July 10, 2020 • 28 mins
Throughout history, pretty much every food has been seen as an aphrodisiac. Anney and Samantha look at some famous examples and dig into the science around whether or not they work.
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and the stuff I
never told you protection of I Heart Radio. I feel
like I've had so many very very important questions for
you lately. Yes, what's your superhero name? Power? What do
(00:30):
you think about a game that you've never played? There
are so many things you've asked me, and I'm like,
what was happening? Don't ship anybody like I don't know
what that means. I like to kind of usually I'm like, wait,
what is happening? I don't know what that means. That
is a very astute point. That is usually your response.
(00:51):
My questions are sort of like, huh, that's how important
they are. I'm trying to get you to think perpetually confused.
I'm just perpetually confused. Perfect Well, My very important question
for today is when you hear aphrodisiacs, when you think
about aphrodisiac, what do you think of? Okay, so, when
I think of aphrodisiac I just think it's always an
(01:13):
exaggeration or a caricature of what sexy or sex is
supposed to be, because it doesn't make sense. I'm and
we've talked about this before. I'm a little more literal
on the literal side, so for me and like how
does this turn you on? And don't get me wrong,
trying to figure out sex at twenty one another, Yeah,
(01:34):
it's been like look you look. Yes, I'm one of
those um in that I'm like, well does this work?
And does this happen? Does this work? And I kind
of try to get into that m thought process, I guess,
and it just didn't make sense m hm hm. So there,
I mean where it was there a food that you thought? Oh?
(01:57):
Like for me, I probably think of chocolate coverage rabberries. Um,
so like did you try one? Is there one that
when you think of, oh and this is an aphrodisiac?
I did try one and I can't remember what it
was because it wasn't oysters, And I do know that's
what I think of more than anything else, is oysters. Um.
And of course, yeah, chocolate, I think dark chocolate was
(02:20):
the other part. Yeah, right right, right right, yeah. I
feel like I just have the very Valentine's Day commercial
depiction of the like the blindfold and eating the chocolate
colored strawberries, and that's what I think of first. I
have had a lot of funny conversations about with friends
about how a lot of foods that we see as
(02:42):
taxi or an aphrodisiac or actually really like bad date
foods like lobster. You look like a monster when you mobster,
like being dainty knitting salads. You know, I've went on
huge rants about the fact eating salads is not sexy. No, no,
it just want to put that out there, yes, yes,
and yet and yet we do. I love the thought
(03:06):
of going. I actually think this would be great of
going on a date, going to a lobstream boil and
getting like the bib, like the whole thing. Oh my god.
Just then't like doing a boil and then having the
crabs all up in your hands and all on your
face and I know that I'm wearing it in my
hair every time. I just know it's there, and you
know what, a smell like fish for the next three
(03:28):
hours inevitably. How was that sexy? Yeah? Yeah, it's an
interesting thing that society we've said, yes, this very difficult
thing to eat is why you should go for um.
So I've been thinking about this a lot because I
do another show, food podcast show. I'm not like looking
(03:50):
for a frons X or anything. UM. I just wish
that was the case. But also I need to know,
and we definitely already had that episode about you an
orgasm and some people, yes, you really don't need an aphrodisiac.
That's what I do. And I just want to, you know,
quick update on that. And I swear to god, I
(04:11):
won't go into detail like I did that that time.
I figured out how to do it. It is not
a one time occurrence. I took a poll amongst my
female friends and we're all in shock. I am too,
Maybe that's my superpower. Have a shirt that says orgasma
on it, friend made for me. A little woman knows, Yeah,
(04:34):
there it is. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm like such an
innocent in some ways when it comes to sex. I'm
very very innocent and uh, like, I don't know a
lot of terms, but I have been thinking about how
a lot of them our food related. And we've talked
before about like kind of that consumption area, the consumption
in sex, and maybe that's why we have so many
(04:56):
food words, especially for women and women's body parts. But
and I talked about this on SAVER. I have a
new favorite fan fiction word and it's called cinnamon roll,
and it means when you're too good for this world,
you're too sweet for this world. But I also learned
it is the name for a sex term as well,
So you've got to be careful when you're clicking on
(05:18):
your cinnamon roll description, as they're very different things that
could happen there. Yeah, I'm gonna yeah, confused perfectly, that
put me there. You're welcome, Samantha. Anyway, I've started saying
cinnamon roll is sort of like a happy exclamation, like oh,
cinemon role, so that that is where I go with
(05:41):
food terminology. But today we are talking about apronsiacts, not
cinnamon rolls. Unfortunately for me, I guess, but I love
cinema roles. Oh gosh, let's do a whole episode on
cinnamon rolls in that trip, because I actually do have
a feminist take on it, do you really? Yes? I do,
And it actually is sad and has to do with trauma.
But I think you're trying to create a character that's
(06:02):
blameless that something bad happens too, because usually the same
all goes through some horrible tragedy and you're like painting
it as but they're perfect while we can't have nice things.
I know, well, I'm guilty of it that I discovered
this through my writing of fan fiction, and I kept
seeing Luke Skywalker is a cinnamon roll. I was like, wait,
what is that? Oh, I'm not the only one who's
(06:23):
done this anyway, Uh, maybe another time, perhaps please write
in if anyone anyone backs my theory or wants to
hear about that. But today, after DCX, we're going to
talk about what they are, some famous examples do they
actually work? And this is a pretty lighthearted one and
we're not gonna get into too much detail. I know
(06:45):
we already hit orgasms like right out the bat, but
that was probably a lot of the most will be
getting into. But maybe do give it a listen first
if you're worried about your kids hearing any of this. Um.
