Still, for some guys, they both need and wonder – if there isn’t something that they can do or take to help out. Well, perhaps there is a bit of hope. According to some University of Guelph researchers, if you’re looking to spice up your sex life, try adding ginseng and saffron to your diet. Both are proven performance boosters, according to their new scientific review of natural aphrodisiacs, which will be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal, Food Research International.
The researchers also suggest that it doesn’t hurt to indulge in wine and chocolate too; but know that their amorous effects are likely all in your head. Stay away from the more obscure Spanish fly and Bufo toad they warn. While purported to be sexually enhancing, these items produced the opposite result and can even be toxic.
Massimo Marcone, a professor in Guelph's Department of Food Science notes, "Aphrodisiacs have been used for thousands of years all around the world, but the science behind the claims has never been well understood or clearly reported."
"Ours is the most thorough scientific review to date. Nothing has been done on this level of detail before now." There is a need for natural products that enhance sex without negative side effects,” master's student John Melnyk said.
Currently, conditions such as erectile dysfunction are treated with synthetic drugs, including sildenafil (commonly sold as Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
"But these drugs can produce headache, muscle pain and blurred vision, and can have dangerous interactions with other medications. They also do not increase libido, so it doesn't help people experiencing low sex drive,” Melnyk added.
Common Aphrodisiacs & Claims of Sexual Enhancement:
The researchers examined hundreds of studies on commonly used consumable aphrodisiacs to investigate claims of sexual enhancement — psychological and physiological. Ultimately, they included only studies meeting the most stringent controls.
The results? They found that panax ginseng, saffron and yohimbine, a natural chemical from yohimbe trees in West Africa, improved human sexual function.
People report increased sexual desire after eating muira puama, a flowering plant found in Brazil; maca root, a mustard plant in the Andes; and chocolate. Despite its purported aphrodisiac effect, chocolate was not linked to sexual arousal or satisfaction, the study found.
"It may be that some people feel an effect from certain ingredients in chocolate, mainly phenylethylamine, which can affect serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain," Marcone said.
Alcohol was found to increase sexual arousal but to impede sexual performance. Nutmeg, cloves, garlic, ginger, and ambergris, formed in the intestinal tract of the sperm whale, are among substances linked to increased sexual behaviour in animals.
Caution Urged:
While their findings support the use of foods and plants for sexual enhancement, the authors urge caution. "Currently, there is not enough evidence to support the widespread use of these substances as effective aphrodisiacs," Marcone said. "More clinical studies are needed to better understand the effects on humans."
