Chocolate
and Sex -
A 1,500 Year-Old Tradition
With Valentine's Day right
around the corner, you're probably wondering: Is chocolate
really an aphrodisiac? And if so, just what is the perfect
dose?
An aphrodisiac - named for
Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexual love and beauty
- is something that is believed to "put you in the mood
for love." Chocolate's reputation as an aphrodisiac
actually goes back 1,500 years, to the Aztecs. The Aztecs
believed that chocolate invigorated men and made women
less inhibited. They even celebrated its harvest with
festivals of wild orgies. In addition, it is reported
that the Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 golden goblets
of chocolate each day to boost his virility before visiting
his extensive harem.
But is chocolate really an
aphrodisiac? Scientists say "probably not" in one breath,
while explaining the chemical basis of chocolate's mood-altering
abilities in the next. Chocolate contains two substances
that occur naturally in the human brain and tend to
have a stronger affect on women than on men: Phenylethylamin
and Seratonin. The brain normally releases these substances
when we're happy...and when we experience feelings of
love, passion, and/or lust. The brain's release of Phenylethylamin
and Seratonin causes a rapid mood change, an increase
in heart rate and blood pressure, and general feelings
of well being. When chocolate is consumed it also releases
these chemicals into the bloodstream and gives an instant
energy boost.
So there you have it - chocolate
contains two powerful chemical mood lifters that are
associated with feelings of happiness, love, passion,
lust, endurance, and stamina. Chemically speaking, chocolate
makes you feel good. But is it really an aphrodisiac?
It's hard to say. In the interest of science, we recommend
you conduct your own experiments and find out!