And yes, this was inspired by a running joke over
on the other show. I do savor that every food
at some point in history has been seen as an
affrod ciac, except lettuce and even let us sometimes. But
(07:10):
lettuce was like the butt of jokes about how it
caused impotence and you couldn't have sex if you ate lettuce.
Um I have. I was showing Samantha before this. I
have a history book of jokes, which of course I
do um And there's a section in there on let
us jokes, but I was reading them before this and
they're just so unfunny. I don't think it's even worth
(07:32):
reading them. They just don't make sense to us. We're
not in the fifth century BC. Um can we do
it as an outtake at the end of this, like
after our exit? You can go ahead and say it,
so if people want to listen to it. Maybe I
feel like I'm building it up too much. It like
really is and I'm somebody who loves puns and bad
jokes and mate, even I kind of shook my head
(07:54):
and it was like, huh, I think we should just
do it as an extra, but we'll come back. They'll
forget at that point. Let's go keep going. Um so
through this through this other show. The listener actually wrote
in and asked, you know, you bring up afro ges
X all the time. It's sort of like a drinking
game for some listeners. What are they? I don't even
know what they are? And here we are, not on
(08:15):
the Food show, but on Sminty I'm talking about it.
Um And I did want to put in here because
it's really fun and easy to joke about old timing beliefs.
But a disclaimer here, this is not to make light
of people struggling with legitimate medical conditions when it comes
to having sex. Um. And it is worth remembering that
(08:35):
these were real people who didn't understand medicine and their
bodies and we're desperate to try anything that would work. Um.
And it still is a concern to this day. I mean,
if we look at just how much men, especially Mayo politician,
will protect by agra like it is a it's a
very big concern and probably goes without saying this, but
(08:58):
say it anyway. We are not medical podcast. No no no, no, no,
no no. And another issue here are some animals have
almost been driven to extinction in part for a prized
aphrodisiac ingredient, especially horns like ground up horn um. And
it's usually not the primary cause, but it is a
(09:20):
part of it. So did want to acknowledge that as well? Wait,
aren't some legends about testicles? Yes, yes, eating testicles basically
any phallic shaped food. Okay, that's what I thought, So whatever, um,
But before we go anywhere else, let's talk about what
it is in the definition. So from dictionary dot com
(09:43):
and aphrodisiac is a food, drug, potion, or other agents
that arouses sexual desire, and throughout history they've been believed
to also increase libido and sexual pleasure. The word derives
from the Greek goddess of love aphrodity surprise, surprise, and
only we tend to think of aphrodisiacs and more of
a romantic sense again, kind of that exaggerated sins in
(10:05):
my head, but that has not always been the case.
During the seventeenth century, married couples might be prescribed in
aphrodisiac like pigeon, in a more medicinal sense for fertility
and reproduction. Right. And these days, when when we do
think of afrodisiacs, most people do usually think of things
(10:26):
like chocolate or oysters and strawberries. Um. But I'm not
the only one who has noticed the trend of afrodizias
being assigned to pretty much anything throughout time. Martha Hopkins,
who's the co author of the book Intercourse, has said historically,
foods considered to be aphrodisiacs were hard to find. Rare,
are expensive, like ruffles, fagras, and caviart are shaped like
(10:47):
a sex organ like asparagus or artichokes and even animal testicles.
By the way, asparagus, I feel like that's a really
bad choice. Yeah. No, definitely again because they or phallic
and there's some very, in my mind, unintentionally hilarious art
depicting asparagus in a very sensual fashion from yeah, like
(11:10):
the seventeenth century. Oh, I was just thinking about Yeah,
I know, okay, I know what you don't. We all
know what you're gonna get. She's talking about asperic is
p everyone. I was trying to keep it g on
that one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm just saying, well,
on that remote on that note, do you have a
(11:33):
lot more for you? But first we're gonna pause for
a quick freak for words more sponsor and we're back,
Thank you sponsor. So the big question do they work?
(11:58):
Sometimes sort of? There are a couple of things going
on here. If the underlying issue is blood flow, some
foods can help relax blood vessels in a similar way
to viagraph who's like pumpkin, beef and walnut contain an
amino acid called l arginine that, once consumed, is converted
to nitric acid, which is something that improves the rate
(12:20):
of blood flow. Omega three fatty acids present foods like salmon.
They do the same thing, so does christtine, which has
an anti inflammatory property and is found in red wine, chocolate, grapes, garlic,
and berries. Some of those do sound like are familiar afrodzacs.
The things we think of. Um. One thing, I'm not
(12:42):
sure how much of the food you would have to
get to have any kind of aphrodisiac result. Um. Usually
it's way, way, way more than you typically would. I
found according to experts, only people with serious blood flow
issues would actually see any kind of improvement to sexual
function when it comes to those foods. Hmm. Well, and
(13:03):
something else that is going on here is more cultural.
If we associate food with romance, then we might have
that food mostly in romantic situations, and in our heads
it becomes an aphrodisiact. Yes, it's the polacebo effect. If
we believe it enough, we'll go out of our way
to confirm it. Um. Giving food to a romantic partner
could impart some aphrodisia qualities to that food as well, which,
(13:24):
by the way, you know, when people would fetish size
the whole champagne in shoes, that always really grossed me out.
Did you ever see that? So literally, like some of
the pictures of some of the movies and some commercials
would have like women's high hill shoes and then they
would pour the champagne into it, drink out. I'm like,
that is disgusting my feet smell. Don't touch that, don't
(13:49):
put my champagne or it might get like fabric particles
and stuff and then like that. Yeah, like to funus.
I don't know, I'm just saying that, that's kind of
what I think about. White people perceive these things as sexy,
and I'm like, I don't know that was the opposite
of sexy. Stop there. Yeah, And I know we're going
to come back to it in a minute, but I
(14:10):
think food porn also plays a big role in this
UM and just yeah, I feel like we've kind of
fetishized food at large in a lot of ways. Um.
