There are aphrodisiac foods and aphrodisiac herbs that can enhance your sexual health

Looking for aphrodisiac herbs and aphrodisiac foods? Well, even before Marc Antony fed grapes to Cleopatra, certain foods, beverages and herbs have had a strong reputation as aphrodisiacs and have formed an association with love and romance. Even the word "aphrodisiac" conjures up images of ingredients that enhance passion- or even magical love potions. So, if you’re feeling a bit flat and want to enhance your love life, check out these love foods and high regarded herbal medications.

OYSTERS - The most famous love food of all, oysters were used as an aphrodisiac food by the Romans and later on, legendary lover Casanova was said to eat fifty raw oysters every morning. Oysters are high in protein and loaded with zinc, which is known to increase the sexual health of both men and women. Add this one as a must try to your list of love foods.

AVOCADOS - The Aztecs believed that avocados were such powerful aphrodisiac foods that village maidens were forbidden to set foot outside while the fruit was being gathered. Legends and myths aside, Avocados are a delicious love food that are packed full of goodness. They are great to use as spreads instead of dairy if you’re trying to lose a little weight, too.

ASPARAGUS - asparagus is thought to give a boost to your love life because of the fact that it's packed with potassium, phosphorous, calcium and vitamin E. Its definately an aphrodisiac food!

CHILES - Long believed to have aphrodisiac powers, chile peppers are great for boosting metabolism, so they probably do give some extra kick where it’s needed. Don’t overdo it, though!

BASIL – It was considered the royal herb of the Greeks. It’s a sacred herb in India and Haitians claim that basil comes from Erzulie, their goddess of love. I guess that qualifies it into the family of aphrodisiac herbs. The health benefits of Basil can’t be disputed, but whether or not it can actually be claimed as an aphrodisiac is another question. Mind you, basil is great with tomato and they’re loaded with vitamin C, which is great for male sexual health. It’s definitely one for the love foods list.

HONEY - Wedding traditions in some cultures include the offering of honey and even the term "honeymoon" stems from ancient tradition of couples hiding away and drinking a honey concoction until the first new moon of their marriage. Honey is a common ingredient in herbal medications, too.

CHOCOLATE – Now you’re talking love foods! Aztecs and the Mayans were very fond of chocolate as an aphrodisiac food, it was considered "nourishment of the Gods" and Aztec rulers consumed chocolate each day to better serve their harems. Chocolate was also a regular part of Casanova's diet of love foods, today we know that chocolate contains PEA (phenylethylamine), the same natural amphetamine that rushes through our veins when we are experiencing love.

GINSENG- One of the bestselling aphrodisiac herbs in the United States. In much of Asia, ginseng is a revitalizing agent for the whole body. However, it’s the herb’s rejuvenating ability that sees it as a top seller. It’s commonly consumed to increase libido and also to enhance stamina.

HORNY GOAT WEED- (Sometimes misspelled horney goat weed) it’s reputed aphrodisiac qualities were discovered when a Chinese goat herder noticed increased sexual activity in his flock... hence the name. So whether you spell it horny or horney goat weed, it’s worth trying if you’re looking for some added desire in the bedroom.

FO-TI is a plant that is native to China, and also found in Japan and Taiwan. The medicinal part of the plant is the root. In Chinese medicine, it is boiled in a liquid made with black beans and known as red fo-ti. White fo-ti is just the unprocessed root without any additives.

Fo-ti is also known as He shou wu, which means "black-haired Mr. He". This name comes from a legend where an old man named Mr. He took fo-ti and it then restored his grey hair back to black. The herb is also associated with restoring vitality, reducing fatigue and insomnia, and even treatment for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Other love foods and herbal medications include Aniseed, Almonds, Bananas, Figs, Arugula, Ginger, Raspberries, Strawberries, Wine (in moderation), L-Argine, Damiana, Tribulus Terrestris, Tongkat Ali, Maca, Muira Puama and Yohimbe.

So, there are a lot of different herbal medications to try. There’s also a lot of scope to make up some very normal recipes that are healthy and, at the same time, will act as aphrodisiac herbs and aphrodisiac foods.