Yummr

Yummr's Main Dish

Aphrodisia to Spice It Up

Ok, so maybe you won't fall completely in love with someone because of a great dish... or can you? You always hear about foods that are natural aphrosdisias such as oysters and cinnamon so I decided to look further into this. Cocoa is another one on that list and with Valentine's Day right around the corner, lots of chocolate is flying off the shelves. Here is a look into some of these so-called aphodisia foods:

 

Oysters - the term "aphrodysia" comes from the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, who was born from the sea which is why many seafoods are associated as being aphodisiacs. But are they really? Not in the case of oysters. Chemical analysis shows that they consists of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals. These are not linked to increasing sexual desire.

Cinnamon - the smell of this spice usually conjurs up thoughts of comfort and home since it is commonly used in baked goods. Sprinkle some cinnamon on your sweets to rouse up a comforting vibe.

Cocoa - chocolate has long been associated with love dating back to the Mayans who used to worship the Cacoa tree and called it the "food of the gods." Researchers have now found that chocolate contains phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are both "feel good" chemicals. 

 

Other foods that tend to fall into the aphrodisia category include almonds, basil, and tomatoes. Will these key ingredients be in your meal for Valentine's Day?

I for one do not have any reservations made but I'm thinking some cocoa will be on my menu for that day. And maybe a cinnamon bun. Or two.

 

Posted Feb 12, 2008 by SuDoughName | 1 Comment | Share It

Filed under: aphrodisias Valentine's Day