By Angelique Shofar
Have you ever considered that perhaps it's the foods you eat that thwart your sex drive? Or that those pleasure foods and drugs are diminishing your sex drive and robbing you of the beneficial nutrients vital to sexual health and well being? Is it any wonder that the love making patterns of most humans today are that of an animalistic nature in which the aggressor is rushed and in pursuit of an orgasm to satisfy the raw uncultivated sexual urges? That IS animal behavior!
Having been born and raised in another culture, I have to admit that eating became a habit of emotional response after living in America for some time. The colorful, rich, perfect looking food commercials that lace the screens of the "tell-lie-vision" and magazine pages, makes a big impression on the psyche. With so many years of expressing and seeking sensual, erotic moments through food I know first hand, the power of food...... as well as the dis-empowerment associated with food. The many times when my desire for physical pleasure and stimulation were unmet naturally, I sought ecstasy through foods. And it came with a price!
Eating is a highly erotic experience. The process is like love-making in many respects. The foreplay can be seen as the preparation that extends into the dishing up of food onto yours and your lovers plate. Eating it is the actual love-making phrase when deep penetration and mastication takes place. The saliva excreted as love juice mixes the flow and enhances the potency of those pleasurable moments. The intimate and sensual edge of eating together, in same bowl, with well washed hands - as spoon- is an erotic eating tradition that I know so well. Growing up on the first continent brought intimacy and trust through eating from the same bowl or calabash with others.
But we are too busy to even slow down and experience the erotic power of foods here in the wild wild West. And in seeking ways to enhance intimate relationships, we often overlook simple paths like the erotic nature of food -a basic necessity. Slowing down is a fundamental aspect of Tantra. I used to have "dates" with myself where I would turn my telephone ringer offer and take my own sweet time cooking dinner and preparing the table for me, I and myself! Those were powerful and pleasurably silent moments filled with sounds rather than words.
The Tantric tradition is in favor of eating in moderation and choosing food that is seasonal. When we are present within ourselves we can hear and feel the body more clearly. Conscious cooking and conscious eating bring out the erotic power in food that may ring, sounds and feel different from person to person. In those moments the messages we get from our foods can open us to the erotic and or healthy energies of foods
In Hatha Yoga traditions one should refrain from eating excessively acid, bitter, salty or pungent foods. And advises that "Half the stomach should be filled with food, one quarter with water or other liquid, and one quarter should be empty to aid the practice of breath control." How do you measure, you're probably asking? I'd like to know myself.
The mental attitude of the person preparing the food pervades each item like the herbs and seasonings that penetrate the outer layers and the exterior of our edibles. Likewise, the mental body in turn influences the digestive process. Eating while upset, or while sitting before the television or behind the wheel takes away from the sacramental quality of eating. It is this sacramental quality that is filled with the power of erotic. The link to erotic power begins through the blessing of and remembrance of the source of the food. I always fill my food with love and light, raising the vibration of what I put into my mouth and body. Rushing to make already quick meals only robs you of the healing erotic and aphrodisiac properties of cooking. These are meant to be God filled meditation moments that symbolize and activate the nurturing and nourishing our body needs. Cooking (and arranging erotic foods) is the alchemy of magically transmuting our sexual energies into materials or substances of significant value.
Aphrodisiac Foods
"Man is lead by the hair of a drive that is stronger than he is."
We must visit the Greek culture to first understand the roots of aphrodisiac. Aphrodite was the Greek Goddess of Love. She was the femme fatale of the Romans. The word Aphrodisiac derived from the love of Aphrodite. Aphrodisiacs have long been sought after because it is believed that they enhance the greatest earthly pleasure given: Sex.
The aphrodisiac's purpose is to enhance sexual urges & desire, (libido) and the sexual drive. They have been used for thousands of years. Many drugs are plant based, yet nature is always way ahead of man and his inventive mind. Without plants many man-made drugs would have never come to be.
Our ancestors used aphrodisiac plants for purposes of seduction, to spice up sex life, to improve potency and to remedy infertility and sterility.
Some Aphrodisiac Foods:
Agave--Agavaceae-- Mexico-ritual inebriant. Fermented juice, or agave wine, called pulque, from the peduncle is used. Add few seeds of horn apple to increase effect. Tequila is distilled from Agave Tequilana. Other spices used to make schnapps called mescal.
Asparagus --Asparagus officinales-- diuretic, it stimulates activity of kidneys and is depurative. People who eat a lot of asparagus have also many lovers.
Cacao Tree --Theobroma cacao) Central America-mild stimulant, ground beans made into drink or chocolate bar. Ancient Indian recipe of chocolate: Roasted beans are ground and dissolved in water, along with vanilla, cayenne pepper, matico pepper, pimento, cinnamon, squash seeds. A cup of gold can be salty or sweetened with honey. Cocoa was considered the "food of gods"; Aztec prostitutes were paid in cocoa. Beans contain theobromine and caffeine, aphrodisiac phenylethylamine.
