Bird's EyeView
Monday, August 25,1996
the final story in a three part series
on't bother preparing that romantic dinner of oysters
and honeybee pollen for your date. Popular belief may be that these foods drive people into a wild sexual frenzy, but there is little scientific proof to support the theory.
Dennis Dailey, professor of social welfare, said that although some obscure studies had been done on foods as aphrodisiacs, no solid evidence had been found.
"If there were certain foods that had a firm, aphrodisiac effect, you can bet you'd be eating them all the time," he said. "That doesn't mean that eating food or sharing food can't be a sensuous experience."
Some students agree that romantic dates often center around food. Emily Horn, Lincoln, Neb., junior, said that meals can be romantic because they give a couple time to talk and focus on each other.
"It gives you time to find out who they are and, depending on what they order,their likes and dislikes and what you have in common," she said.
Cooking a meal also can inspire intimate feelings, said Kristen Bechner, Lenexa junior. Fixing a partner's favorite dish makes him feel special and puts him in a romantic mood, she said.
"I think the whole point is you want to make the other person happy," she said.
Although some students said eating together was romantic, Morton Walker, author of the book Sexual Nutrition, said that food played an important role in romantic relationships. Food might not stimulate sexual desire, but certain nutrients are essential for a healthy sex life.
Phosphorus, a mineral found in lobster, truffles and the exotic Chinese Bird's Nest soup combines with other minerals to secrete hormones, including sex hormones. Foods such as kelp and Swiss cheese contain calcium, which produces similar results as phosphorous.
Zinc is needed to produce the active enzymes that react with testosterone. Walker said that without sufficient zinc, men cannot sustain an erection or produce normal levels of semen. Oysters, ginger root and ground round steak all contain zinc.
"Who wants to have sex after eating all that?" he said. "You don't do major physical activity on a full stomach."
Vitamins also are important to a person's sexual health, Walker said. During sex, sexual organs need more oxygen. Vitamin E, found in sunflower seeds and almonds, helps blood carry oxygen quickly and efficiently. The body uses vitamin A to maintain healthy testicular tissue and to promote a higher sperm count. Chicken liver, red chili peppers and eggs contain vitamin A, which is required to produce sex hormones.
Dailey said that these vitamins and minerals probably affected the body as Walker described but that students would have to consume large portions for the vitamins to have a noticeable effect.
Although students should not depend on food to develop their sexual prowess, it never hurts to have good nutrition, said Ann Chapman, dietitian at Watkins Memorial Health Center.
"A good diet is necessary for good health, and if you are in good health, I would imagine you would enjoy your sex life more," she said.
Dailey agreed that the physical benefits of eating healthy was the only real connection between food and sex.
Society believes in aphrodisiacs because most people are insecure about their sexuality, he said. The idea that certain foods may improve an individual's sexual performance is reassuring. Unfortunately, neither sexual performance nor sexual drive will change significantly based on what's served for dinner.
"Sexual desire happens in the brain," Dailey said. "It is not a result of how many oysters a man eats."
**found in:** lobster, truffles and Bird's Nest soup
effect: combines with other minerals to secrete hormones including sex hormones mineral:
found in: kelp and Swiss cheese effect: combines with other minerals to secrete hormones, including sex hormones anal:
mineral:
found in: oysters, ginger root and ground round steak
effect: needed to produce the active
enz;mes that release testosterone; without sufficient zinc,men cannot sustain an erection or produce normal levels of semen.
found in: sunflower seeds and almonds effect: helps blood carry oxygen quickly and efficiently; during sex, sexual organs need more oxygen
vitamin:
vitamin:
found in: chicken liver, red chili peppers and eggs
effect: maintains healthy testicular tissue and promotes a higher sperm count