Aphrodisiacs: Do They Actually Work?

There’s a reason Valentine’s Day is heavily associated with strawberries and chocolate: They’re pleasurable to eat, and are believed to stimulate pleasure in the body. Oysters have been known to elicit a similar response. In fact, I still remember the first time I heard that oysters can increase your sex drive. Although I didn’t have a name for it at the time, I now know that those foods are known as aphrodisiacs—AKA substances that can increase your sex drive.

Aphrodisiacs are nothing new. In fact, the word itself comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Some common aphrodisiacs include:

There’s no denying that plenty of things on that list sound tasty AF. But even still—can they really get you in the mood to get it on? I set out to find the answer once and for all. Keep scrolling to learn if aphrodisiacs *actually* work, and how you can use them to enhance your sex life.

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Aphrodisiacs: do they actually work?

Do aphrodisiacs work?

In short: Not really. There is little scientific evidence that certain foods can directly spark and increase arousal. However, there are inks between certain foods and their impact on the body’s health and sex drive. According to an article on BBC, certain foods can act in a similar way to Viagra by relaxing blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the genitals. Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids—like salmon and avocado—can do this. However, it’s unclear whether or not this is true for everyone, or only those suffering from a low sex drive.

The Good Trade also came to a similar conclusion: Food can work with the body to increase health and vitality. Specific herbs can improve blood flow, balance hormones, and help elevate mood when taken over time. Consuming things such as maca root, cacao, ginseng, and reishi can work in tandem with your body and help improve your libido. Essentially, when your body is balanced, taken care of, and you’re feeling good, you’re more likely to have a higher sex drive.

In conclusion…

Focus on the nutrients and vitamins in the foods rather than the foods themselves

This is the biggest thing to remember at the end of the day. Oysters themselves are not going to increase libido, but they contain zinc—an ingredient crucial to the production of testosterone in men and prolactin in women. Likewise, omega-3 fatty acids and L-arginine can also increase blood flow. L-arginine can be found in foods such as pumpkin, walnuts, and beef.

Additionally, vitamin B is also helpful for the secretion of testosterone. Chocolate itself will not increase sex drive, but cacao can increase blood flow to parts of the body beyond the torso. Basically: Focus on what’s in the food you’re eating, not the food itself.

Eat a balanced diet

Life is all about balance, and eating an overall balanced diet will help keep your sex drive healthy. They may or may not help contribute to a healthy libido, but incorporating foods like artichokes, figs, strawberries, and oysters into your diet is not a bad thing because they’re still good for you (and they taste good, too). Eating a balanced diet will help keep your hormones and everything else in your body in harmony.

Try to live an overall healthy lifestyle

At the end of the day, the best thing you can do is take care of yourself. This includes staying active, eating an overall balanced diet, and dealing with any stress, anxiety, etc. in a healthy and productive manner. Prioritize self-care and keep your body healthy from the inside out; take care of your mental well-being as well. A healthy body, mind, and soul go hand-in-hand with a healthy libido.

Tantalize your senses and indulge

Indulging in pleasurable things—like chocolate—from time-to-time can certainly enhance your mind and release serotonin. Use all your senses to spark pleasurable memories and increase desire. For example, if there’s a specific meal you ate on a really romantic night, try eating it again and see if it gets you in the mood. The brain is a powerful thing, and triggering happy and pleasurable memories will likely give you the same effect an “aphrodisiac” would.