Since the time of the ancient Romans--or perhaps even before that--certain foods have been considered aphrodisiacs. For instance, oysters, high in zinc (which is supposed to help boost sperm count) and omega-3 fatty acids (which are known to improve nervous system function) were associated with immoral behavior in women who ate them. The ancient Romans fancied hippo snouts and hyena eyeballs as their route to erotica; traditional Chinese medicine touts rhino horn; while lots of modern movie and TV scenes show extreme arousal from various foods.

Can't hunt down rhino horn or hippo snouts? Not to worry. There are some mainstream foods that might help. Dr. Frank Lawlis's The Brain Power Cookbook has an entire chapter devoted to Aphrodisiac Foods. Here are some of his suggestions for foods that can spice up your sex life, found on his blog at Psychology Today:

Grab Granola
Leonardo Da Vinci, through his dissection of the penises of cadavers, was the first scientist to realize that during an erection the penis fills with blood. Today, it's well known that better circulation to the extremities results in greater erectile response, as well as increased sexual response in women. One nutrient that helps is the amino acid arginine. Though you can get it in supplements, arginine is also plentiful in granola, oatmeal, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, dairy, green vegetables, root vegetables, garlic, ginseng, soybeans, chickpeas, and seeds.

Good Fats Are Good for Sex
Another way to increase blood flow is through your choice of dietary fats. For an erection, anything that's good for your heart is good for your penis. Too much saturated fat can, over time, clog arteries and, in doing so, prevent adequate blood flow to the genital region. This not only interferes with function but also sexual pleasure. Too little fat, on the other hand, is also bad. Your body requires fat to produce your hormones, including sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Both are needed for a healthy sex drive. To make sure you get enough fat, choose healthy fats in moderate amounts (no more than a few teaspoons a day). Some examples include olive oil, canola oil, walnut oil, nuts, and seeds.

For a Good Time, Try Soy
Soy, cultivated for more than 3000 years, is both a drug and a food. It contains isoflavones, which help the vaginal area remain lubricated. However, it's important to note that women who have a history of breast cancer should not eat large amounts of soy, because its estrogen-like characteristics may actually increase the risk of reoccurrence. As for men, studies show that soy is also beneficial to the prostate, a crucial male sex organ. Among the most popular soy foods: soymilk, soy cheese (tofu), soy meat (made from textured soy in granule form). Most of these products are soy flour derivatives, while tofu is obtained by curdling soymilk.

Pile on Papaya
Like soy, papaya is estrogenic, meaning it has compounds that act as the female hormone estrogen. It has been used as a folk remedy in promoting menstruation and milk production, facilitating childbirth, and increasing the female libido.

Pining for Nuts
People have been using pine nuts to stimulate the libido since Medieval times. Like oysters, they are high in zinc. Pine nuts have been used for centuries to make up love potions. The medical scholar Galen recommended eating one hundred pine nuts before going to bed.

None of the above appeal to you? I've done some more sleuthing, and have found more foods that are said to be healthy libido-boosters:

Asparagus: A great source of potassium, fiber, vitamins A, B6 and C, thiamin, and folic acid. Here' s a yummy recipe with shitakes and peas thrown in for good measure. 

Avocado: (aka the "testicle tree," as they grow in pairs) Rich in folic acid, Vitamin B6, and potassium. Here's a yummy sandwich that includes avocado which is making my stomach growl.

Bananas: Rich in potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins and the bromeliad enzyme (said to enhance the libido of males).

Basil: Its aroma is said to be stimulating and have an aphrodisiac effect. Try some with your chicken in Lemon-Basil Butterflied Chicken.

Chocolate: Rich in feel-good compounds that release dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain and help induce feelings of excitement, attraction, and euphoria. Also contains tryptophan, said to enhance feelings of well-being and relaxation.

Figs: An open fig is believed to resemble the female sex organs. The Greeks believed figs to be sacred and associated them with love and fertility; the Bible mentions fig leaves used to cover the private parts on Adam and Eve. Try this recipe: Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower, Figs, and Mint (sounds odd but it's SO GOOD).

Garlic: (Only if you both eat it!) Garlic contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow. Here's a recipe that makes garlic melt in your mouth.

Honey: Contains boron, a mineral that helps the body use and metabolize estrogen. Some studies show that this trace mineral also enhances testosterone levels in the blood--the hormone responsible for promoting sex drive. Try adding some to this fabulous almond flour muffin recipe.

Another interesting finding I stumbled across: men find the smell of buttered popcorn to be sexually arousing, according to studies at the Smell and Taste Foundation in Chicago. So, the next time you're in the movies with your honey, you might want to skip sitting in the back row … unless you're not too interested in watching the movie, anyway.

And an even-greater turn-on than the smell of popcorn is the combination of lavender and pumpkin pie. Who knew?

Sheryl Kraft is Health & Wellness Editor at EndlessBeauty.com.