By MARGO HORNER, The Mirror
Some people will try lingerie to get their lovers in the mood.
Some will try massage oils or candles.
Becky Metzler recommends chocolate.
“It’s the gift of love. It makes you feel good,” said Metzler, manager of See’s Candy in Federal Way.
According to a report in livescience.com, there’s a scientific reason that chocolate makes people feel good. It contains phenylethylamine and serotonin — two chemicals that create feelings of pleasure in the brain.
Chocolate is one of many foods rumored to work as an aphrodisiac and increase sexual desire. Although there is no scientific research to verify foods’ aphrodisiac qualities, people continue to try.
Caviar, strawberries, champagne and oysters are popular choices for aphrodisiac foods, said food enthusiast Gary Robins, an employee at Top Foods in Federal Way.
Oysters are among many foods that are considered aphrodisiacs because of their resemblance to sexual parts of the anatomy.
But oysters stand out from the crowd because they are also high in zinc, which is necessary for sperm production. One study found that the chemicals in oysters increased testosterone levels in male rats, which could increase libido.
According to “InterCourses: An Aphrodisiac Cookbook,” ginger is an aphrodisiac because it helps thin the blood and improves circulation.
Honey, too, is an ancient aphrodisiac. Hippocrates prescribed honey in the fifth century B.C. for sexual vigor. Current honeymoons stem from an ancient tradition where newlyweds went into seclusion and drank a honey concoction.
Tim Ticehurst, a homeopathic doctor from Seattle, said that foods or herbs used as aphrodisiacs may affect people differently. Some people might get sexual satisfaction from chocolate while other people don’t notice a thing, he said.
For virility, Ticehurst recommends damiana or yohimbe, herbs that can be found in specialty stores. He cautions against using Spanish fly, a rumored aphrodisiac that actually causes pain and blistering.
Carol Sivertz, an herbalist from Federal Way, recommends living a healthy lifestyle as the best aphrodisiac.
“Anything that helps your well-being,” she said. “For me, for a woman, it’s psychological stuff.”
Contact Margo Horner: mhorner@fedwaymirror.com
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Top 10 aphrodisiacs:
Rhino Horn
Spanish fly
Alcohol
Chocolate
Oysters
Yohimbe, tribulus and maca
Viagra
Psychoanalysis
Getting in shape
Respect
Source: Livescience.com
