Honey
Honey is associated with
love and sex in both the Bible and the Karma Sutra. At traditional Indian
weddings, the bridegroom is often offered honey to boost his stamina - and it
could do the same for all men.
Most potent are honeys
from bees that gather nectar from aphrodisiac flowers such as jasmine, orchids
or marjoram - reputedly the favourites of the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite.
Passion power rating:
3/5
Seafood
Probably because
Aphrodite was said to be born from the sea, many shellfish have reputations as
potent aphrodisiacs. Oysters - another of Casanova's favourite foods - have a
high zinc content, the mineral needed for sperm production as well as keeping
reproductive organs working healthily. Oysters contain more zinc than other
foods.
Passion power rating:
3/5
Porridge
Porridge oats contain a
substance called avena sativa which is said to revive a flagging libido. The
compound has also been isolated and packaged as a supplement, which is being
marketed in health food stores as a mild aphrodisiac.
Passion power rating:
2/5
Ginseng
The word ginseng means
'man root', and some people believe it to be an aphrodisiac because the plant
is shaped like the human body.
For centuries, ginseng
has been looked upon as an invigorating agent - ancient medical reports claimed
it gives men 'the power of a bull'.
Passion power rating:
1/4
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a
substance called Phenylethlamine (PEA) which is also present in the brain,
where it triggers feelings of emotional arousal.
In theory, the more
chocolate you eat, the more PEA you get and the more sensual you feel. In fact,
the levels of PEA in a regular-sized bar of chocolate are very small - so you
would have to eat an awful lot of chocolate to get any loving feeling.
Passion power rating: 2/5
Guarani
Guarani, alongside
ginseng, is currently one of the most popular natural stimulants. It is
produced from the berries of an Amazonian plant and has an active compound
called Guaranine, which produces similar effects to caffeine and is known to help
restore flagging energy levels. In the UK it is now available as an energy
drink or supplement, but it is unlikely to give you more than a sort-lived
burst.
Passion power rating:
1/5
Vegetables
Asparagus is renowned as
a vegetable to serve your loved one on Valentine's Day. It has been used for
centuries by naturopaths as a general tonic and reviving agent.
Other hopeful lovers
believe in the power of celery and onions, while garlic is also popular with
men, who believe it will provide them with added strength and endurance for a
night of passion. None of these has scientific backing, however.
Passion power rating:
2/5
Spices
Chilliest and other
spices have been widely reputed to give listless love-lives a boost. There is
some scientific truth in this, since heavily spiced foods often contain an
active ingredient called capsaicin.
Eating a lot of chili
peppers can cause physiological responses - a flushed face, increased heart
rate and metabolism - that are quite similar to the physical reactions that
people experience when making love.
Passion power rating:
2/5
No comments:
Post a Comment