FABLED for its power to turn ordinary mortals into sex gods, nothing beats the oyster as the prelude to a night of passion. And no, it鈥檚 not all hype.
High levels of a chemical that boosts libido have been found in clams, a close relative of the oyster, suggesting that their reputation is not undeserved.
Even their texture is enough to turn some people on. 鈥淥ysters are so sensual just in their nature,鈥� says Diane Brown, the Los Angeles-based author of The Seduction Cookbook, 鈥淭hey have that slippery, slurpy sensation when you eat them that makes them very seductive.鈥�
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Raul Mirza at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, and his colleagues compared levels of the amino acid N-methyl-D-aspartate in Mediterranean clams and other animals. Previous studies in animals have shown that the chemical affects sex drive by raising testosterone production. The clams had around double the level found in rat brains, the team told the American Chemical Society鈥檚 annual meeting in San Diego, California.
Mirza is not an oyster fan, but his study could change that. 鈥淚 just might consider adding them to my daily diet,鈥� he says. 鈥淲hy not?鈥�
