Top 10 aphrodisiacs foods ready for Valentine’s day.

We all know that music is the food of love, but what food will help you in creating the mood of love. Food used as an aphrodisiac has been around for years to of the most quoted exponents of using them are Cleopatra and Casanova who both freely indulged in aphrodisiacs. Now as to the facts, if they work or not well that is a different matter. Some foods can be full of nutrients and vitamins, boost the immune system, enhance our physical well-being and make you feel good. This can be all proven by scientific fact. But also there is the placebo effect, if I eat some thing that makes me sexy I will fell sexy. What ever the reason they have been around for thousands of years and still are talked about today so here are my top 10 aphrodisiacs foods

Oysters have got to be the number one of the top ten. Love them or loath them these are the classic aphrodisiac. Casanova was reported to have 50 raw oysters a day, and at today prices, that is the kind of customer you want in a restaurant. According to the boffins, how know such things raw oysters are very high in zinc, which raises sperm and testosterone production and there for increasing libido. Also they are omega-3 fatty acids in oysters that is considered to increase overall well-being and even fight depression. And they are also a source of dopamine that does all sorts of things to simulate the brain. So you never know if you ate 50 a day you could be the next Casanova.

Asparagus is another one of the so call love foods. In the 17^th Nicholas Culpepper an English herbalist wrote about asparagus that "stirs up lust in man and woman,". And there might be a good reason for that not only is asparagus a source of potassium, fibre, vitamin B6, A and C, and thiamin but also folic acid. And it is believed that folic acid can boost histamine production necessary for the ability to reach orgasm in both sexes.  The down side it can make your urine smell.

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate it just makes us happy. The  chemicals in chocolate are theobromine, a stimulating alkaloid similar to caffeine and helps the brain produce serotonin this makes us feel good about our selves. But to be fair you really want the very best dark chocolate that has high cocoa solids. They contain antioxidants, but milk chocolate is milk, sugar and just a little cocoa. 

Figs are in many cultures associated figs with fertility. The sweet little fruits are supposed to be sexy in both appearance and texture. And for some reason appear a lot in erotic literature used to represent the female sexual organs.

Almonds as well have been regarded as fertility symbols throughout the ancient world. There smell is supposed to arouses passion in females or so it was thought. In fact, Samson used almonds to seduce Delilah. Apparently they can lower cholesterol, are full of vitamin E, magnesium and fibre and are so at least they are good for you.

Avocadoes, the Aztecs' name for the avocado tree was Ahuacuatl, “testicle tree” as they hang in pairs. The Spanish conquistadors thought avocados so obscene that Catholic priests prohibited their consumption. Now all I remember about them is that you were always told that they was full of fat. Well yes they are but also high in folic acid, vitamin B6, potassium, omega-3 fatty acids and oleic acid, which fights "bad" cholesterol. No top of that it is good at fighting cancer apparently, but I do not know if that is proven.

Bananas for all the oddvious reasons have been consider a symbol of fertility. In Central Americas to drink the sap of the red banana is considers an aphrodisiac.  Hindus regard it as a symbol of fertility, a banana left on a doorstep indicates that a marriage is about to take place. And I do believe that according to Islam Adam and Eve covered themselves not with banana leaves. Apart from its shape it is full of potassium, magnesium and B vitamins, chelating minerals what ever they are and the bromelain enzyme.  And bromelain enzyme is supposed to enhance the male libido.

Basil is supposed to cure headaches. Not so much an aphrodisiac but more a prop in a joke. However, in some parts of Italy it was once given as a love-token but I do not know if that is still practiced now.

The egg is one of the most ancient of all the fertility symbols. Raw chicken eggs are considered to enhance one’s libido. How the modern food safety feels about that I do not know.  

And finally I could not make up my mind but we will call this group of foods luxurious foods. Now this is the sort of stuff that you spend a lot of money on and that could be the fact that the money and the power are more attractive than the food. Caviar, truffles and foie gras to name a few. The sort of thing that you associate with five start restaurants. 

Now how mush of this is good solid fact I do not know, as far as aphrodisiacs go. The thing is if you have planed a romantic evening they might help the mood. But I think it could be more a placebo than any thing else.