Foods that put you in the mood: Fact or fiction?

Do certain foods put you in an amorous mood? Aphrodisiacs, named after the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, are foods said to spike your sexual desire. But do they really work?

What are aphrodisiacs?

Food science researchers have looked for connections that show certain foods lead to an increase in desire. While not necessarily the key to spicing up your love life, certain foods do have 'feel good' compounds, such as capsaicin in chili peppers that enhance bodily sensations or antioxidants in fruits like cherries, pomegranates, figs and strawberries that improve your blood flow. Others, like oysters, asparagus and figs simply resemble our more intimate body parts.

What foods are known aphrodisiacs?

Here are eight of the most common foods said to be known aphrodisiacs. Whether they do put you in the mood or not is up for debate:

• artichokes
• asparagus
• chocolate
• figs
• oysters
• spicy chili peppers
• strawberries
• watermelon

Experiencing an increased libido while eating these foods may be more of a placebo effect than anything else, but if a romantic dinner of oysters, asparagus and chocolate-dipped strawberries is on the menu for you and your sweetheart, then why not indulge? While it won’t hurt to try a few of these every now and then, a more balanced diet is probably better in the long run. A heart-healthy approach to food, such as the Mediterranean diet, combined with staying physically active is a winning combination to have you feeling your best, ready for whatever happens next