Aphrodisiacs on your table: what dishes and flavors increase desire?

Have you seen ads for miraculous perfumes that will make men turn around after you? Or, perhaps, you have heard about the exciting properties of a particular dish?

Of course, if you or your partner have health problems or are under stress, it is unlikely that you will be able to establish an intimate life only with the help of such means. However, if you want to add a playful touch to your bed, aphrodisiacs are always at your service. And you do not need to go to three seas to find them.

Fragrances

People have known since ancient times that smells can increase libido. The Kama Sutra mentions that the scent of saffron, musk and sandalwood, mixed with the scent of a woman, causes sexual desire.

And recently, as a result of experiments at the Research Center for Smell and Taste in Chicago, the top exciting aromas included …

• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Pumpkin Pie
• Donut flavor
• Lavender
• strawberry
• Musk
• Lakrica

Interestingly, lavender turned out to be popular among those participants in the experiment who were more sexually active than others. Strawberries are among men who are completely satisfied with their sex life. The smells of cranberries and (oddly enough!) chocolate did not show significant results at all.

According to Dr. Alan R. Heary, the aroma of food alone can make you feel good, and the reason lavender is on the list is simple: it reduces anxiety.

“Love” food

The foods we eat can also affect our mood. For example, carbohydrates act as a sedative, while proteins, on the contrary, are responsible for energy and vigilance. But so far, science has not provided evidence that pepper, cardamom, seafood, nuts, pomegranate, ginger and other foods that are credited with aphrodisiac properties directly affect sexual desire.

What foods have aphrodisiac properties?

• Strawberry. It contains a lot of zinc, and it stimulates the production of testosterone.
• Celery. Contains substances that enhance the synthesis of androgens, in particular androsterone.
• Bitter chocolate.
• Oysters and mussels. They are also high in zinc, and they also contain D-aspartic acid, which is involved in the release of testosterone, and the amino acid taurine, which regulates blood glucose levels.

In addition, there are plant aphrodisiacs that are sold in the form of drops and capsules, such as red ginseng and Peruvian maca. The first, according to research, shows healing properties for erectile dysfunction, and the second in both men and women stimulates sexual desire. However, the sample sizes and the testing methodology itself for these tools are not yet sufficient to draw unambiguous conclusions.

What influences our arousal

Speaking of aphrodisiacs, you should not turn to the past. In the past, eating something rich in nutrients had a deeper impact on a person’s overall well-being…because good food wasn’t readily available. This is what contributed to the increase in libido, and not the “love” properties of the products.

Then why do we think that food and fragrances affect us in a special way?

1. First, it has to do with creating the atmosphere of a special occasion. Musk or cinnamon notes, spices, strawberries, oysters do not fit into the everyday everyday picture, and therefore increase expectations and sharpen our feelings. And it awakens sexual arousal.
2. Secondly, we ourselves believe in their special power. Some studies have shown that smells and foods that worked as an aphrodisiac once, may not have any effect the second time. So, most likely, we are talking about the placebo effect.

People believe that shellfish will help them with arousal, tune in to the result and sometimes get it. This idea is confirmed by psychotherapist and sex therapist Nan Wise: “You don’t think of chocolate as an aphrodisiac every time you eat a bar. For this to “work”, you have to be in the right context.” And the atmosphere of a romantic dinner by candlelight (with the participation of seafood and exotic fruits!) Provides just such a context for us.