Celery --Apium graveolenns--stimulant, fresh root eaten, it strengthen the sex organs. Celery root contains an essential oil and minerals iron, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, phosphorus.
Date Palm --Phoenix dactilifera--Asia, Arabia, North America- invigorate, inebriant, dates eaten, palm wine drunk. Add preparations of nightshade, hemp or opium for better results.
Durian Fruit has an intriguing reputation in Southeast Asia as having aphrodisiac properties. It is not clear whether this is attributed to some substance in the fruit pulp
Oyster Meat -- Oyster extract is excellent for men's reproductive health and endurance. It is a rich source for the amino acid taurine, which has a cardio-protective effect and also in nerve transmission. Historically known as an aphrodisiac, flavanoids in oyster meat have been shown to stimulate the reproductive system
Pimento --Pimenta dioica-- Central America, Caribbean- stimulant, one of the most common spices in ancient America and Indian folk medicine. It warms the body and becomes an aphrodisiac when taken in large quantities, especially with cocoa. Contains essential oils
Pineapple --Ananas cosmosus-- diuretic, invigoration! Has a great digestive effect, a purifying effect. Use fresh fruit juice. For aphrodisiac effects to work-- eat pineapple with chili powder or mixed with honey and rum. A small glass taken daily promotes energies of love.
Pomegranate tree --Punica granatum-- Mediterranean, Asia Minor- invigorator! The fruits are eaten-- the fruit is sacred to Aphrodite. The rinds are rich in tannins.
Sea Bean --Canavalia maritima-- South America, Africa- psychedelic, the beans have aphrodisiac qualities. They are ingested or smoked in the place of marijuana. In ancient America these beans were used in magic and rituals, they have been found in the prehistoric graves. The active substance is L-betonicine.
Squash --Curcubita pepo--America - diuretic, invigorator, seeds eaten and aphrodisiac for women. In Aurvedic and Tantric systems seeds eaten during rituals of love, and belong to vajicarana. Seeds contain fatty oil, protein and vitamin E that is important for healthy sexuality.
Sweet Potato --Ipomoea batatas--Sental and South America - invigorator! Excessive consumption stimulates the woman's sex drive.
Thorn Apple --Datura species, Solanaceae-- strong psychodelic, very erotic, plant of prophesy and witches plant. Leaves or flowers brewed into tea, seeds eaten, herbage smoked. All species and all parts contain highly active tropane alkaloids.
Wild Lettuce --Lactuca virosa--Europe, North America -narcotic, dried sap smoked for ritual purposes and as a sexual stimulant. Contains an alkaloid lactusine which has qualities that are similar to morphine.
Basil --Ocimum sanctum-- South Asia, Europe - used as spices, medical uses Eat one leaf a day to: maintain health, prosperity, and fertility. Basil gives for an exciting sex life. The popular spice basil (Ocimum basilicum) also possesses aphrodisiac powers. Contains essential oil, tannins and vitamins.
Cardamom - Cardamon is a sensual spice considered to have aphrodisiac properties. With a peculiar nature, it cools the body when it is hot and warms it when it is cold. Cleopatra used to take baths in cardamom.
Cardamom - Elettaria cardamomum --Southeast Asia - It is a stimulant especially if added to coffee. Its essential oil has an erotic effect.
Cayenne Pepper Capsicum Annuum, Solanaceae-- Middle and South America - stimulant, irritant, fresh or dried fruits eaten. It heats the sexual drive. It has irritating effects on membranes and urogenital area. Contains acrid substance capsicum and a lot of vitamin C. Avoid over dosage.
Cayenne is also known as capsicum and plays a very large role in blood circulation. When cayenne is ingested, it dilates blood vessels. This allows increased blood flow throughout the body, especially in the major organs. The male penis benefits greatly from the ingestion of cayenne. It is a widely held belief that cayenne aids in longer lasting erections, with stronger ejaculations and more intense orgasms. No wonder African men are sexually powerful!
Meals rich in fruits and vegetables provide beneficial nutrients that keep organs in peak condition and energy at maximum levels, both of which are essential for lovemaking.
Stay away from fried foods and rich cream sauces. They can leave us feeling more sluggish than sexy. Too much sugar, salt, saturated fat and highly processed foods are linked to frigidity, difficulty reaching orgasm and lack of interest in sex. Sounds familiar? Scaling back on these foods will help revive and preserve sexual vitality and enhance total well-being. Put a cap on the overindulgence of alcohol and coffee, and skip tobacco completely. These "pleasure drugs" take away from the depths, experience and authenticity of the feelings and the loving making act. Some indulgences are beneficial. The rich, delicious decadence known as chocolate contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that raises the body's endorphins - our natural antidepressants. Enjoyed in moderation, a few pieces can lift libido, providing a tantalizing prelude to sex. (But please don't overindulge!)
Indulge in this one... a blend that is out of this world: EATING and MAKING-LOVE! Using food while making love. This can be such a tantalizing, erotic combination... if you do them slowly!! Hey...remember no rush!
*The contents on this article are informational only! Experiment wisely and consciously!
