hot lunch

Vegetarian Times, Feb, 2001 by Abigail Chipley

Aphrodisiacs can whet your appetite for more than just a meal

Name a food, any food, and chances are, in some culture it was once considered an aphrodisiac. Since the beginning of time, people have been obsessed with finding foods--from celery to chocolate to figs--to increase libido or boost sexual performance. Books, articles and web sites abound with advice on how to rev up your sex drive with all that is edible, despite the dearth of scientific evidence proving that aphrodisiacs actually work.

Demonstrating a clear link between a particular food and increased libido is a tough proposition for scientists, however. Besides the obvious difficulties of designing clinical trials (picture a candlelit lab), the fact that foods have multiple effects on the senses and the body makes it difficult to sort out which function of a given food is actually at work. The way a food looks, smells, tastes or even the way it feels can make it "sexy." In more scientific terms, by helping to produce sex hormones, increasing our energy and improving our mood, certain foods can influence sexual desire.

Foods are thought to be aphrodisiacs for a number of reasons. Some gain that distinction simply because they remind us of parts of the anatomy (bananas, celery, asparagus, peaches, melons, oysters). Spicy fare like hot peppers, curries and ginger makes people feel sexy because they cause sweating, increased heart rate and flushing, sensations normally associated with getting it on. Dishes containing vanilla, licorice or truffles give off a scent that whets the appetite for both food and sex. Then there are edibles that are rich in nutrients that may improve both desire and performance. Still other foods taste so good that some of us swear they are as good as--or better than--sex.

It may not sound exciting, but the best thing you can do for your sex life is to get or stay in top physical condition. "The key to sexual health is the word health, and that means a good diet," says Carol Coughlin, R.D., a nutritionist based in Falmouth, Maine. "It's pretty hard to feel sexy or have others think you are when you don't feel well, have no energy or are just dragging." One reason many older folks experience problems with sexual performance is that they have poor circulation due to clogged arteries. To get your blood pumping and keep your cardiovascular system problem-flee, Coughlin recommends cutting back on foods high in saturated fat and eating five servings of fresh fruits and veggies every day.

Rev It Up

In addition to a good diet, several nutrients play particularly important roles. The B vitamins, which help produce male and female sex hormones, also prevent fatigue, anxiety and depression, all factors that can contribute to a stalled sex drive. Make sure you're getting enough of these important nutrients by loading up on whole grains, beans and leafy green vegetables. If your lifestyle is turning you into a nervous wreck or if you take oral contraceptives or drink alcohol--all of which deplete B vitamins--you may want to consider taking either a multivitamin or a B vitamin supplement.

Another nutrient that keeps us feeling lusty is zinc, which helps men synthesize testosterone and women sustain lubrication. Perhaps not coincidently, foods high in this mineral, like nuts and seafood, have long been believed to improve sexual potency. The Italians swear by pine nuts, and cultures the world over associate nuts with fertility. In addition to providing sustained energy due to their high protein content, the zinc in nuts can keep men feeling like frolicking well into old age. Says Chris Meletis, N.D., a professor at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore., and author of Better Sex Naturally (Harper Resource, 2000), "Zinc is important in helping to prevent prostate problems--something that can really dampen a man's ability to perform." Good sources of zinc include pecans, brazil nuts, almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds. If you don't feel you are getting enough of this mineral through your diet, you can take a multivitamin or a zinc supplement. (The recommended daily allowance is 15 mg. for men and 12 mg. for women.)

Nuts and seeds, particularly walnuts and pumpkin seeds, contain another nutrient important for sexual desire: omega-3 fatty acids. Besides maintaining cell membranes and transporting nutrients to cells, fatty acids are the precursors of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that play a key role in sexual health. Deborah Mitchell, author of Nature's Aphrodisiacs (Dell Publishing, 1999), writes, "An estimated 80 percent of Americans are deficient in essential fatty acids, primarily because the standard American diet contains very low concentrations of these nutrients." The best vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids is cold-pressed flaxseed oil (available in natural food stores). Mitchell recommends taking 2 tablespoons per day. Other good sources are hemp seed and pumpkin seed oil.

Love Bites

You may still be wondering if there are any foods that will have an immediate Viagra-like effect. That answer partly depends on how strong your belief is. Most experts agree that the reason aphrodisiacs work for some people is the placebo effect. Ruth Westheimer, Ph.D., the famed sex therapist, has often been quoted as saying, "The mind is the most potent aphrodisiac of all." But the fact remains: There are foods that contain substances that act directly on the brain to influence mood. Of course, the best known of these is chocolate, whose sensuous appeal can never be explained by science alone.