If you’ve ever typed edible aphrodisiacs into your phone while pretending you’re “just looking up a recipe,” you’ll know the internet has opinions. Chocolate. Wine. Oysters. Strawberries. Apparently, your libido is one supermarket sweep away from living its best life. The only snag: the science is a little less romantic than the folklore.

London Nutritionist, Lily Soutter, offers her expert insights into the most popular edible aphrodisiacs and their effects. In other words, before you start treating the dairy aisle like a dating app, let’s separate appetite from evidence.

Chocolate: Sweet talk in a wrapper, science still flirting

Chocolate has been sold for decades as the edible equivalent of a slow wink across a candlelit table. It’s believed to have aphrodisiac properties, and research suggests it may promote the release of phenylethylamine and serotonin—chemicals thought to lift mood and nudge desire along.

But the plot doesn’t quite deliver the Hollywood ending. One study examined sexual function in women who ate chocolate daily and found no significant differences in sexual arousal or desire compared to those who didn’t. So, as edible aphrodisiacs go, chocolate remains… well, delicious, but not exactly convicted by a jury of data.

Practical take: If chocolate makes you feel good, that mood shift may help—just don’t expect it to work like a switch.

Wine: The confidence boost that gets mistaken for chemistry

Wine and romance are long-time companions. The short-term effect most people notice is reduced inhibitions, which can increase sexual behaviour—mainly because you’re suddenly convinced you’re charming, poetic, and possibly a little bit French.

Here’s the less glamorous bit. In men, both short and long-term alcohol intake has been shown to lower testosterone levels, which can negatively impact sex drive. Testosterone matters for sexual arousal and desire, meaning alcohol can undercut the very thing it’s supposedly helping.

For women, some studies suggest alcohol may increase sexual desire and pleasure but reduce physiological arousal. Moderate drinking may be fine for many, but binge drinking is associated with riskier sexual behaviours—hardly the shimmering, cinematic outcome the wine industry would prefer you imagine.

Bottom line: With edible aphrodisiacs, wine is often more “social lubricant” than libido lever.

Oysters: The zinc connection that keeps the legend alive

Oysters have been the poster child of edible aphrodisiacs since forever, largely because they’re high in zinc—an essential mineral for sperm health and testosterone production. Just one oyster provides about half of the daily recommended zinc intake, which is a strong nutritional talking point even before the folklore gets involved.

However, there’s limited direct evidence that zinc (or oysters by extension) reliably improves sexual function in men. One study found zinc supplementation increased testosterone production but had limited effects on improving sexual dysfunction.

So no, oysters are not a “magic bullet.” But zinc’s role in hormone production keeps this myth standing tall, like a good story that refuses to leave the pub.

Smart angle: If your diet is low in zinc, oysters could help you correct that—just keep expectations realistic.

Strawberries: A seductive reputation, a cautious evidence base

Strawberries have the whole “sensual fruit” branding locked down: bright, sweet, and suspiciously popular in romantic comedies. Nutritionally, they’re rich in vitamin C, and there’s a theory that vitamin C may support sexual behaviour and mood.

One study suggested vitamin C supplementation could improve vascular function and increase oxytocin release—the “love hormone”. But there are caveats: it was conducted 15 years ago, used a small sample size, and focused on an isolated nutrient rather than the whole food and broader diet pattern.

So yes, strawberries are charming. But crowning them the sexiest fruit on the basis of that evidence is premature—like proposing on the second date because they laughed at your joke.

Worth knowing: Better blood flow and better wellbeing can support sexual health, but strawberries alone won’t do the heavy lifting.

The truth about edible aphrodisiacs: mood, context, and the rest of your life

The most honest conclusion is the least glamorous: edible aphrodisiacs tend to work best when they improve mood, confidence, connection, or overall health—rather than triggering some guaranteed biological surge.

If you want a genuinely useful “libido menu,” the unsexy essentials usually win:

consistent sleep
lower stress
regular movement
balanced nutrition (including key micronutrients)
good communication and comfort with your partner
and, yes, enjoying food without turning it into a performance review

Food can set the scene. It rarely writes the entire script.

FAQs

Do edible aphrodisiacs actually increase libido?

Evidence is mixed. Some foods may support mood or hormone-related nutrients, but results are not consistent or guaranteed.

Are oysters the best edible aphrodisiac?

Oysters are high in zinc, which supports testosterone and reproductive health, but direct evidence of improved sexual function is limited.

Does wine increase sex drive?

Alcohol can lower inhibitions in the short term, but it may reduce testosterone in men and can impair physiological arousal, especially with higher intake.

Is chocolate an aphrodisiac?

Chocolate may influence mood-related chemicals, but studies have not consistently shown improved arousal or desire.

3: Oysters

Oysters have a long-standing reputation as an aphrodisiac due to their high zinc content—an essential mineral for sperm and testosterone production. Just one oyster provides half of our daily recommended zinc intake.

Despite this, there is limited direct evidence linking zinc to improved sexual health. One study found that zinc supplementation increased testosterone production but had limited effects on alleviating sexual dysfunction in men.

Therefore, while oysters may not be a magic bullet for libido, zinc’s role in hormone production keeps the myth alive.

4: Strawberries

Strawberries are often heralded as the fruit of sensuality. Rich in vitamin C, strawberries are believed to enhance sexual behaviour and mood.

One study indicated that vitamin C supplementation could improve vascular function and increase oxytocin release, the “love hormone.”

However, this study, conducted 20 years ago on a small sample size, focused on an isolated nutrient. Hence, crowning strawberries as the sexiest fruit might be premature.