On Sat, 07 Feb 2004 16:43:56 -0500, Bob wrote:

ASmith1946 wrote:

Like so many other foods, oysters are supposedly aphrodesiacs

Is this a 20th century invention or historically were oysters considered
aphrodesiacs? Does this go back to the humoral system of medicine?

It goes back to the appearance of so many bivalves, mussels being the
most obvious. They resemble labia with a small protrusion peeking out
from between the "lips."

So why isn't a banana considered an aphrodesiac? :-)

Modern food science tells us that certain aphrodesiac foods are simply
good nutrition -- I think it's zinc for oysters. OTOH, chocolate
*does* seem to have an endorphin effect. Still, "candy is dandy, but
liquor is quicker."