the oyster

The oyster just may be the most evocative culinary emblem of passion. But despite the powerful psychological persuasion of its suggestive appearance, the oyster falls quite low on the list of aphrodisiacs with scientifically proven potency. There are, however, a few measurable explanations for the oyster’s power that reach beyond looks.

Like many foods of the sea, the oyster’s slightly salty/sweet scent, a smell not dissimilar to the most potent female pheromone, TMA, has proven to be mildly stirring. Although the serving of nutrients in a single oyster is negligible, oysters are loaded with zinc, a key nutrient for testosterone production, (important for stimulating libido in both men and women). Foods high in both protein and zinc, like oysters, have been credited with keeping men virile well into old age, although the quantity of required oysters may be overwhelming. (Even in his sexual prime, Casanova supposedly consumed 50 oysters each day to keep his libido in top form).