Veggie Aphrodisiacs

"Erection is chiefly caused by parsnips, artichokes, turnips, asparagus, candied ginger, acorns bruised to powder drunk in muscatel," explained the Greek scientist and philosopher Aristotle, 384-22 B.C. Such aphrodisiacs owe their name to another even more ancient Greek, the goddess of love Aphrodite. Every culture has had suggestions. On examining English herbals, it often appears that almost any plant was, at one time or another, so designated. This may offer an explanation why such a tiny archipelago remotely located off the northwest shores of Europe has producing so many citizens. In these times of increasing concern over the influence of diet on health and being encouraged to eat more vegetables, it is not a little assuaging to realize that many such have also been recommended as aphrodisiacs.

Arugula Botanist and famed herbalist William Coles (1626-62), believer in the doctrine of signatures, knew the now fashionable salad green as 'rocket.' It has been labelled as the "sauciest" member of the Brassicaceae, and has been documented as a natural aphrodisiac since 1^st century A.D. "The rocket excites the sexual desire of drowsy people," claimed Virgil and it was eaten by Romans for good luck and included in love potions of the day. An Arab adage has it that, "if she knew the benefits of gargeer, she would grow it under the bed." More recently and less exuberantly, Dennis Lybeer believes that, "Arugula is an elixir that gives flavour to life" Artichokes A species of thistle, its aphrodisiacal history is mostly due to folklore. In the Middle Ages, it was forbidden for women to eat. Notwithstanding, it was said to have been introduced from Italy to France by Catherine de Medici, a 15-year-old little minx, when she married Henri II. Perhaps this explains why in the 16^th century it was feared that consumed by women, artichokes would cause debauched sexual revelling. By the following century, French writer and sexologist Dr. Nicolas Venette reported Swedish women, feeling neglected in the bedroom, served their husbands the unopened flower buds. Thomas Cogan, English schoolmaster, observed, "They procure a more ernest desire both of man or woman to the venereal acte." Whether a true aphrodisiac they are, in truth, a diuretic. Still, hearts of artichokes have been claimed to be especially valued by the French; they believe artichokes 'warm up' the genitals. One might be inclined to agree on observing Marilyn Monroe as California's first Artichoke Queen in 1949. Less romantically, The Independent noted that carrots, asparagus, figs and artichokes all bear some resemblance to genitalia. Asparagus The proclaimed 'Vegetable Viagra' was cultivated as an aphrodisiac by both Greeks and Arabs, recommended by no less an authority than the Kama Sutra and claimed English herbalist Nicholas Culpepper (1616-54) to "Stirreth up bodily lust in men and women." Once again though we must turn to French passions, asperge being slang for penis. Grooms were fed three meals a day of asparagus before their wedding.

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Beets Surprisingly, considered an aphrodisiac in many cultures, Aphrodite was said to eat them to enhance her appeal. The Romans believed the roots and juice promoted amorous feelings: frescoes of beets decorate walls of the Lupanare brothel in Pompeii. In French betterave is slang for penis or 'man root.' Carrots A possible passion promoter owing to its penis-like shape but a puzzle since early samples were a dingy unattractive brown. Nevertheless, the Greeks concocted an aphrodisiacal potion, or philtron, while Roman soldiers boiled carrots in broth to release the sexual inhibitions of their female captives. Ever-hopeful Emperor Caligula fed the Senate a feast of carrots in the hope of seeing them run sexually amok. A Japanese proverb holds: a man who likes carrots likes women. According to Dr. Alverston Baily in The Jamaica Observer, the shape of the carrot has been associated with sexual stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction. More scientifically, The Times suggested the best way to lift your libido is to eat carrots, figs, oily fish, avocados and watermelon, all well-known libido enhancers due to their vitamin E Celery Contains androsterone and androstenol, molecules of which released in male sweat after being consumed, are said to attract women. Celery also contains arginine which increases blood flow to genitals, resulting in stronger, longer erections, according to some literature on the subject. Chili Peppers Considered a natural aphrodisiac and symbol of love in many cultures, hot capsicums "stimulate endorphins (the brain's good chemicals), speed up heart, rate, make you sweat all of which mimic how you feel when you're aroused," Dr. Meryl S. Rosofsky told The New York Times. Psalm Isadora, a yogi, was recorded in Harpers Bazaar noting hot peppers contain capsaicin, which creates heat and improves circulation and blood flower for erections.

