Turkey Aphrodisiac & Health Benefits Beyond the Obvious

Venus in the Kitchen, or love’s cookery book, suggests wild birds, including turkey, can be presented in a number of aphrodisiac presentations. You see, to maintain an appropriate zinc content in you system for sexual health–zinc is necessary for good blood flow, which is necessary for orgasm–a diet that includes lean meats such as poultry at least twice weekly is recommended. Here’s more on turkey benefits–some might surprise you!

What kind of turkey should you buy?

Of course, although Venus in the Kitchen touts wild birds, farmed turkey also offers this nutritional boost. Health food advocates recommend choosing organic or pasture-raised birds because they generally have higher nutritional value and they don’t contain antibiotics. (Incidentally, dark meat tends to contain more vitamins and minerals than white meat. In addition to zinc, turkey–both light and dark meat–is a source of B3, B6 and B12 vitamins as well as selenium, all of which will benefit your sex life.)

Turkey boosts sex drive?

In addition to promoting good blood flow, this bird is a good source of lean protein. And as such, it promotes norepinephrine production. Norepinephrine boosts sex drive. (The old bird’s looking pretty good right now, isn’t it?)

“So wait,” you might be thinking. “A turkey burger can improve my sex life?” Yes, ground turkey benefits are the same as that roasted, Thanksgiving bird. Whether you enjoy turkey in a sandwich or gnawing on a drum stick, the nutritional benefits are surprisingly aphrodisiac.

RELATED: Love turkey and cranberries? Try my sugared cranberries recipe

Turkey and tryptophan

Now, since we’re on the topic of chemical messengers like norepinephrine in the brain, let’s talk about tryptophan. Turkey has a reputation for being famously high in tryptophan, which supports the production of serotonin. And serotonin, like norepinephrine, is a neurotransmitter linked with the enjoyment of sex. (It’s also linked with the enjoyment of pretty much everything since this chemical messenger is involved in promoting a good mood and feelings of wellbeing.)

But getting back to that tryptophan, turkey is most definitely a source of tryptophan. And it definitely can help support serotonin production. However, this bird contains no more tryptophan than any other form of poultry. So, although any bird may promote feelings of wellbeing that can help you get in “the mood” for love, turkey is no better than chicken at mood enhancement.

Is turkey an aphrodisiac?

Now, turkey doesn’t boast a rich aphrodisiac history but it certainly does have one prominent fan. Salvador Dali, the great artist known for living on the edge, was a fan of the bird and in fact, left several recipes starring this particular poultry as part of his legacy.

Whether or not this bird should top the list of natural aphrodisiacs is yet to be seen. But there is enough support that cultural anthropologist Marilyn Ekdahl Ravicz included a section on poultry, (including turkey) in her book Erotic Cuisine. However, she encouraged the use of turkey in combination with such known aphrodisiac foods as cranberries, sweet potatoes, nutmeg and wine. Her theory is that aphrodisiac ingredients “potentiate one another.” It makes you start to think a holiday feast may just make for more than a full belly.

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Amy Reiley

Eat Something Sexy's Creator & Editor-in-Chief Amy Reiley is the award-winning author of five aphrodisiac cookbooks. She has her Master of Arts in Gastronomy, awarded by Le Cordon Bleu and The University of Adelaide.

Amy is considered a leading authority on aphrodisiacs. Her work in aphrodisiacs is quoted in publications including National Geographic, The New York Times, Epicurious, Wine Enthusiast, Health and Playboy magazines. She speaks internationally on aphrodisiac foods and has brought her knowledge of aphrodisiac history and science to national television shows including The Today Show and CBS Early Show. She is a frequent guest on relationship and lifestyle radio and podcast shows and has been interviewed by BBC and NPR radio, Cosmopolitan radio and popular podcasts including My Dad Wrote a Porno.

Amy is also a freelance food, wine and health researcher and writer as well as a wine competition judge. Her work has appeared in publications ranging from Variety to The Daily Meal. She is an MSN content provider. And she is also a former wine editor for Gayot.com and wine & spirits editor of Las Vegas magazine.

Fun fact: Amy was the creator of the first ever comprehensive food and wine apps, Amy Reiley's Pocket Gourmet and Amy Reiley's Pocket Vineyard for Palm.

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