th-century lover, fuelled up on raw oysters every morning to maintain his stamina. Oysters contain a high level of zinc that is good for the production of testosterone and sperm.

Chocolate

Arguably the most popular aphrodisiac, chocolate contains the chemicals phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are thought to be mood boosters and mild sexual stimulants. However it is also the sensual nature – the way it melts in the mouth – and many delicious ways chocolate can be presented in desserts, that make it an object to arouse sexual desire.

Chilli

Chilli has a compound in it called capsaicin, which is where the heat comes from and what creates the tingling sensation on our tongues. It increases the release of epinephrine – also known as adrenaline – and endorphins, which are natural opiates for our body.

Ginger

Ginger was deemed an aphrodisiac for centuries because of its scent and its stimulation of the circulatory system. It’s also believed to increase sensitivity in the erogenous zones, and it’s true that it can make the tongue tingle and lips swell with its spicy effect.

Asparagus

Apparently, French grooms in the 19th century were served three courses of asparagus the day before their weddings in the hope that it would increase their sex drive for the big night ahead. This is because it’s a great source of a lot of libido-boosting nutrients, including vitamin E, B and potassium.

Watermelon

This large fruit is a rich source of the non-essential amino acid citrulline. Citrulline can relax and dilate blood vessels, much like Viagra.

Almonds

Known as a fertility symbol, the almond has also been said to have aphrodisiac qualities. They’re rich in essential fatty acids (omega-3 fats), which are needed to produce testosterone, as well as vitamin E, magnesium and fibre. Aside from that, their scent has been rumoured to arouse passion.