10 Foods to Recharge Your Libido

Food, romance and sex have long been intertwined. Many edibles have reached their high status as aphrodisiacs through history, folklore or as symbols of fertility. Others have been scientifically proven to stimulate the blood flow in sexual organs or shown to charge one's arousal through the body's highly attuned senses. Ellen and Michael Albertson, a.k.a. "The Cooking Couple," authors of Food As Foreplay: Recipes for Romance, Love and Lust (Alexandria Press), consider food the root of seductive romance. "Cooking and eating are like making love because with each you're using the same senses—smell, taste, touch and sight," says Ellen. If you're ready to fire up romance with your partner, the Albertsons recommend you stock your cupboards with the following aphrodisiacs and take advantage of their seductive powers.

1. Chocolate. Chocolate is popular because of its sensual texture and calming effects. Montezuma was said to drink 50 cups of cocoa a day before entering his huge harem of women. The Spaniards first introduced chocolate to Europe, where cocoa quickly became a highly taxed luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy. Eventually, chocolate taverns opened in London, and the British declared chocolate an aphrodisiac. Chocolate contains some 400 chemicals, including phenylethylamine (PEA), which some scientists believe arouses the same feelings people experience when in love.
2. Oysters. These gems of the sea are considered one of the world's classic love foods. Casanova is said to have eaten 50 raw oysters every morning in the bathtub, using as a plate a woman's breasts. Oysters also are high in zinc, which elevates sperm count.
3. Honey. This symbol of love and wisdom was offered by the Egyptians to the god of fertility, Min. In ancient wedding ceremonies, honey was used to seal the marriage as couples poured it on their hands and licked each other's fingers.
4. Grapes. Grapes are considered a sensuous fruit as well as the popular foundation of wine, which lowers inhibitions as a "social lubricant." The alcohol in wine also dilates blood vessels in the genitals.
5. Black licorice A study conducted by the Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation found that the smell of donuts combined with black licorice stimulates penile blood flow.
6. Cucumber. This unassuming vegetable may be popular because its unique scent has been shown scientifically to arouse women.
7. Eggs. A symbol of fertility, eggs also contain a lot of protein and are nutritionally strong. Caviar is said to have restorative and erotic powers. It is considered to be an aphrodisiac because it is part of the reproductive process.
8. Celery. This snack vegetable contains a powerful hormone, androsterone, that men release through sweat, arousing females.
9. Peaches. This fruit arouses interest through the sensual texture of its round, thin skin.
10. Pine Nuts. These small, flavorful nuts gained their reputation for sexual stimulation from the Mediterranean. Medieval manuscripts cited pine nuts as a sure way to stimulate the libido.