Food and sex in folklore, history, and film

Perhaps you remember the scene from the movie Tom Jones, later repeated in Flashdance, where the male and female protagonists eat slowly, sensuously, chomping on a chicken leg (I think it was), slurping and licking their fingers, looking provocatively at each other -- without them touching each other or removing a single piece of clothing, that scene was truly one of the most erotic moments in movie history,

Of course food has something to do with sex. How about the double meanings of some common words in our language? Notice "cheesecake", "melons," "nuts," "a dish," "honey," "honey bunch," "my sweet," "Sweetie-pie," and variations. And of course the ultimate expression of delight, "I could eat you up!"

All cultures have foods that are considered aphrodisiac. For example, saffron in Spain, bird’s nest soup in China, camel’s hump among the Arabs, cocoa for the Aztecs. It was said, for example, that Montezuma had 600 concubines, and to satisfy them he drank 50 cups of cocoa per day from a golden goblet. Over time, almost every interesting or exotic foodstuff, particularly if reminiscent of the male or female sex organs, has been used to inspire desire and stimulate performance: bananas, peaches, berries, figs, dates, asparagus, nuts, seeds, stuffed dates, sea urchins, to name a few.

Levels of influence: how food relates to sex

Nutrients important to sexual functioning

As mentioned above, zinc is one of the major nutrients necessary for this function; it is found in red meat, oysters, pumpkin seeds, organ meats, and organic eggs. Refined sugar, flour and rice are zinc deficient. Deficiency causes whitening of the hair and nails, loss of hair, poor circulation, impotence, lack of ovulation or menstruation, psychotic symptoms, slow wound healing, and hyperactivity in children. Whole grains, while they contain zinc, also contain phytates, which inhibit its absorption; soaking the grain overnight before cooking inactivates the phytates.

According to nutritionist Anne Louise Gittleman, author of Supernutrition for Men, other important nutrients include:

• potassium (found in all fruits and vegetables),
• selenium (found in organic butter, herring, tuna, whole wheat, Brazil nuts, and sesame seeds),
• manganese ( in nuts, seeds, and whole grains),
• phosphorus (abundant in whole grains, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, and brewers’ yeast),
• vitamin E (found in eggs, whole grains, organ meats, sweet potatoes, almonds, and leafy green vegetables),
• vitamin C (found in all fruits and vegetables, especially citrus, cantaloupe, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, and parsley),
• vitamin A (in liver, eggs, sweet potatoes, carrots, fish liver oil),
• B complex vitamins (abundant in whole grains , brewer’s yeast, and liver).

The inability to reach orgasm in both men and women is linked with a lack of histamines. Histamine production appears to be triggered by folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12. Foods rich in folic acid include organ meats, asparagus, leafy greens, peanuts, mushrooms, whole grain cereals, lean beef, egg yolk -- all of which have been considered aphrodisiac.

Foods that dampen desire or stress the sexual organs

Milk products, so abundant in our society, are associated with many problems of the reproductive system. Gynecologist Christiane Northrup, MD, the founder of the clinic Women to Women in Portland, Maine, and author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, found that women who had benign breast conditions, chronic vaginal discharge, acne, menstrual cramps, fibroids, and endometriosis tended to consume large amounts of milk products. Dairy food consumption is also implicated in breast and ovarian cancers.

In women, thinness, anorexia, excessive exercising may lead to a lack of interest or even distaste for sex, as the body does not produce enough estrogen when too thin.

Different requirements for men and women

In Chinese philosophy, opposites -- yin and yang -- attract each other. For men and women to attract each other, then, it works best when they are different rather than similar. Japanese folk precepts state that men should be given more food than women, as well as an extra dish of something strong and salty (a seaweed preparation, or fermented fish eggs) to enhance their strength. From what I’ve seen, it is not unusual for women to eat generally less and lighter than men. This is perhaps a natural expression of a natural difference.

A healthy sex life emerges naturally in a generally healthy body. Any diet that lightens, strengthens, and energizes the body will have a beneficial effect on sexuality. Therefore, a well balanced diet that includes whole grains, beans, fish, seafood, organic eggs, green and yellow vegetables, and fresh fruit will go far in improving a person’s health and at the same time enhancing sexual function.

Aphrodisiac Cooking

Any time you have invited a potential lover over for dinner, the intention of the meal must have been clear, at least to you. Raymond Oliver, in his book Gastronomy of France, has a whole chapter on the subject. He states "In the aphrodisiac meal . . . the number of dishes should be extremely limited. If possible, one should make do with a single dish and in no circumstances should one eat its fill. . . . In very favorable conditions, the effects of an aphrodisiac meal are almost instantaneous." Here is a recipe adapted from his book. Aphrodisiac or not, it’s still quite tasty.

Cepes (or other wild mushrooms) with garlic and eggs
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted organic butter
12 cloves garlic, cleaned but not peeled
12 oz fresh wild mushrooms, wiped clean, cut into strips
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
½ teaspoon dried tarragon, crushed
2 organic eggs (duck eggs, if available, are preferred)

On a hot summer night, try a fruit salad with a magic spell, as adapted from Scott Cunningham’s "The Magic in Food" (Llewellyn Publications, St Paul, MN: 1992)

FRUIT SALAD SPELL

Fruit of mango, fruit of pine,
Let the one I love be mine
Fruit of apple, fruit of peach,
Bring him (her) within my reach.
Fruit of banana, fruit of cherry,
Let his (her) love for me not vary.
As I work my magic spell,
Warmly in his (her) heart I dwell.
I now invoke all help from thee,
my one and only, come to me.