Dr Zac: Dr Zac Turner explains how aphrodisiac foods affect the body

Dr Zac Turner reveals what you should be eating if you want to supercharge your sex life with delicious foods.

Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from news.com.au. This week Dr Zac Turner delves into the world of aphrodisiacs.

Question: Hi Dr Zac, I have a woke boss. That isn’t the problem. The problem is that he’s substituted this year’s Christmas party from our usual p*ss-up at a bar for a subdued seafood lunch instead.

I’m really concerned however because after a few sav blancs and a dozen or two oysters l turn into someone my friends affectionately call: Hornbag Hannah!

We joke about it, but I always get a bit frisky after I’ve had my body weight in Oysters.

While it’s joked that oysters boast an aphrodisiac effect, Dr Zac puts this theory under the microscope. Picture: iStock.

Is there any truth to the saying that oysters are an aphrodisiac? Or am I simply using that as an excuse to let the real me out of her cage? I do not want to get in trouble at the office Christmas bash. – Hannah, Queensland

Answer: Hi Hannah, thanks for your question, it’s one I get asked quite a bit believe it or not! Sometimes a patient will come to me asking how they can spice up their sex life. Having a delicious meal of delicacies and then unleashing a fiery passion from within sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, believe it or not, but the experts agree that certain foods do make you horny.

Aphrodisiac has a fancy name, and in fact the meaning behind it is even fancier. It originates from the Greek goddess of love and sexuality, Aphrodite. They work in one or two ways, typically they arouse your mind or stimulate other parts of the body causing increased blood flow in the nether regions.

Certain food can make you frisky says Dr Zac Turner. Picture: iStock.

It’s not always a sexy food like oysters or strawberries, it can also be leafy greens that kickstart your sex drive. But I can’t ignore the fact that they don’t work for everyone, and aphrodisiacs can be a placebo.

What happens to your body when you get aroused?

We’re all familiar with hormones secreted by the endocrine system. Especially those related to sex and reproductive health. So, it comes as no surprise that a whole cascade of them starts to flow when things start heating up.

At first, that sweet system of yours gets flooded with endorphins, adrenaline, and dopamine, because frankly – you’re excited. All this can cause your heart rate and pulse to speed up, and your blood pressure to rise.

This surge of dopamine, the feel-good hormone, works on the reward centre in the brain so that you keep coming back for more. Pun intended.

Of course, you can’t talk about intimacy without thinking of oxytocin. Often called the “love hormone” or “cuddle hormone”, oxytocin is released by the hypothalamus and helps facilitate bonding and affection. You may experience an extra dose of it during orgasm, drawing you that much closer to your partner.

What foods are aphrodisiacs?

There are several foods that are claimed to aphrodisiacs, and there’s science to back it up.

In your case of oysters, studies have shown they are rich in certain amino acids which trigger an increase in levels of sex hormones, testosterone and progesterone.

In the case of a man, oysters have a particularly high amount of zinc which is a main ingredient in sperm. So, after a few oysters a man’s zinc levels replenish and they are ready to shoot over and over.

Certain foods act in a similar way to the trusty blue Viagra. They relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the genitalia. These include pumpkins, walnuts and beef and it’s because they are rich in the amino acid L-arginine which increases blood flow.

Pumpkins and walnuts could also have a lust-boosting effect. Picture: iStock.

Red wine and chocolate are filled with quercetin which has anti-inflammatory properties that can improve blood flow. It needs to be said, however, that these foods can only help those with low-blood pressure. Healthy people will only feel placebo effects.

And in the case of your few savvy b’s, unfortunately it’s a double-edged sword. Alcohol has been linked to arousal, but it’s linked far more times to sexual impediment. It might make you hot under the bonnet, but sadly it can also make your engine run poorly.

I recommend you go wild on the oysters but follow in the footsteps of your ‘woke boss’ and limit your alcohol intake. Because you may feel horny thoughts, however you will be of sound mind to not act on them. And remember – consent should always be practised in life.

Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is both a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was also a registered nurse and is also a qualified and experienced biomedical scientist along with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering.