8 Aphrodisiacs that will "raise up" your relationship to the next level!

8 Aphrodisiacs that will "raise up" your relationship to the next level!

Written by Lou Perseghin

So, you’re looking for a lil’ boost in the sack. But if the thought of patronizing Condom Kingdom or a doctor’s office (disguised in sunglasses and a coat) leaves you feeling limp, you may want to try Whole Foods or Trader Joes for that pick-me-up you’re looking for. A wide variety of foods and herbs are considered to be aphrodisiacs, a word derived from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. People have relied on them for years to keep their sex life spicy and their diet balanced. Instead of a menagerie of creams and lotions, the more adventurous person may opt to try something more au-natural to increase their libido. From the commonplace Hershey bar to the overly garish sturgeon caviar, there is a wide array of consumables thought to heighten the sexual senses. While there is some dissent regarding the legitimacy of aphrodisiacs, there is no doubt that many throughout history have valued these “love foods.” For example, some Asian cultures believe that a dried tiger penis or ground-up rhinoceros horn brings users increased virility.  While a side of Bengal wang with ones’ dinner seems rather unappetizing (and unpleasant for the tiger as well), there are plenty of other foods that are much more palatable, not to mention available. Below is a list of several foods commonly thought to enhance sexual desire. The best part? Most of them are readily available around Philadelphia.  They are ranked in terms of their availability, price, taste and potency, as well as some notes on other intangibles.  Why not head to the grocery and try that peach before your third date (wink). It may just bump you up to that next level you’re looking for. 1-5 scale with 1 being the worst and 5 the best Mussels – Some people think that clams are the way to go if you’re looking for a seafood-induced soirée, but others claim that the mussel, which is thought to resemble the female anatomy, is the mollusk that will get the biggest score. Great when cooked with white wine. Most seafood departments carry them, and they are widely available at restaurants. Availability – 4 Price – 3 Taste – 2 (Raw), 4 (Cooked) Potency – 3 Bananas – Aside from the obvious, bananas are rife with vitamin B and potassium, both of which help in the production of sex hormones. Try eating the banana with your lover, as eating alone can feel rather scandalous/sad. Downfalls include flashbacks to that “lesson” your father gave you and the under-the-lunch-table middle school myths. Availability – 5 Price – 4 Taste – 4 Potency – 4 Coffee – All the caffeine is a great way to get up for the bedroom, but too much will leave you bathroom-bound.  Best served in small doses, and the darker the better.  Unlike the banana, coffee is more of a solo consumable.  Think of it as pre-gaming for the pants party. Availability – 5 Price – 4 (depending on the type) Taste – 4 Potency – 2 Caviar – With its high protein content, caviar helps your body stay strong all evening.  Caviar is typically enjoyed as a spread, but saltine or not, these fish eggs aren’t going to cut it.  Remember that scene in Big where a Susan brings over a bag of “grownup food” and a disgusted Josh spits out the caviar and champagne?  It’s kind of like that. Availability – 2 Price – 2 Taste – 1 Potency - 4 Truffles – The ultra-rare delicacies are thought to give added sensitivity to the skin, but like caviar, they’re terribly expensive and almost impossible to come by unless you’re willing to drop some major bank at an upscale joint.  That, and when it comes down to it, the truffle is just a glorified mushroom.  It’s only really an aphrodisiac so rich folks can justify buying it. Availability – 1 Price – 1 Taste – 2 Potency – 5 Pineapple – Alternative medicine suggests that pineapple can treat impotence, so it stands to reason that it could work wonders for the average guy looking some above-average loving. It’s best enjoyed freshly sliced in the company of your lover.  With its high vitamin C content, at least you’ll keep your immune system healthy if you find that pineapple is not for you. Availability – 4 Price – 4 Taste – 3 Potency – 4 Green M&M’s – The myth of the green M&M as a sexual enhancer is purely driven by pop culture, probably stemming from the fact that green is the only color portrayed as a female.  However, if you buy into the placebo effect, the wide availability and low cost gives the green ones a taste and effect well above the other 5 varieties. Availability – 5 Price – 5 Taste – 5 Potency – 1 (cynics) 4 (optimists) Spanish Fly – An episode of Beavis and Butthead in which the boys spike a carton of milk with Spanish Fly boosted the stock of this green beetle. Despite the myth, this aphrodisiac actually causes urinary irritation, not sexual arousal.  Best used as a novelty or reference and not in actual practice. Availability – 2 Price – Unknown Taste – 1 Potency – 1