Oysters, honey, and love

Cards are passe, bouquets are overpriced, chocolates are corny. But, aphrodisiacs are fun. Especially if they have no side effects (unless they're the kind you're hoping for). And these ones are edible. Mmm...

They may be sexless themselves, but oysters are probably the foremost sexy food. They're low in fat and loaded with zinc, a key ingredient in the production of testosterone. Legend has it that Casanova ate 50 raw oysters every morning in the bathtub - using a beautiful woman's breasts as his plates (now, don't go getting too naughty or you'll have your mom breathing down your necks... unless... mom is that you?).

Hippocrates was said to have prescribed honey as a sexual aid. In some cultures, a little honey is spread on the palms of the bride and groom; licking it off each other is said to ensure a sweet life together. The word `honeymoon' derives from the ancient custom that for the first lunar month after their nuptial a newly married couple would drink mead (honey wine). Attila the Hun reportedly overdosed on the stuff not long after his marriage.

Chillies, as well as other spicy foods such as curries, have a randy reputation because of their physiological effects - an increased heart rate and sweating - are similar to those experienced during sex.

Haitian legend has it that this herb - considered royal in Greece and sacred in India - was a gift from Erzulie, the goddess of love. In Italy, basil has been regarded as a sign of love.

Caviar's effects are threefold: eggs are a symbol of fertility; like Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, caviar comes from the sea; and it's an expensive food generally reserved for special occasions. Its powers, it is said will get reinforced by vodka.

For centuries, ginger has been used as an aphrodisiac throughout Asia and India. To combat impotence, Indian herbalists recommend eating a mixture of ginger juice, honey, and half-boiled eggs. In Europe, young maidens baked and ate gingerbread men, believing the ritual would bring them a husband. (But, it's not always that easy, is it!)

People have been using it to stimulate the libido for centuries, but there is a trick to it: Only consume alcohol in moderation, to release your inhibitions (hence its reputation as a `social lubricant'). A chilled bottle of champagne has been known to work wonders.

Even if they're not so pretty to look at, these creatures can sure be sexy to eat.

Chocolate contains over 400 different chemicals _ including caffeine and phenylethylamine (PEA), which some scientists think would arouse the same feelings associated with being in love. Casanova is fabled to have been a serious chocoholic (no breasts here, we think). The Aztec emperor supposedly drank up to 50 cups of chocolate a day to better service his harem of 600 women. More recently, in the 1970s, green M&Ms gained notoriety as an aphrodisiac.

Apricot; Artichoke; Asparagus; Avocado; Banana; Carrot; Celery (and celery seeds); Cucumber; Date; Fig; Grape (hand-fed, of course); Mango; Peach; Pomegranate (if it's recommended in the KamaSutra, it's gotta be good); Strawberry; Tomato (also known as `love apple'); Turnip.

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