Cooking in itself can be a sensual experience, but there are also many foods that have the potential to arouse sexual desire and stimulate the senses. Culinary aphrodisiacs are a must for your Valentine’s Day dinner, so feed your lover the following foods and prepare for a night of passion.
We know that oysters as an aphrodisiac sounds cliche, but they really can spark randiness! Oysters are very high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production, thus increasing libido. No wonder why Casanova ate 50 raw oysters every day! Check out all of the oyster recipes on Yummly or try these Rockin’ Oysters Rockefeller.
This fragrant member of the mint family has an alluring aroma and is considered a love token in some parts of Italy. Basil has a warming effect on the body, promotes circulation, and can sometimes even cure headaches. Check out all of the basil recipes on Yummly or try this Caprese Salad.
Hot & spicy chili peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical known to release endorphins and create a feeling of happiness and pleasure. They can increase blood flow and heart rate, and also stimulate nerve endings, resulting in increased sexual urges. Check out all of the chili pepper recipes on Yummly or try this Southwestern Lime Chicken with Ancho Chili Sauce.
An English Herbalist names Nicholas Culpepper wrote that asparagus “stirs up lust in man and woman.” The vitamin E in these greens helps your body produce hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, which circulate in your bloodstream and stimulate sexual responses. Check out all of the asparagus recipes on Yummly or try this Sauteed Garlic Asparagus.
Like other seafoods, salmon enjoys its reputation as a natural aphrodisiac. It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which keep sex-hormone production at its peak and elevate serotonin levels. Check out all of the salmon recipes on Yummly or try this Honey Glazed Salmon.
Aside from being the most relaxing drink of all time, red wine contains resveratrol, an antioxidant that helps boost blood flow and improves circulation before and during intercourse. Just remember that large amounts of alcohol will make you too drowsy for any after dinner romance! Check out all of the recipes with wine on Yummly or try these Poached Pears in Shiraz.
Almonds have long been said to increase passion, act as a sexual stimulant, and aid with fertility. Like asparagus, almonds are rich in several trace minerals that are important for sexual health and reproduction, such as zinc, selenium, and vitamin E. Check out all of the almond recipes on Yummly or try this Cream of Almond Soup.
The nectar of Aphrodite, honey is one of the most seductive foods in the world. It is a great source of boron, a trace mineral that helps the body use and metabolize estrogen. It may also enhance testosterone levels in the blood. Check out all of the recipes with honey on Yummly or try these Honey Ginger Carrots.
The strawberry’s red heart shape make it like an edible Valentine. These mighty berries are an excellent source of folic acid, a B vitamin that helps ward off birth defects in women. The color red is even known to help attract a mate! A 2008 study found that men find women sexier if they’re wearing red, as opposed to cool colors such as blue or green. Check out all of the strawberry recipes on Yummly or try these Chocolate Strawberries.
There is no disputing that chocolate is an aphrodisiac. There is science behind it! Pure Chocolate contains anandamide, a psychoactive feel-good chemical as well as phenylethylamine, the “love chemical.” Chocolate even releases dopamine in the pleasure center of the brain, inducing feelings of excitement, attraction, and euphoria. Check out all of the chocolate recipes on Yummly or try this Heavenly Chocolate Mousse.
Photo Credits: Diligentia Egypt, Gayot
