A secret for swordsmen: forget the meatburger helper. This simple meal will make you spartacus and her sparkle

Men's Fitness, Feb, 2004 by Linda Formichelli

YOU DON'T HAVE to be a French culinary master or Emeril-wannabe to serve up satisfaction with a smile. Doesn't matter if it's Valentine's Day or Veteran's Day, when cooking for a lady, your goal is to whip up an edible love potion. Imagine a combination of foods scientifically proven to boost stamina and staying power, while simultaneously working some magic on her libido. To keep things simple, we combined seven super-powerful sex foods into one ultra-romantic, ultra-simple dish that even a chef of Boyardee's caliber could scramble together. Word of advice: If this doesn't work, get yourself a giant box of pink wine and let 'er rip!

HONEY

University of Memphis studies show that honey is one of the most effective forms of long-lasting muscle fuel, ideal for powering your body during exercise--or sexercise. In fact, the sweet, sticky stuff provides virtually the same benefits during long-term endurance activities as packaged power gels. "Anything that boosts energy will also help to boost sexual function," says Chris Kilham, a Massachusetts-based nutritionist and author of The Whom Food Bible.

FRESH FRUIT

It'll make you sweeter (and we don't mean your disposition). The fructose and acid in fruits like mangos help to change the acidity of some men's bodies, making fluids less bitter. Fruit is also high in fiber, which clears your bloodstream of excess cholesterol and plaque, improving blood flow and helping to make erections even stronger.

PINE NUTS

The taste of sunflower seeds, but from a pine cone. According to Lou Paget, a California-based sex therapist and author of 365 Days of Sensational Sex, pine nuts help to enhance a woman's nesting instinct. Not exactly ideal when you're trying to pull off a one-timer but great for increasing her motivation while snapping buttons off the fly of your jeans. Plus, pine nuts improve brain function, which can help make that awkward bedroom talk more, er, meaningful.

YOGURT

It's high in calcium and phosphorus--two minerals that help to build your muscles' energy reserves and boost libido. Calcium also helps to make your orgasms more powerful, since the muscles that control ejaculation need calcium in order to spasm and contract properly. Make sure you opt for vanilla-flavored yogurt over plain. Research from the Smell and Taste Research Foundation in Chicago shows that the scent of vanilla can help reduce anxiety and lessen inhibitions.

ASPARAGUS

Legend has it that if a plant looks like a body part, then it's sure to aid that body part. Asparagus looks like--well, you know what it looks like. (Hopefully, yours isn't green.) On the hard-core-science front, asparagus contains a compound called asparagine. "The stuff is a mild urinary-tract stimulant, which lots of men and women find incredibly arousing," says Kilham.

AVOCADO

Green is sexy--just ask that two-timing swine Miss Piggy. But even more important than color, avocado feels sexy. "The texture of a ripe avocado, the smoothness and creaminess, is just like the delicate texture of a woman," says Paget. Avocado is also an excellent source of vitamin E, says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Gall Frank, R.D. And vitamin E plays a vital role in muscle function and reflexes--just what you need for undercover gymnastics.

STEAK

Oysters have a reputation as an aphrodisiac, but it's the zinc inside that gives them their erotic power. Since nobody wants to sit around slurping oysters, serve up a slab of beef-which has almost the same zinc punch. "Your body needs zinc to keep your reproductive system in good working order," says Kilham. "It's essential for the production of sperm and hormones" he says. Beef is also a good source of B vitamins, which help to fight stress and keep your sex drive roaring.

MAIN COURSE

Steak With Avocado Sauce

2 (6-oz)top-loin steaks
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
6 medium tomatillos (Mexican green
  tomatoes-you likely walk right past
  them in the produce aisle)
1/4 cup water
2 oz cream cheese
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled,
  and diced
4 green onion stalks, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1 large tomato, chopped

To make: Combine brown sugar, chili
powder, garlic salt, and pepper, and
pat mixture onto both sides of steak.
Preheat broiler or electric grill and
cook steaks to desired doneness. While
the steaks cook, quarter the tomatillos
and dump them and the 1/4 cup of
water into a medium saucepan. Bring
to boil and simmer for five minutes or
until tomatillos are soft. Add the cream
cheese to the boiling water and stir
until melted. Then pour the tomatillos
and cheese mixture into a blender or
food processor. Add avocado, onions,
and salt, and process until smooth.
Serve sauce over the steak and top
with tomato chunks.