aphrodisiacs
1. Oysters
Perhaps not an everyday food for you, oysters are one of the more renowned aphrodisiac foods. Loaded with zinc, phosphorous and iodine, this libido-enhancing shellfish can be served as a first course to whet your lover’s lusty appetite.
2. Lobster
A succulent dish that is especially sexy when you eat it with your fingers, lobster is not only naturally sweet and delicious, it can be paired with a savory vanilla sauce for a double aphrodisiac effect.
3. Chili peppers
Add some flavorful heat to your evening with chili peppers. At first bite, these hot capsaicin-packed fruit (yes, chilies are botanically a fruit) will give you and your date a surge of pleasure-producing endorphins that will heighten your feelings of love.
4. Garlic
Certainly not the first food you think of when lust is in question, but if both you and your lover linger over a garlic-infused dish, this pungent herb can stir up your sexual wishes.
5. Honey
Cultivated by honeybees from the nectar of flowers, the ultimate emblem of sexual ripeness, honey’s lore is that of pure romance. Considered the Nectar of Aphrodite, this sticky all natural sweetener is even at the root of “honeymoon.” Drizzle it on your lover’s body and give it a lick.
6. Figs
Believed to be the true forbidden fruit that tempted Eve into sin, figs are a succulent source of iron and potassium, two nutrients essential for peak sexual health. Pair figs with nuts for a phallically delicious dessert or drizzle figs with honey for an extra sticky sweet delicacy.
7. Ginger
You know that almost stinging spiciness you initially feel when you pop a piece of ginger in your mouth? This lovely sting is so successful in puffing lips to their most kissable, it’s the secret ingredient in many lip-plumping glosses. Ginger also has the ability to increase circulation — to every part of the body. Chocolate dip chunks of candied ginger or finely chop it and sprinkle it over vanilla ice cream or berries and whipped cream.
8. Vanilla
Whether you steep a split vanilla bean in a delectable lobster sauce or light up your bedroom with vanilla-scented candles, this universally beloved flavor and fragrance creates an instant sensuous mind tease, lifting libido and priming you for passion.
9. Dark chocolate
Slow sips of red wine paired with decadent nibbles of rich dark chocolate -- what better way to spend an intimate evening? Dark chocolate has long been revered as Food of the Gods, dating back to the Aztecs. Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, or PEA, which is the same chemical (similar to amphetamine) released by the brain when people fall in love, producing a euphoric, dreamy feeling.
10. Red wine
Particularly good for your heart health, red wine – in moderation – can loosen your inhibitions and give you a night of potent passion. Just don’t drink too much; in excess, alcohol hinders peak sexual performance.