Only one food item has been scientifically linked to arousal, though,
and it's alcohol, surprise and possibly red wine in particular.
(14:32):
But it's a double edged sword because it also often
decreases sexual performance. I remember when my friend taught me
about whiskey dick college. It just means when you have
too much whiskey or I've never heard this expression. I
know the yes, too much alcohol can also you know,
deter but whiskey dick. Yeah, I wish I had known
(14:55):
this phrase so much. Also for me, I always think
of tequila red wine. Oh interesting, Okay, I think the
red wine thing might be like going back to our
episode on the color of red. Maybe, um, it could
be something as simple as that. However, um. Some researchers
(15:17):
suggest the red wine connection might add to do with
the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, which includes a lot of
those foods we mentioned earlier that help with blood flow
along with red wine. So some researchers think basically it's
an afron Gesac diet like because there's a bunch of
foods you're eating that are helping. But it's not one thing. Um.
(15:38):
And in general, bodies are complicated. They're very, very complicated,
and it's hard yes, surprise, surprise, it's hard to isolate
one thing as the cause. Red wine has been linked
to sexual function, but that could be because of the
diet of people who are more likely to drink red
wine are the stress levels are sleeper at the sites.
(16:00):
Probably all of those things, because they all factor in
two your sex life. A healthy diet is going to
improve sexual function. And on top of this, if you're
not getting enough food or good food, your sex drive
will go down. So in some context, all foods can
be a frodisiacs surprise, and food might have frequently been
in seventeenth century porn for this reason. I'm now trying
(16:25):
to imagine what that looks like. Ahally not as exciting
as you really don't know. Yeah, I'm like, what is
that they just eat the porn eat they eat the
food like they are they like sexily nothing grapes. I mean, yeah,
maybe in that kind of porn. Is That's what I
imagine when I say this. So an experiment with fruit
(16:47):
flies found that in environments with food, the female fruit
fly would hook up with the first male fly. They
encountered up to seven times in one day. Yeah, they're'll
go get it. Without food, that number went down to one. Yeah. Yeah.
And I know I've talked about it before on the show,
and I've wondered before if my eating disorder is one
(17:08):
of the reasons I don't have much of any of
a sex drive. Um, And I know that is a
possible symptom of eating disorders. Um. And yet on the
other hand, bodies are complicated because yes, I have had
a food gasm before. Um, and I always think of
the nature reloaded scene or that happens are the risotto
(17:30):
from Seinfeld? Again, I took another I took a poll
about that with my female friends, and they also will confused.
Are they like, who is this person? Well? I think
if I just envious more than anything else, So go ahead,
all right, I mean I'm I'm happy with that. Um.
And Yes, this actually is a good segue into food porn. Um.
(17:54):
I know we talked about it before, how it's kind
of problematic when we're talking about guilty foods and indulgence
is making you feel guilty about eating things that are
probably fine in moderation. I did learn food porn is
a whole category on porn Hub, which didn't really surprise me,
but also kind of I'm gonna huh, that's something to
they've gone so multiple studies have put food ahead of sex. Yes,
(18:18):
especially for women. Now if we unpack that, the factors
going into such a result can be interpreted as women's
pleasure isn't prioritized doing sex. And also we restrict our
eating yes, but there's also a lot to say about
a culture of consumption or women are objects for consumption
on the same level as food. And we talked about
this a bit in our Men Eat Meat, Women Eat
(18:41):
Salads episode, And think of how many food terms we
apply to women and not the men. Food advertising plays
on this all the freaking time. They really do, really do.
Um yeah, weird, weird. I did a little bit of
googling about food chasm, and I didn't really find any
(19:02):
scientific information. I might do a deep deeper dive on
it later, but it does sound like it's it's pretty rare.
It's more of a term people jokingly use. I honestly
thought it was just an idea. Yeah. Yeah, So if
any researchers out there looking for a project, there you go. Um. So,
(19:25):
we did want to share some famous examples of affrodusiacs
with you, but first we have one more break for
a word from our sponsor, and we're back, Thank you sponsor.
(19:47):
So yeah, let's look at some example throughout history to today. Again.
Google any food afprodusiac. I promise you it probably has
been seen as one at some point. But we chose
some of the the more interesting ones um like. For instance,
one of the otter historical aphrodisiacs is something the Spanish fly,
(20:09):
which is actually toxic um. One that I had never
heard of before is ambergris or maybe ambergrist. I got
two different pronunciations, but we're gonna go with ambergris, which
is a mixture of whale poop, squid beaks, and fatty secretions. Uh.
And this originates from indigestible pieces of squid and the
(20:31):
digestive tracks of whales that most likely are passed out
as poop, which eventually ends up on land somewhere For
people to find. This typically takes a year or so
a floating where son aaron salt exposure oxidizes. It apparently
has a very unique smell. I guess that makes sense.
UM that promotes sexual desire, and because of that, it
(20:54):
is prized by perfume makers. Chanel number five has it
as an ingredient. For example, UM the good quality stuff
runs at twenty dollars a Graham and their collectors. They're
collectors of the stuff that are very extremely competitive with
each other because of that, And that is another thing
that I want to go on a rabbit hole on later.
But I'm a little nervous about what I'll find, right.
(21:15):
I feel like this is going to be a dark,
dark hole. Not a cinnamon role. Not a cinnamon role.
They're in a hole. Yeah. So another food is avocado,
which the story goes that Montezuma told Cortez at the
name Avocadom that testicle nice both four appearance and for
(21:35):
their aphrodisia qualities. These qualities were perceived to be so
strong that when avocados were being harvested, vigiinal women were
prohibited from leaving their home. Well that's powerful, powerful stuff. Um.
