Feeding and FuckingA Brief Overview of Aphrodisiacsby Samantha Peffer

The Basics•What is an aphrodisiac?

▫And what is not an aphrodisiac•How do they work?

▫Or do they work at all•But… why?

So, What’s an Aphrodisiac?•An aphrodisiac is a substance that creates

sexual desire when consumed.▫Note- A true aphrodisiacs creates sexual

desire. It doesn’t just heighten the desire or increase performance.

•There is no scientific evidence that food can create sexual desire on it’s own.

How does that work?•It doesn’t.•But –

▫There are some chemicals that are related to sexual desire that can be stimulated by food consumption.

▫The visual shapes of foods can be arousing for the consumer.

▫Also, foods can sometimes mimic symptoms of sexual arousal.

▫It has been argued that foods that lower inhibitions are also aphrodisiacs.

Resemblance to Genitals•Avocados•Bananas•Carrots•Cucumbers•Oysters•Rhino Horn

Mimicking Arousal•Chili Peppers•Garlic•Asparagus•Spanish Fly (with other pleasant side

effects)

“Happy Chemicals”•Phenylethylamine (PEA)•Serotonin•Dopamine

Lowering Inhibitions•Alcohol•Marijuana•Consent?

Placebo?•Are aphrodisiacs simply a mind trick?

•Can you think your way into heightened sexual performance?

•What do you think?

But… why?•So, who came up with this in the first

place?

•What is our connection between sex and food?

Related Readings•Walker Bynum, Caroline. "Fast, Feast, and

Flesh: The Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women." Food and Culture. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2008. 121-40. Print.

•Morrison, Toni. Sula. New York: Knopf; [distributed by Random House, 1974. Print.(page 43)

Bibliography• Lehmiller, Justin J. "The Psychology of Human Sexuality." Lehmiller.com.

N.p., 1 Aug. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.lehmiller.com/blog/2012/8/1/do-aphrodisiacs-really-work.html>.

• Obringer, Lee Ann. "How Aphrodisiacs Work." HowStuffWorks. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://science.howstuffworks.com/aphrodisiac6.htm>.

• Ramnarace, Cynthia. "6 Foods to Get You in the Mood." IVillage.ca. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.ivillage.ca/relationships/love-and-sex/6-foods-get-you-the-mood%3FCID%3DVD>

• Walker Bynum, Caroline. "Fast, Feast, and Flesh: The Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women." Food and Culture. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Routledge, 2008. 121-40. Print.

• Wanjek, Christopher. "Top 10 Aphrodisiacs." Live Science. N.p., 10 Feb. 2007. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. <http://www.livescience.com/11352-top-10-aphrodisiacs.html>.