One legend regularly trotted out is that Venetian playboy Casanova would eat 50 oysters a day to keep his libido buzzing like the Energizer Bunny. And while we’re not suggesting a similar diet will turn you into an overnight libertine, there’s definitely substance here.
How it works
The link between oysters and sperm-replenishing zinc is well established, but the American Chemical Society reports oysters are also rich in rare amino acids that raise levels of sex hormones. “You can’t just find these in a health-food shop,” explains George Fisher, a professor of chemistry at Barry University in Miami, who led the research. In his study, rats injected with the oyster chemicals recorded higher levels of testosterone in males and progesterone in females. “Increased levels of these hormones means you are going to be more sexually dynamic,” Fisher claims. So by all means splash out if you’re in the mood; just no jokes about pearl necklaces, please.