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Fava Beans In Ancient Rome, Cicero wrote of using the beans to heighten his passion (i.e. erection). According to St Jerome as they tickle the genitals, so forbade nuns to eat them. They contain L-dopa, precursor of neural transmitter: enhanced sexuality dopamine. Garlic Greeks ate garlic on a daily basis to improve their love lives. Pliny the Elder claimed similar properties and it has been said to have been forbidden to Egyptian priests and devout Hindus because it would stir up their sexual desires. In Eastern tradition, a good dish before a night out is some garlic fried in butter with eggs: Psalm Isadora, a yogi told Harpers Bazaar that it is useful for sexual stamina. Allicin increases blood flow to the body and sexual organs Lettuce Plenty of people view lettuce as a rather dull salad ingredient but the leafy vegetable had a racier function in ancient Egypt, recorded The Daily Mail. In Egypt around 2,000 B.C. it was an aphrodisiac a phallic symbol that represented the food of the Egyptian god of fertility Min, depicted with an erect penis, explained the Smithsonian Magazine. The bitter Egyptian wild lettuce is a distant relative of the more refined cos lettuce and is the true reputed. Aphrodisiac. The more prosaic modern varieties may be fine for your salad days but will leave you, well, limp as a lettuce leaf Onions According to the Roman Petronius onions improved love life, while elsewhere they were forbidden to Egyptian priests and devout Hindus because the bulb would stir up their sexual desires. Again, according to the yogi Psalm Isadora in Harpers Bazaar, onion strengthens reproductive organs and increases testosterone, which boosts libido in both men and women; in Ayurveda, it's known as a tonic for building up sexual energy; monks have to avoid it because it's known to build up semen.

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Orchid 'Orchid' derives from the Greek word for testicle. Pliny referred to bulbous orchid tubers and the Romans called orchids satyrion: legend had it that the phallic roots grew from the spilled semen of a satyr. Much later candied orchid roots were suggested by William Coles, 1626-62, botanist, doctrine of signatures, and famed herbalist Peppermint Oil Indigenous to Europe and Middle East and mentioned by Aristotle, peppermint has been used by many ancient cultures, including Egyptian, Chinese and North American First Nations. Claimed an aphrodisiac, more prosaically used as a flavouring for chewing gum, candy, toothpaste, gargles, soap, confectionary, perfumes, liqueurs and pharmaceutical preparations none of which are likely to improve sexual drive. Potato When first introduced into Europe in the 16^th century the white potato, Solanum tuberosum, was believed to improve sex life, even recommended by botanist William Coles 1626-62. Whether this explains the later classic English dish of "Bangers and mash" is undetermined. Pumpkin The seeds contain magnesium which helps raise testosterone levels. While they have been called "Nature's Viagra" for women, there is "no science behind this,' advises Woman's Day. But "pumpkin pie smell stimulates arousal in men, scent is a sexy aphrodisiac," records The New York Daily News: "Throw away the perfumes and go get some pumpkin pie," suggested Dr. Alan Hirsch, Director of Chicago's Smell and Taste Treatment Research Center

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Saffron Mentioned in 'Solomon's Song' more recently, researchers at the University of Guelph showed the stamens to genuinely improve sexual function Sweet Potato As with so many new introductions into Europe, the sweet potato was believed an aphrodisiac. When Falstaff called, "Let the sky rain potatoes" in The Merry Wives of Windsor he is calling for the sweet potato. Tomatoes Known to 16^th century French herbalists and physicians as pomme d'amour or Love Apple for their belief it possessed aphrodisiac properties, the British and Americans remained unconvinced until the early 19^th century, believing to be outright poisonous. Incidentally English tomato derives from Aztec tomatl, and so is correctly tom-ah-toe. Watermelon Known in some circles as the 'lycopene king,' the flesh contains citrulline which relaxes the blood vessels in much the same was a Viagra does, noted The Independent. It has been linked to increased libido in women, according to studies at the University of Hawaii. Alas, not everyone is convinced. One such doubter is Alan Davison, who writes in The Oxford Companion to Food, "In short, the concept of a truly aphrodisiac food is on par with that of finding a crock of gold at the end of a rainbow"