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A MYTH: Don’t count on food for a love mood
By Laura Giovanelli
Media General News Service
The Roman poet Ovid attributed properties of passion to peppers, shallots, eggs, honey and nuts.
The Greeks called carrots “love medicine.”
In reality, don’t count on them and other foods commonly tapped as nature’s Viagra to turn you into Casanova this Valentine’s Day. Throughout the ages, peas to peppermint have been singled out for their aphrodisiac effects. The official word from the federal Food and Drug Administration? Aphrodisiacs are folklore, not fact.
In his book The Penguin Guide to Food, food historian Alan Davidson put it more bluntly: “A remark attributed to a Roman prostitute, that kissing and embracing are the most effective aphrodisiacs, rings true and makes the nibbling of carrots and sucking of figs seem, by comparison, pathetically feeble.”
Some food most commonly considered as aphrodisiacs are actually high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, if not love juice. So eat your heart out (though consider their preparation - don’t eat fried oysters and claim that you’re just doing it for your lady).
Asparagus: High in folic acid, beta carotene and vitamins A, C and E.
Bananas: High in potassium and B vitamins, which are helpful in sex-hormone production.
Caviar: High in zinc, vitamins A and D, omega-3 fatty acids and an amino acid called arginine, according to Penny Riordan, a dietitian at Forsyth Medical Center. That can increase blood flow. “You can see where I’m heading there,” she said.
Chilies: Riordan says that chilies temporarily increase your heart rate and perspiration. Low in calories and sodium, chilies are also good sources of vitamin A, C and E, folic acid and potassium.
Chocolate: Considered a stimulant, chocolate affects neurotransmitters. Dark chocolate is a source of antioxidants and can lower blood pressure.
Eggs: High in protein, iron, vitamins A and D, phosphorus and choline.
Figs: Figs are abundant in fiber, Riordan said. They are also a good source of iron, calcium and phosphorous.
Oysters: A good source of protein, oysters are also high in calcium, niacin and iron.
Wine: There are reported antioxidant benefits to drinking red wine and benefits to heart health, but Riordan says that the alcohol is more responsible for any aphrodisiac effects. “I think it’s the more the relaxation it provides and lowering inhibitions ... instead of the nutritional benefit,” Riordan said.
¦ Laura Giovanelli writes for the Winston-Salem Journal.
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