Oysters, chocolate, and green M&Ms chili. No, I’m not listing off ingredients for a (seemingly disgusting) recipe; I’m listing off well-known aphrodisiacs, AKA foods that allegedly get you in the mood to get freaky with yo bad self (and your partner).

Well, get excited peeps, because there are a few new frisky foods to add to that list.

The Food Research International journal has recently published research saying that saffron and ginseng also boost sexual performance.

The professor behind the research said these natural aphrodisiacs theoretically enhance performance and libido and, because they are simply common spices, are safe to experiment with. Unlike alcohol, another aphrodisiac (the effects of which we’ve all experienced, am I right?), saffron and ginseng will not cause judgment impairment (the effects of which we’ve all unfortunately experienced, am I right?), meaning this is a fun and safe way to literally spice up your love life.

While it has yet to be determined what affect saffron in household cooking will have on your sexual desire, there is no harm in trying it out. If you’re looking to add a little somethin’ spicy to your love life, cooking a meal with saffron could do the trick, especially if you and your bed buddy cook together. (And double especially if you cook together with a bottle of wine nearby.) Paella and saffron rice are two dishes that incorporate saffron. But if you’re not feeling that ambitious or don’t even know where the grocery store is to stock up on saffron, check out your local Spanish restaurant, where saffron dishes are abundant. Bonus points for salsa dancing – if saffron in the paella doesn’t do the trick, a little Havana Nights-inspired hip thrusting definitely will.

As for ginseng, it’s slightly more difficult to use, but as it’s easily found in tea form, you can skip all the efforts of cooking and cleaning and get straight to bed. Easy peasy.

And that’s that. Will you be adding a little saffron into the mix? Have you ever felt the affects of an aphrodisiac? Share your thoughts below.

Oh, and P.S. This study also found that chocolate may not actually be an aphrodisiac and the psychological meaning of chocolate could be influencing this common belief! Yes, the chocolate companies have successfully linked their products with romance, meaning people associate them with sex, but really, pounding a bag of M&Ms (green or any other color) will only make you full.

We’ve all heard about aphrodisiacs and the supposed boost they can give to our sex lives. I hate to burst your bubble, but most sources say that there is no such thing as an aphrodisiac. Regardless, I decided to go through some of the most notorious aphrodisiacs and anaphrodisiacs to let you decide for yourself. Hey, it couldn’t hurt…

Oysters – Most sources deem this one as pure myth, but there are a few that find some truth in the claim. According to MSN Health and Fitness, an American and Italian study found a compound in oysters that may increase testosterone and estrogen production. A professor from Harvard, however, denounced this as complete poppycock. And we all know, what Harvard says, goes.

Chocolate – Every source I have looked at have attributed the chocolate/love connection to the Aztecs, so I thought I would give them the credit as well. Chocolate increases levels of serotonin and phenylethylamine, neurotransmitters in the brain that are known for their feel-good properties. Many liken this effect to the feeling of being in love, which I can say with confidence, is entirely true. Like most women, I love chocolate and transfer that love to anybody who will supply me with my daily (okay, hourly) dose.

Alcohol – This is the only one that has been attributed to being an aphrodisiac and an anaphrodisiac at the exact same time. Let’s break it down.
Pros: Reduces inhibition and increases confidence, making it feel like a boost in sex drive. Add that to the beer goggle effect and you’re ready to go.
Cons: Alcohol actually makes it harder for you and your partner to achieve orgasm. Plus, you run the risk of being a victim of the I-think-I’m-sexy-but-I-actually-look-terribly-sloshed look.

Vanilla: This is my favorite scent ever. And, according to a visitor on the Tyra Banks Show (an extremely credible source), men also go crazy for the sweet aroma as well.Vanilla.com (which I daresay, may be a tad biased) goes so far to say that the scent increases penile blood flow. I don’t know how accurate that is, but I do know that this scent is definitely yummy.

And now the rumored anaphrodisiacs, AKA the sex drive killers:

Licorice: A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that some ingredients in licorice actually suppress libido by reducing testosterone production. According to the article, “It’s about as effective as smoking a marijuana joint,” whatever that means. If you need to prevent weekend “mistakes,” however, don’t turn to the disgusting black candy for the same effect. Black licorice uses anise oil for flavoring instead of licorice oil, so you gotta go straight to the source if you want to see results.