Then there's chocolate. The Queen of Valentine's Day candy that
the association with chocolate and afronds X is so strong
that there is a lot of science looking into it.
(21:58):
Chocolate and cocoa. Um. And the association isn't a modern thing.
We definitely, especially things like Valentine's Date did capitalize on it.
But this is an association that's been around for a
long time. Um. But all of this science has never
found any connection related to sexual desire and arousal with
(22:20):
chocolate or coco. Um. At best, the results have been inconclusive.
This one might specifically have to deal with the placebo effect,
especially right, especially now in our modern times. Chocolate is
a treat, one that we frequently give to loved ones,
one that we do give a Valentine's Day. Um. I
was thinking too of just the whole like giving something
(22:40):
sweet to someone, um, and the association with calling people
sweet and sweet foods. I don't know, but you see
the movie Chuck a lot, No, but you know, I
have such a very uh one, very vivid memory of
it's Johnny Depp isn't And he's like, why the woman
cleaned the floor, So that's not but that is the
(23:03):
scene I'm talking about. But it's not Johnny jub Is.
This is an older couple who have been married for
years and she gets him chocolate. And the woman who
sells it, who, by the way, is like the tramp
of the city because like she comes in out of
like the wind brings her in. That's such a lot
of thing. The wind brings her in. She has a child,
(23:24):
there's no father in the picture, you know, all of
these things. And this is a very church like religious village,
and she comes in and blows things like you know,
just knocks everyone for a loop. But like lack of
her ords. I can't figure out how to say, and
she gives her these chocolates. That's that. This is for
what she says, essentially saying, you know, this will turn
(23:45):
them on, and it does, and then she comes and
the woman comes back and I need more chocolate. Okay,
But essentially that's the same like trope. Yeah, yeah, I
wonder about that sometimes, the whole I'd love to look
into that too, sweetheart, just that kind of connection between
sweet things and love. Mhm. And one category of afronusiacs
(24:09):
that we've already mentioned is phallic looking food, so asparagus, yes, eggplant,
ground up horns and tusk, animal genitalia like you said,
things like that. Pretty much anything that looks vaguely phallic
definitely has been apparently is felling. Oh yes, well also yes, uh.
Then we can talk about pomegranates, um, and something that
(24:29):
the forbidden fruit in the Bible was a pomegranate, though
people think bananas and figs were the forbidden fruit. Um.
Legend goes that Aphrodite herself planted the first pomegranate tree.
And I will say this oftentimes like reference to as
the vagina. Yeah, it was funny because when we did
the episode on pomegranates, um, I was looking for stock photos,
(24:49):
free stock photos typing pomegranate. Almost all the first results
were paths and pomegranate seasoned juice on them, and I
was like, Okay, this isn't what I'm looking for. That's
fun Yeah, uh yeah, it certainly was, and I guess
we should have Banana is clearly of phallic one that
(25:11):
gets used a lot is used as the standing for penis,
and a lot of sex said glasses or health classes,
So that's a big one. Strawberries so this is another
one that got its reputation mostly from how this food looks,
the red color's kind of heart shape, also the sweetness.
The strawberry was once a symbol of the Roman god
of love. Venus and ancient Greeks banned the eating of
(25:34):
red foods, and this gave rise to the belief that
strawberries must contain a secret power that forbidden fruit. As
they say, several foods have been banned throughout history for
being too aphrodisiastical, like the Church said, no, you will
not be eating this. Well honey, um, honey has been
(25:57):
seen as an aphrodisiac for centuries. The honeymoon comes from
the hopes for a sweet marriage um or. Some stories
go that newly would couples drank meat until the first
moon after they've been married, and even Hippocrates prescribed it
as an aphrodisiac. And according to one old wives tale
out of France, a sting from a babe was like
getting injected with a maximum dose of aphrodisiac. Can you
(26:21):
imagine being like stingy bee? And then how maybe you
will want into anaphalytic shock? Oh no? And finally, oysters.
Oysters are one of the most well known aphrodisiacs. Why
they're seen as that and they have a long long history,
I think for most of their history, uh, they were
seen that way. Casanova reportedly ate forty oysters a day
(26:43):
for breakfast for this very reason. Oysters are high and zinc,
which is an essential mineral when it comes to the
production of sex hormones. They also continued several other rare
amino acids that do the same thing, but again, there's
never been a strong scientific ace that they have any
of these qualities. However, like I said, bodies are complicated,
(27:06):
it's possible. It's possible. I love oysters. In either case,
I did and it was great because that's some of
the foods. I thought, how am I going to get
oysters during quarantine? That is a food I was not
sure I could acquire, But I did and it was
delightful and I had a lot, a lot, a lot
of oysters. Good for you? Yes? Did it make you
(27:29):
feel extra sexy? No? Eating oysters is also one that's
pretty gross. Everything about that is like, uh nah nah, yeah,
I'm good without that. As less sex language, thanks, Yeah,
it is fascinating though, it is fascinating. It's another one
of those examples of how important uh sex and good
(27:53):
sex has been. It's true. Um, So if you want
to have a less in depth look at perhaps the
afro Gezi part, but the food part. We have talked
at length about a lot of these everyone saver, So
you can go check that out if you're interested. Um.
In the meantime, we would love to hear from you
(28:17):
your thoughts on afro jes. If you have any or
anything else, UM, you can email us at Stuff Media,
mom Stuff at iHeart media dot com. You can find
us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast or on Instagram
at stuff I Never told You Thanks. It's always to
your superproducer Andrew Howard. Thanks Andrew, and thanks to you
for listening stuff I've never told you to. Protection of
(28:38):
iHeart Radio. For more podcasts from iHeart Radio is the
iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Hey, this is Annie and Samantha and the stuff I
never told you protection of I Heart Radio. I feel
like I've had so many very very important questions for
you lately. Yes, what's your superhero name? Power? What do
(00:30):
you think about a game that you've never played? There
are so many things you've asked me, and I'm like,
what was happening? Don't ship anybody like I don't know
what that means. I like to kind of usually I'm like, wait,
what is happening? I don't know what that means. That
is a very astute point. That is usually your response.
