There's nothing wrong with me loving you

Since Valentine's Day is so often celebrated with food of some sort (going out to dinner, chocolates, etc.) I couldn't resist sharing what I read today about aphrodisiac foods (this is from AOL Living). I've never heard of durian or rapini, but some of my favorite foods are on this list! Hmmmmm...

Durian
Durian is so offensively odorous that it is banned in most hotels and airplanes. But once you get past the odor, this "king of fruits" has a pulp that is said to taste like a rich custard. So is the alleged arousal worth suffering the stink? Perhaps… if you believe the famous Malaysian saying, "When the durians come down, the sarongs come off."

Nutmeg
Next time you're pouring nutmeg on your cappuccino, go easy! Although in small doses this piquant spice can cause a drunken, aphrodisiac effect, in large quantities (anything over four teaspoons), nutmeg can spur highly dangerous hallucinogenic reactions. But don't get any ideas: Intravenous injection of nutmeg can be fatal.

Green M&Ms
Although no one knows the true origins of the green M&Ms myth, it is theorized that it began back in the 70's, when students started feeding the green ones to their crushes. Mars embraced the urban legend, turning Green into a long-lashed sex symbol, and even creating bags of all-green candies for a Valentine's Day promotion.

Chocolate
The Aztecs were no fools! They coined chocolate "nourishment of the gods" when they noticed how their moods improved after eating cocoa confections. Indeed, as contemporary science has revealed, chocolate contains subtle traces of the mood-lifter Seratonin, which increases heart rate and induces feelings of happiness and love.

Garlic
It might be the last thing you want to eat before kissing someone, but garlic is said to stir sexual desires. In fact, the fragrant bulb is so famously amorous that Tibetan monks were once forbidden from entering Monasteries after eating it. And it's no urban legend: Modern science has confirmed that garlic improves blood circulation, in turn enhancing sexual performance.

Oysters
When we think aphrodisiacs, oysters are often the first delicacy that comes to mind -- but do they live up to the claims? Well slurp away, lovers. Science has granted credence to the sensual shellfish's aphrodisiac reputation -- oysters are high in zinc and aspartic acids which, in fact, increase testosterone levels.

Avocado
The Aztecs are responsible for the avocado's standing as an aphrodisiac, and again, they were on the money. The buzz started because avocados hang from trees in pairs, which prompted the Aztecs to call the fruit "Ahuacuatl" (which translates to, er, "Testicle tree"). But indeed, avocados are rich in vitamin E – the same nutrient that makes asparagus famous for friskiness.

Asparagus
Even beyond its suggestive shape, asparagus boasts a natural sexual booster. The popular spring veggie is rich in vitamin E, which is thought to stimulate production of sex hormones.

Tarantula
Although the people of Cambodia started eating tarantulas out of necessity during the food-scarce communist regime, they went back for seconds when they discovered the venom worked as an aphrodisiac. Today, deep fried tarantulas – which are gooey on the inside – remain a regular menu item, ripe for the epicurean adventurer.

Snake
In Eastern countries, snake is the king of aphrodisiacs. The slithery creature is said to enhance the yang (or hot, excited energy), making it not only a potent medicine but also a libido enhancer. In China, snake meat is a restaurant delicacy, and in Vietnam, snake wine – venomous snake steeped or mixed in rice wine – is readily available to boost romance.

Truffles
Highly coveted truffles' intoxicating quality isn't in their taste, but their smell. Allegedly, the musky scent stimulates the skin and mirrors male pheromones (which explains why sows seek them out in the wild). Others theorize that truffles' appeal lies in the loaded price tag – up to $500 per pound! – making them the diamonds of mushrooms.

Rapini
No matter what you've heard about its passionate power, the bitterly flavored rapini, also known as broccoli rabe, might not be your first choice for a romantic meal. And although the ground seeds of various plants in rapini's Brassica family are believed to increase virility, the overarching theory on this veggie's rep as an aphrodisiac is that it's merely a marketing ploy to get people to eat it.

Alcohol
Alcohol may lower your inhibitions, but it does not inherently raise your sex appeal. In fact, alcohol is a depressant that tends to slow the sex drive. As the porter in Shakespeare's Macbeth tells us, it "provokes the desire, but it takes away the performance." The one exception is red wine, which increases estrogen levels when drank in moderation.

Crocodile
In Thailand, the most erotic of eats is stewed crocodile. The long-held belief is that anyone who eats crocodile takes on the giant reptile's spirit and aggression. Although there is no scientific proof that eating crocodile will put you in the mood, the meat does have many feel-good substances like natural antioxidants and Omega-3.

A couple of interesting V-Day facts:

120: Number of single men to every 100 single women
The US Census Bureau counts 120 single white men in their 20s (never married, widowed or divorced) for every 100 white women the same age. The odds differ by race: Hispanics are 153 per 100; Asians are 132 per 100; and African Americans shift down to 92 black males for every 100 black females in the same age range.

20-30: Percent higher condom sales
All those romantic gifts and dinners may put couples in the mood, but the good news is that they're being safe. Condom-maker Durex reports a spike in condom sales of about 20-30% around the holiday. In other V-Day sex news, reportedly more home pregnancy tests are sold in March than any other month.

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