Graham crackers – According to Slashfood.com, graham crackers were developed to lower sex drive. The inventor, Sylvester Graham, believed that food sitting in the stomach for a long time could increase sexual desire (apparently a bad thing to Sylvester). Thus, he decided to make graham crackers, a healthy snack that contains minimal fat and therefore, does not linger in the stomach for too long. In fact, the same idea inspired Kellogg to make his Corn Flakes cereal.Hey, I’ll take any excuse to eat more fatty foods.

Nicotine: This highly addictive substance can decrease sexual desire and even result in impotence, according to The Book of Aphrodisiacs by Raymond Stark. Smoking cigarettes makes you smell gross anyways, so put down the cancer stick and get busy.

Although these aren’t really proved in science, I think I’ll add beans, onions, and garlic to that list. What are your personal (an)aphrodisiacs?

1.) Booze – While not exactly an aphrodisiac, alcohol is responsible for more than it’s fair share of one-night stands and awkward mornings. Booze lowers your inhibitions and makes you more likely to make spontaneous decisions.

2.) Chocolate – On top of the sensuality of chocolate syrup or boxed candy, chocolate contains theobromine, similar to caffeine, to keep that fire burning longer.

3.) Pineapple - Although pineapple isn’t a the sexiest food, it’s been used as a natural treatment for impotence, and eating enough of it can sweeten your guy’s “taste.” Why? Fruits like pineapple and citrus have both natural sugar and are acidic, which alters your body’s pH, changing your man’s alkaline-based juices (alkaline gives it it’s salty flavor) to something more neutral. And you thought chemistry was boring!

4.) Fennel - Fennel is a source of plant estrogen, and extracts of it has been used as ingredients in natural libido-enhancing remedies. It’s licorice-y flavor is yummy both raw and cooked, so this veggie is almost as versatile as…well, you know.

5.) Pumpkin Pie – Pumpkin pie is loaded with sex-drive enhancing ingredients. Cinnamon can increase your man’s blood flow down there up to 40%, and the scent of pumpkin pie can be a comforting and homey. Bonus: Pumpkin seeds are a great source of zinc, and aid in potency and preventing prostate issues later in life.

Honorable Mention: Oysters – Oysters have been considered one of the biggest aphrodisiacs of all time, but they don’t contain any chemicals that actually contribute to your sex drive. A lot of it lies in the belief that it looks like ladyparts, but I for one don’t see the resemblance.

Bon appetit!

Grrr.

That means that, against my better judgment, I often let my loins do the talkin’ and follow them wherever (and with whomever) they decide. And usually they decide to head home for a little intoxicated fun. Unless they are over-ruled by my belly, in which case we make a pit-stop for breadsticks en route to the fun.

And fun we have.

But drunk sex isn’t all “Ooo”s, “Ahhh”s, and “OH MY GOD!”s… Yes, there are some downsides to these late night trysts. If you are one to think before you act (unlike me and my unruly libido), you may want to consider some of the pros and cons to Not-So-Sober Sex before you head home with a gent.

Pro: Your inhibitions go out the window.

Con: Your ability to tell if someone is really attractive goes out the window.

Pro: It feels (so) good

Con: The motion of the ocean might make you hurl

Pro: You try a bunch of crazy sh*t

Con: You try (and fail at) a bunch of crazy sh*t.

Pro: You get to meet someone new

Con: He drank so much he really can’t do much and definitely can’t do much for you.

Pro: If he’s ugly/gross, you can blame the alcohol

Con: If he’s ugly/gross, you will probably still remember it

Pro: It’s really effing fun

Con: Two drunk people attempting to put certain things in certain places gets messy and ugly. You end up just flopping things around and hoping for the best. Which is not fun or pretty.

Pro: Weird body sounds (ahem, queefs) aren’t quite as embarrassing

Con: Drunk guys make a lot of weird body sounds (snoring, farting) when they sleep

Pro: All that time and money spent on hair/makeup/hot outfit/making the boobs look good was so. totally. worth it.

Con: Having to walk home in a pair of stilettos and your bra stuffed into your going-out bag.

Pro: You are too drunk to notice the mold growing on his walls

Con: You are too drunk to notice if he put on the condom….

[Amazing photo courtesy of Flickr. Lord knows we've all been there...]