(00:51):
My questions are sort of like, huh, that's how important
they are. I'm trying to get you to think perpetually confused.
I'm just perpetually confused. Perfect Well, My very important question
for today is when you hear aphrodisiacs, when you think
about aphrodisiac, what do you think of? Okay, so, when
I think of aphrodisiac I just think it's always an
(01:13):
exaggeration or a caricature of what sexy or sex is
supposed to be, because it doesn't make sense. I'm and
we've talked about this before. I'm a little more literal
on the literal side, so for me and like how
does this turn you on? And don't get me wrong,
trying to figure out sex at twenty one another, Yeah,
(01:34):
it's been like look you look. Yes, I'm one of
those um in that I'm like, well does this work?
And does this happen? Does this work? And I kind
of try to get into that m thought process, I guess,
and it just didn't make sense m hm hm. So there,
I mean where it was there a food that you thought? Oh?
(01:57):
Like for me, I probably think of chocolate coverage rabberries. Um,
so like did you try one? Is there one that
when you think of, oh and this is an aphrodisiac?
I did try one and I can't remember what it
was because it wasn't oysters, And I do know that's
what I think of more than anything else, is oysters. Um.
And of course, yeah, chocolate, I think dark chocolate was
(02:20):
the other part. Yeah, right right, right right, yeah. I
feel like I just have the very Valentine's Day commercial
depiction of the like the blindfold and eating the chocolate
colored strawberries, and that's what I think of first. I
have had a lot of funny conversations about with friends
about how a lot of foods that we see as
(02:42):
taxi or an aphrodisiac or actually really like bad date
foods like lobster. You look like a monster when you mobster,
like being dainty knitting salads. You know, I've went on
huge rants about the fact eating salads is not sexy. No, no,
it just want to put that out there, yes, yes,
and yet and yet we do. I love the thought
(03:06):
of going. I actually think this would be great of
going on a date, going to a lobstream boil and
getting like the bib, like the whole thing. Oh my god.
Just then't like doing a boil and then having the
crabs all up in your hands and all on your
face and I know that I'm wearing it in my
hair every time. I just know it's there, and you
know what, a smell like fish for the next three
(03:28):
hours inevitably. How was that sexy? Yeah? Yeah, it's an
interesting thing that society we've said, yes, this very difficult
thing to eat is why you should go for um.
So I've been thinking about this a lot because I
do another show, food podcast show. I'm not like looking
(03:50):
for a frons X or anything. UM. I just wish
that was the case. But also I need to know,
and we definitely already had that episode about you an
orgasm and some people, yes, you really don't need an aphrodisiac.
That's what I do. And I just want to, you know,
quick update on that. And I swear to god, I
(04:11):
won't go into detail like I did that that time.
I figured out how to do it. It is not
a one time occurrence. I took a poll amongst my
female friends and we're all in shock. I am too,
Maybe that's my superpower. Have a shirt that says orgasma
on it, friend made for me. A little woman knows, Yeah,
(04:34):
there it is. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm like such an
innocent in some ways when it comes to sex. I'm
very very innocent and uh, like, I don't know a
lot of terms, but I have been thinking about how
a lot of them our food related. And we've talked
before about like kind of that consumption area, the consumption
in sex, and maybe that's why we have so many
(04:56):
food words, especially for women and women's body parts. But
and I talked about this on SAVER. I have a
new favorite fan fiction word and it's called cinnamon roll,
and it means when you're too good for this world,
you're too sweet for this world. But I also learned
it is the name for a sex term as well,
So you've got to be careful when you're clicking on
(05:18):
your cinnamon roll description, as they're very different things that
could happen there. Yeah, I'm gonna yeah, confused perfectly, that
put me there. You're welcome, Samantha. Anyway, I've started saying
cinnamon roll is sort of like a happy exclamation, like oh,
cinemon role, so that that is where I go with
(05:41):
food terminology. But today we are talking about apronsiacts, not
cinnamon rolls. Unfortunately for me, I guess, but I love
cinema roles. Oh gosh, let's do a whole episode on
cinnamon rolls in that trip, because I actually do have
a feminist take on it, do you really? Yes? I do,
And it actually is sad and has to do with trauma.
But I think you're trying to create a character that's
(06:02):
blameless that something bad happens too, because usually the same
all goes through some horrible tragedy and you're like painting
it as but they're perfect while we can't have nice things.
I know, well, I'm guilty of it that I discovered
this through my writing of fan fiction, and I kept
seeing Luke Skywalker is a cinnamon roll. I was like, wait,
what is that? Oh, I'm not the only one who's
(06:23):
done this anyway, Uh, maybe another time, perhaps please write
in if anyone anyone backs my theory or wants to
hear about that. But today, after DCX, we're going to
talk about what they are, some famous examples do they
actually work? And this is a pretty lighthearted one and
we're not gonna get into too much detail. I know
(06:45):
we already hit orgasms like right out the bat, but
that was probably a lot of the most will be
getting into. But maybe do give it a listen first
if you're worried about your kids hearing any of this. Um.
And yes, this was inspired by a running joke over
on the other show. I do savor that every food
at some point in history has been seen as an
affrod ciac, except lettuce and even let us sometimes. But
(07:10):
lettuce was like the butt of jokes about how it
caused impotence and you couldn't have sex if you ate lettuce.
