By Danny Deza, News Staff

Whether it is nibbling on a piece of dark chocolate with a glass of wine or adding certain ingredients to that home-cooked meal, experts say certain foods can help improve your sex life.
Author David Zinczenko lists foods that may help or hurt your sex life in his book, ‘Eat This, Not That,’ which was published last week.
‘It’s not necessarily about cooking with only foods that are aphrodisiac,’ said Martha Hopkins, who wrote an aphrodisiac cookbook, ‘The New InterCourse,’ with co-author Randall Lockridge. ‘You want to make sure you are cooking for that special someone that you care about with some ingredients to help out, then the aphrodisiac will become valid.’
Historically, aphrodisiac have been linked to foods that mimic the shapes of certain parts of the human body. But with the help of science, some key ingredients might actually make them aphrodisiac after all, Hopkins said.
‘Omega 3 is something you want to look out for,’ Hopkins said. ‘It’s found in a lot of seafood but does wonders for the health and your sex life.’
Hopkins and other experts said the following favorites will help spark the romance.

Asparagus

According to a study done by Discovery Health, asparagus is one of the oldest aphrodisiac out there. The veggie is packed with vitamin E, which stimulates the production of sex hormones. ‘It’s a great vegetable,’ Hopkins said. ‘Not only is it really good for you but it’s tasty and easy to add to a fancy dinner.’

Dark Chocolate

Chocolate has been known to spark the right mood and can be used in many different ways, Hopkins said. She said it provides small amounts of anxiety-quelling tryptophan, arousing caffeine, and a few substances ‘- anandamide and theobromine ‘- that, in large quantities, can work like a psychedelic drug and an opiate. ‘It helps the blood flow better,’ she said.

Pomegranate

A study done last year by the University of Southern California found drinking a glass of pomegranate juice daily helps improve erectile problems. The study said pomegranates contain a large amount of antioxidants, which can help increase blood flow to all parts of the body. ‘I can see it working if it is suppose to help with your blood flow,’ said Nicole Wegrzyn, a junior pharmacy major. ‘The more oxygen, the better.’

Sirlion Steak

According to ‘Eat This, Not That,’ there is nothing like a 6 ounce sirloin steak to get the juices flowing in the bedroom. This meal has the right source of protein that boosts dopamine and norepinephrine, chemicals that heighten sensitivity. Steak is also packed with a healthy dose of zinc that helps the libido by lowering the production of prolactin, which is said to be the cause of the sexual refractory period.
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Vanilla Ice Cream

The calcium and phosphorus in vanilla ice cream helps build muscles’ energy reserves, boost libido and make orgasms more powerful, according to ‘Eat This, Not That.’ A 2009 study conducted by the Chicago Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, depending on the man’s age, the scent of vanilla alone help increase blood flow in the penis. ‘I haven’t heard about it but I believe it,’ said Alex Stark, a junior english major. ‘I love vanilla ice cream.’
junior english major. ‘I love vanilla ice cream.’

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