the aphrodisiac history of shark

Shark is one of the most controversial foods considered to be an aphrodisiac. This is the result of unending demand throughout Asia (most particularly in China) for the fins of healthy sharks. The appetite for shark fins would not be so bad if the desire for shark meat matched the obsession with fins. Unfortunately, as of the early twenty-first century, there is little interest in the Asian marketplace for shark beyond the fish’s dorsal fin.
 
The result is rampant, illegal de-finning of sharks around the world to sell to the Chinese apothecary and restaurant trade. There, it is made into shark fin soup, a treatment for aging, internal organ function and, of course, as an aphrodisiac. To obtain fins, the sharks are caught, their fins removed, finless bodies returned to the sea where they, essentially rudderless, sink to the bottom of the ocean to die. Worst of all, unlike many other Chinese, homeopathic prescriptions, there is no evidence that shark fin soup provides measurable aphrodisiac benefits.
 
However, shark meat may help enhance that sexual glow. A 3.5 ounce serving of Mako, a variety commonly caught and served today, offers 21 grams of energy-sustaining protein to every 4.5 grams of fat. It is also a good source of magnesium as well as selenium, an important nutrient for sperm production.