Um I have. I was showing Samantha before this. I
have a history book of jokes, which of course I
do um And there's a section in there on let
us jokes, but I was reading them before this and
they're just so unfunny. I don't think it's even worth
(07:32):
reading them. They just don't make sense to us. We're
not in the fifth century BC. Um can we do
it as an outtake at the end of this, like
after our exit? You can go ahead and say it,
so if people want to listen to it. Maybe I
feel like I'm building it up too much. It like
really is and I'm somebody who loves puns and bad
jokes and mate, even I kind of shook my head
(07:54):
and it was like, huh, I think we should just
do it as an extra, but we'll come back. They'll
forget at that point. Let's go keep going. Um so
through this through this other show. The listener actually wrote
in and asked, you know, you bring up afro ges
X all the time. It's sort of like a drinking
game for some listeners. What are they? I don't even
know what they are? And here we are, not on
(08:15):
the Food show, but on Sminty I'm talking about it.
Um And I did want to put in here because
it's really fun and easy to joke about old timing beliefs.
But a disclaimer here, this is not to make light
of people struggling with legitimate medical conditions when it comes
to having sex. Um. And it is worth remembering that
(08:35):
these were real people who didn't understand medicine and their
bodies and we're desperate to try anything that would work. Um.
And it still is a concern to this day. I mean,
if we look at just how much men, especially Mayo politician,
will protect by agra like it is a it's a
very big concern and probably goes without saying this, but
(08:58):
say it anyway. We are not medical podcast. No no no, no, no,
no no. And another issue here are some animals have
almost been driven to extinction in part for a prized
aphrodisiac ingredient, especially horns like ground up horn um. And
it's usually not the primary cause, but it is a
(09:20):
part of it. So did want to acknowledge that as well? Wait,
aren't some legends about testicles? Yes, yes, eating testicles basically
any phallic shaped food. Okay, that's what I thought, So whatever, um,
But before we go anywhere else, let's talk about what
it is in the definition. So from dictionary dot com
(09:43):
and aphrodisiac is a food, drug, potion, or other agents
that arouses sexual desire, and throughout history they've been believed
to also increase libido and sexual pleasure. The word derives
from the Greek goddess of love aphrodity surprise, surprise, and
only we tend to think of aphrodisiacs and more of
a romantic sense again, kind of that exaggerated sins in
(10:05):
my head, but that has not always been the case.
During the seventeenth century, married couples might be prescribed in
aphrodisiac like pigeon, in a more medicinal sense for fertility
and reproduction. Right. And these days, when when we do
think of afrodisiacs, most people do usually think of things
(10:26):
like chocolate or oysters and strawberries. Um. But I'm not
the only one who has noticed the trend of afrodizias
being assigned to pretty much anything throughout time. Martha Hopkins,
who's the co author of the book Intercourse, has said historically,
foods considered to be aphrodisiacs were hard to find. Rare,
are expensive, like ruffles, fagras, and caviart are shaped like
(10:47):
a sex organ like asparagus or artichokes and even animal testicles.
By the way, asparagus, I feel like that's a really
bad choice. Yeah. No, definitely again because they or phallic
and there's some very, in my mind, unintentionally hilarious art
depicting asparagus in a very sensual fashion from yeah, like
(11:10):
the seventeenth century. Oh, I was just thinking about Yeah,
I know, okay, I know what you don't. We all
know what you're gonna get. She's talking about asperic is
p everyone. I was trying to keep it g on
that one. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just I'm just saying, well,
on that remote on that note, do you have a
(11:33):
lot more for you? But first we're gonna pause for
a quick freak for words more sponsor and we're back,
Thank you sponsor. So the big question do they work?
(11:58):
Sometimes sort of? There are a couple of things going
on here. If the underlying issue is blood flow, some
foods can help relax blood vessels in a similar way
to viagraph who's like pumpkin, beef and walnut contain an
amino acid called l arginine that, once consumed, is converted
to nitric acid, which is something that improves the rate
(12:20):
of blood flow. Omega three fatty acids present foods like salmon.
They do the same thing, so does christtine, which has
an anti inflammatory property and is found in red wine, chocolate, grapes, garlic,
and berries. Some of those do sound like are familiar afrodzacs.
The things we think of. Um. One thing, I'm not
(12:42):
sure how much of the food you would have to
get to have any kind of aphrodisiac result. Um. Usually
it's way, way, way more than you typically would. I
found according to experts, only people with serious blood flow
issues would actually see any kind of improvement to sexual
function when it comes to those foods. Hmm. Well, and
(13:03):
something else that is going on here is more cultural.
If we associate food with romance, then we might have
that food mostly in romantic situations, and in our heads
it becomes an aphrodisiact. Yes, it's the polacebo effect. If
we believe it enough, we'll go out of our way
to confirm it. Um. Giving food to a romantic partner
could impart some aphrodisia qualities to that food as well, which,
(13:24):
by the way, you know, when people would fetish size
the whole champagne in shoes, that always really grossed me out.
Did you ever see that? So literally, like some of
the pictures of some of the movies and some commercials
would have like women's high hill shoes and then they
would pour the champagne into it, drink out. I'm like,
that is disgusting my feet smell. Don't touch that, don't
(13:49):
put my champagne or it might get like fabric particles
and stuff and then like that. Yeah, like to funus.
I don't know, I'm just saying that, that's kind of
what I think about. White people perceive these things as sexy,
and I'm like, I don't know that was the opposite
of sexy. Stop there. Yeah, And I know we're going
to come back to it in a minute, but I
(14:10):
think food porn also plays a big role in this
UM and just yeah, I feel like we've kind of
fetishized food at large in a lot of ways. Um.
