Aphrodisiacs are believed to make us all horny and crave lots and lots of sex. But, guess what, just because we all believe the hype behind things like oysters, chocolate and other foods that are told to get our sexual juices flowing, that doesn’t mean they actually work.
Sure, the act of sex is physical, but it’s more about energy and emotion. And, while certain foods are believed to act as aphrodisiacs to help us get in the mood to find and release the energy, we’re here to debunk some of the rumors, because there’s not much evidence that such things even exist.
So, before you head off to the store to scoop up all those “sexy foods” to get your girl in the mood to get down and dirty, see what some experts believe are myths about all those aphrodisiacs.
Chocolate
One of the most popular aphrodisiacs out there, chocolate might help stimulate your sweet tooth, but can it really trigger your brain into wanting sex? Well… not so fast. While chocolate does often lead to high levels of serotonin in the brain, there’s no evidence that it impacts sexual function whatsoever. In other words, eat all the chocolate you want to during sex, but it’s not going to impact your sex drive or make things any steamer.
Oysters
Another popular (perceived) sexual aphrodisiac, oysters might make people think they’re getting something that’s going to lead to sex, but pump the brakes before sucking down a bunch of them. While oysters do contain nutrients like zinc and other amino acids that can impact hormones that may impact sexual desire, there’s no proof that they’re effective in getting you in the mood.
According to research, “there are no RCT [randomized controlled trial] data to confirm that oysters have any beneficial effects on sexual responsivity or satisfaction.” Basically, oysters could act as an aphrodisiac, but they also might not, since there’s not enough data out there to determine the final answer.
Ginseng
Of all the believed sexual aphrodisiacs out there, ginseng actually has the most data behind it to support the claims; and they’re pretty encouraging. For guys who experience erectile dysfunction, taking ginseng has shown positive effects based off of seven double-blind, placebo controlled studies. As for girls, research and results are limited, but there is some info that suggests ginseng leads to enhanced sexual arousal. Most of these may be myth, but ginseng may be on to something.
Honey
Did you know that the term “honeymoon” was derived from the idea that honey is anaphrodisiac? Sadly, we may want to consider changing that description, because it might not have an impact on sex whatsoever.
According to one author of a study into how honey might influence sexual behavior, “there are no data to support its use as an aphrodisiac.” So, while honeymoons may be chock-full of sex (hopefully), it won’t be because you and your partner have been downing honey like a bear.
Gingko biloba
An herb that is often used in Chinese medicine to help with a variety of medical issues, gingko biloba also gets labeled as being an aphrodisiac as well, mainly because a small study found that some men and women increased sexual drive after taking it. Sure, a few subjects may have been impacted — which bodes well for thinking ginkgo biloba may help stimulators in your brain prior to sex — but, like other perceived aphrodisiacs on this list, the amount of data is lacking to 100 percent validate such claims.