Fact or Fiction…Oysters are an aphrodisiac

It’s no big secret that I love oysters…fried, grilled, or raw…I’ll eat them any way they are served. When my wife and I go to our favorite seafood restaurant in Seattle every eight weeks (that’s how frequently I go to the big city to get my hair cut), we always order a dozen oysters on the half-shell. Kumamoto oysters are our favorite. They have a delicate taste, not at all fishy or with that metallic taste that we sometimes find in East Coast oysters that are much bigger and meatier. And when we go to our favorite sushi place, we always order fried oysters. However, not ever believing what I thought was a myth, I certainly never ordered them for what they might mean for possible bedroom activities. So…when I read the article about oysters and their possible side benefits, I was intrigued.

The story about oysters being an aphrodisiac has been around for centuries. Giacomo Casanova attributed his sexual prowess to eating dozens in one sitting. The actual scientific evidence is non-existent (via actual research studies), but that doesn’t mean there isn’t something to the myth. Plus, come on, my fellow sapphics, take a good look at a raw oyster and tell me it doesn’t remind you of something else we love to eat! Some experts insist there is a link because raw oysters are high in zinc. A 3.5-ounce serving contains more than five times the recommended daily amount for females. I don’t really care about men, so I’m not citing that stat! Zinc does a couple of things that might be linked to sex drive. First, it’s linked to improved testosterone levels levels, which have been tied to both the male and female sex drives. Second, zinc boosts dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward-seeking behaviors. Thus, the experts insist this ridiculously high amount of zinc in oysters must impact a person’s sex drive. Finally, oysters also contain an amino acid called D-aspartic acid, which supports testosterone production in animals (apparently, it hasn’t been researched in humans). The placebo effect is also a very powerful factor. Loads of intelligent people believe that oysters are an aphrodisiac, so they have that effect. They have actually studied that, and the research showed that there was an improvement in sexual functioning, even with those given a placebo…as much as 50 percent improvement!

A couple of final notes on the topic include: 1) While there is no set number of oysters needed to increase your libido, four to six are recommended. 2) There are varying opinions on whether to eat them raw or cooked. 3) One board-certified sex and relationship therapist suggested that if you don’t like oysters, try watermelon, beets, or strawberries because they are also foods rich in particular amino acids, vitamins, and minerals linked to the libido! I suppose that’s why chocolate-covered strawberries are a favorite go-to romance food! Oh, and contrary to popular belief, drinking a lot of alcohol is not recommended, sure a few drinks might loosen a person up, but a lot just makes a person sleepy, sloppy drunk.

I’m pretty sure I’ve included oysters and chocolate-covered strawberries in some of the scenes in my books, but definitely not in my most recent release, The Next Generation, out today, because it’s set in Mexico, and I wanted to highlight foods more typically found in that country. Hopefully, that won’t stop you from getting the book, because I’m pretty proud of the story. It’s a fast-paced romantic thriller, with not only familiar characters from my previous series but several new ones that are just as delightful. How can you go wrong with a bunch of badass women, kicking butt and taking no prisoners? You know the drill, just click on the links below.