Only one food item has been scientifically linked to arousal, though,
and it's alcohol, surprise and possibly red wine in particular.
(14:32):
But it's a double edged sword because it also often
decreases sexual performance. I remember when my friend taught me
about whiskey dick college. It just means when you have
too much whiskey or I've never heard this expression. I
know the yes, too much alcohol can also you know,
deter but whiskey dick. Yeah, I wish I had known
(14:55):
this phrase so much. Also for me, I always think
of tequila red wine. Oh interesting, Okay, I think the
red wine thing might be like going back to our
episode on the color of red. Maybe, um, it could
be something as simple as that. However, um. Some researchers
(15:17):
suggest the red wine connection might add to do with
the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, which includes a lot of
those foods we mentioned earlier that help with blood flow
along with red wine. So some researchers think basically it's
an afron Gesac diet like because there's a bunch of
foods you're eating that are helping. But it's not one thing. Um.
(15:38):
And in general, bodies are complicated. They're very, very complicated,
and it's hard yes, surprise, surprise, it's hard to isolate
one thing as the cause. Red wine has been linked
to sexual function, but that could be because of the
diet of people who are more likely to drink red
wine are the stress levels are sleeper at the sites.
(16:00):
Probably all of those things, because they all factor in
two your sex life. A healthy diet is going to
improve sexual function. And on top of this, if you're
not getting enough food or good food, your sex drive
will go down. So in some context, all foods can
be a frodisiacs surprise, and food might have frequently been
in seventeenth century porn for this reason. I'm now trying
(16:25):
to imagine what that looks like. Ahally not as exciting
as you really don't know. Yeah, I'm like, what is
that they just eat the porn eat they eat the
food like they are they like sexily nothing grapes. I mean, yeah,
maybe in that kind of porn. Is That's what I
imagine when I say this. So an experiment with fruit
(16:47):
flies found that in environments with food, the female fruit
fly would hook up with the first male fly. They
encountered up to seven times in one day. Yeah, they're'll
go get it. Without food, that number went down to one. Yeah. Yeah.
And I know I've talked about it before on the show,
and I've wondered before if my eating disorder is one
(17:08):
of the reasons I don't have much of any of
a sex drive. Um, And I know that is a
possible symptom of eating disorders. Um. And yet on the
other hand, bodies are complicated because yes, I have had
a food gasm before. Um, and I always think of
the nature reloaded scene or that happens are the risotto
(17:30):
from Seinfeld? Again, I took another I took a poll
about that with my female friends, and they also will confused.
Are they like, who is this person? Well? I think
if I just envious more than anything else, So go ahead,
all right, I mean I'm I'm happy with that. Um.
And Yes, this actually is a good segue into food porn. Um.
(17:54):
I know we talked about it before, how it's kind
of problematic when we're talking about guilty foods and indulgence
is making you feel guilty about eating things that are
probably fine in moderation. I did learn food porn is
a whole category on porn Hub, which didn't really surprise me,
but also kind of I'm gonna huh, that's something to
they've gone so multiple studies have put food ahead of sex. Yes,
(18:18):
especially for women. Now if we unpack that, the factors
going into such a result can be interpreted as women's
pleasure isn't prioritized doing sex. And also we restrict our
eating yes, but there's also a lot to say about
a culture of consumption or women are objects for consumption
on the same level as food. And we talked about
this a bit in our Men Eat Meat, Women Eat
(18:41):
Salads episode, And think of how many food terms we
apply to women and not the men. Food advertising plays
on this all the freaking time. They really do, really do.
Um yeah, weird, weird. I did a little bit of
googling about food chasm, and I didn't really find any
(19:02):
scientific information. I might do a deep deeper dive on
it later, but it does sound like it's it's pretty rare.
It's more of a term people jokingly use. I honestly
thought it was just an idea. Yeah. Yeah, So if
any researchers out there looking for a project, there you go. Um. So,
(19:25):
we did want to share some famous examples of affrodusiacs
with you, but first we have one more break for
a word from our sponsor, and we're back, Thank you sponsor.
(19:47):
So yeah, let's look at some example throughout history to today. Again.
Google any food afprodusiac. I promise you it probably has
been seen as one at some point. But we chose
some of the the more interesting ones um like. For instance,
one of the otter historical aphrodisiacs is something the Spanish fly,
(20:09):
which is actually toxic um. One that I had never
heard of before is ambergris or maybe ambergrist. I got
two different pronunciations, but we're gonna go with ambergris, which
is a mixture of whale poop, squid beaks, and fatty secretions. Uh.
And this originates from indigestible pieces of squid and the
(20:31):
digestive tracks of whales that most likely are passed out
as poop, which eventually ends up on land somewhere For
people to find. This typically takes a year or so
a floating where son aaron salt exposure oxidizes. It apparently
has a very unique smell. I guess that makes sense.
UM that promotes sexual desire, and because of that, it
(20:54):
is prized by perfume makers. Chanel number five has it
as an ingredient. For example, UM the good quality stuff
runs at twenty dollars a Graham and their collectors. They're
collectors of the stuff that are very extremely competitive with
each other because of that, And that is another thing
that I want to go on a rabbit hole on later.
But I'm a little nervous about what I'll find, right.
(21:15):
I feel like this is going to be a dark,
dark hole. Not a cinnamon role. Not a cinnamon role.
They're in a hole. Yeah. So another food is avocado,
which the story goes that Montezuma told Cortez at the
name Avocadom that testicle nice both four appearance and for
(21:35):
their aphrodisia qualities. These qualities were perceived to be so
strong that when avocados were being harvested, vigiinal women were
prohibited from leaving their home. Well that's powerful, powerful stuff. Um.
Then there's chocolate. The Queen of Valentine's Day candy that
the association with chocolate and afronds X is so strong
that there is a lot of science looking into it.
