For eons, men and women have searched for plants or foods that could turn on desire. And, to date, nothing has been scientifically proven to be an aphrodisiac—that is, to be a substance that sexually excites.
Oysters have been a reputed aphrodisiac at least since the Roman Empire, and supposedly were regularly enjoyed as a virility-booster by Giacomo Girolamo Casanova.
An enlightenment era polymath who lived from to , Casanova became best known for having seduced more than women, described at length in his memoir.
In , the oyster as aphrodisiac got a big boost as many consumer publications reported that bivalve mollusks which include clams, oysters, mussels and scallops had been found to have desire-inducing properties.
Fisher and some colleagues discovered that mussels contained the amino acid, D-Aspartic acid, which has been found to increase the level of sex hormones in lab rats. Even though the study did not involve oysters, Fisher was quoted in a number of publications speculating that perhaps the amino acid could contribute to an aphrodisiac effect. The effect of D-Aspartic acid in humans is still being studied.
Despite regular news reports to the contrary, at this stage there is little in the way of rigorous scientific proof to show that oysters can independently spark erotic desire. But there is a lot of folkloric myth there," says Aloysa Hourigan, a senior nutritionist with Nutrition Australia.
Hourigan says oysters are extremely high in zinc, which is important in raising testosterone levels in men although it's unlikely any testosterone-raising effect would be immediate. However oysters also contain varying levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates the 'arousal' centre in the brain which governs among other things, sexual arousal and this action could feasibly occur straight away. So there is the potential that at least for men, oysters may help sexual arousal.
But the real story behind the foods famed for lifting our libidos is complicated. Hourigan says there are a number of factors that might contribute to a food's aphrodisiac potential. If you're tempted to order dessert, Reiley encourages going for an affogato, which is sweet, caffeinated and not too filling.
When in doubt, consider setting up an aphrodisiac feast for the person you want to woo — they might get the hint. So much for subtlety! Do aphrodisiacs work? The truth about foods like oysters and chocolate. Melissa Kravitz, contributor for Mic.
Jganser Getty Images. Why did I do that? Could I blame it on the oysters? Emily thought the association between arousal and oysters would rely heavily on my mood, and that pharmacological effects were unlikely. Emily raised some excellent points… because obviously oysters look like vaginas. Soft folds of salty flesh swirled around bulbous pearls make for an easy comparison—combined with the fact that oysters are expensive.
These are all benefits I project onto oysters, which perhaps makes them arousing. With that in mind, I headed to a wine bar to savour my four oysters and down some champagne. Admittedly I was feeling pretty good. Not horny; just in a mood that required champagne and a good book. I motioned him to sit down and by some twist of fate, he had no plans. So we got drunk. I went to the Queen Vic Markets and ate a tray of oysters all to myself.
The oysters were delicious. Definitely the most disappointing day yet. On optimistic days, oysters seemed to lend life a subtle aura of arousal, but on shit days oysters brought me only culinary joy, and were unable to make me feel sexy. Friday belonged in the latter category.
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