(21:58):
Chocolate and cocoa. Um. And the association isn't a modern thing.
We definitely, especially things like Valentine's Date did capitalize on it.
But this is an association that's been around for a
long time. Um. But all of this science has never
found any connection related to sexual desire and arousal with
(22:20):
chocolate or coco. Um. At best, the results have been inconclusive.
This one might specifically have to deal with the placebo effect,
especially right, especially now in our modern times. Chocolate is
a treat, one that we frequently give to loved ones,
one that we do give a Valentine's Day. Um. I
was thinking too of just the whole like giving something
(22:40):
sweet to someone, um, and the association with calling people
sweet and sweet foods. I don't know, but you see
the movie Chuck a lot, No, but you know, I
have such a very uh one, very vivid memory of
it's Johnny Depp isn't And he's like, why the woman
cleaned the floor, So that's not but that is the
(23:03):
scene I'm talking about. But it's not Johnny jub Is.
This is an older couple who have been married for
years and she gets him chocolate. And the woman who
sells it, who, by the way, is like the tramp
of the city because like she comes in out of
like the wind brings her in. That's such a lot
of thing. The wind brings her in. She has a child,
(23:24):
there's no father in the picture, you know, all of
these things. And this is a very church like religious village,
and she comes in and blows things like you know,
just knocks everyone for a loop. But like lack of
her ords. I can't figure out how to say, and
she gives her these chocolates. That's that. This is for
what she says, essentially saying, you know, this will turn
(23:45):
them on, and it does, and then she comes and
the woman comes back and I need more chocolate. Okay,
But essentially that's the same like trope. Yeah, yeah, I
wonder about that sometimes, the whole I'd love to look
into that too, sweetheart, just that kind of connection between
sweet things and love. Mhm. And one category of afronusiacs
(24:09):
that we've already mentioned is phallic looking food, so asparagus, yes, eggplant,
ground up horns and tusk, animal genitalia like you said,
things like that. Pretty much anything that looks vaguely phallic
definitely has been apparently is felling. Oh yes, well also yes, uh.
Then we can talk about pomegranates, um, and something that
(24:29):
the forbidden fruit in the Bible was a pomegranate, though
people think bananas and figs were the forbidden fruit. Um.
Legend goes that Aphrodite herself planted the first pomegranate tree.
And I will say this oftentimes like reference to as
the vagina. Yeah, it was funny because when we did
the episode on pomegranates, um, I was looking for stock photos,
(24:49):
free stock photos typing pomegranate. Almost all the first results
were paths and pomegranate seasoned juice on them, and I
was like, Okay, this isn't what I'm looking for. That's
fun Yeah, uh yeah, it certainly was, and I guess
we should have Banana is clearly of phallic one that
(25:11):
gets used a lot is used as the standing for penis,
and a lot of sex said glasses or health classes,
So that's a big one. Strawberries so this is another
one that got its reputation mostly from how this food looks,
the red color's kind of heart shape, also the sweetness.
The strawberry was once a symbol of the Roman god
of love. Venus and ancient Greeks banned the eating of
(25:34):
red foods, and this gave rise to the belief that
strawberries must contain a secret power that forbidden fruit. As
they say, several foods have been banned throughout history for
being too aphrodisiastical, like the Church said, no, you will
not be eating this. Well honey, um, honey has been
(25:57):
seen as an aphrodisiac for centuries. The honeymoon comes from
the hopes for a sweet marriage um or. Some stories
go that newly would couples drank meat until the first
moon after they've been married, and even Hippocrates prescribed it
as an aphrodisiac. And according to one old wives tale
out of France, a sting from a babe was like
getting injected with a maximum dose of aphrodisiac. Can you
(26:21):
imagine being like stingy bee? And then how maybe you
will want into anaphalytic shock? Oh no? And finally, oysters.
Oysters are one of the most well known aphrodisiacs. Why
they're seen as that and they have a long long history,
I think for most of their history, uh, they were
seen that way. Casanova reportedly ate forty oysters a day
(26:43):
for breakfast for this very reason. Oysters are high and zinc,
which is an essential mineral when it comes to the
production of sex hormones. They also continued several other rare
amino acids that do the same thing, but again, there's
never been a strong scientific ace that they have any
of these qualities. However, like I said, bodies are complicated,
(27:06):
it's possible. It's possible. I love oysters. In either case,
I did and it was great because that's some of
the foods. I thought, how am I going to get
oysters during quarantine? That is a food I was not
sure I could acquire, But I did and it was
delightful and I had a lot, a lot, a lot
of oysters. Good for you? Yes? Did it make you
(27:29):
feel extra sexy? No? Eating oysters is also one that's
pretty gross. Everything about that is like, uh nah nah, yeah,
I'm good without that. As less sex language, thanks, Yeah,
it is fascinating though, it is fascinating. It's another one
of those examples of how important uh sex and good
(27:53):
sex has been. It's true. Um, So if you want
to have a less in depth look at perhaps the
afro Gezi part, but the food part. We have talked
at length about a lot of these everyone saver, So
you can go check that out if you're interested. Um.
In the meantime, we would love to hear from you
(28:17):
your thoughts on afro jes. If you have any or
anything else, UM, you can email us at Stuff Media,
mom Stuff at iHeart media dot com. You can find
us on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast or on Instagram
at stuff I Never told You Thanks. It's always to
your superproducer Andrew Howard. Thanks Andrew, and thanks to you
for listening stuff I've never told you to. Protection of
(28:38):
iHeart Radio. For more podcasts from iHeart Radio is the
iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to
your favorite shows.
Stuff Mom Never Told You News
Hosts And Creators
Anney Reese
Samantha McVey
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.