What better way is there of celebrating Valentine¹s Day than cooking a special meal for the one you love?
And if you pick your ingredients carefully, you could stir more than just your appetite. But can certain foods really be an aphrodisiac or is it just an old wives tale? Lisa Cooney, Head of Education at World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), separates fact from fiction.
Lisa said: ³There are various foods that have had aphrodisiac powers attributed to them over the centuries. Unfortunately there is no scientific evidence to back up a lot of these claims, but that doesn¹t mean you shouldn¹t be serving up these foods this Valentine¹s Day.
³Because even if they do not have aphrodisiac qualities, what we do know is that many of these foods are the kind of things we should be eating as part of a healthy diet that can help reduce our chances of developing cancer. So even if they are not really the food of love, that shouldn¹t stop you from eating on.²
Lisa¹s pick of the best foods that have been labelled aphrodisiacs to try this Valentine¹s Day.
Salmon is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids - necessary for the nervous and immune systems to work properly. Salmon is also a good source of selenium, which probably helps reduce your risk of prostate cancer.
Asparagus is a good source of vitamin E, and eating a range of fruit and vegetables such as asparagus probably reduces cancer risk. Asparagus is also full of vitamin C, which scientists believe probably reduces your risk of cancer of the oesophagus.
Chickpeas are considered an especially strong aphrodisiac for men and they contain folate, which is a vitamin also found in green leafy vegetables and probably reduces the risk of cancer of the pancreas.
Garlic is also known as an aphrodisiac, but only if you both eat it! It¹s also really good for you, and research shows it probably reduces risk of bowel cancer.
Onions were a favourite of the Romans. They believed they were good for the blood and gave you energy. They are also one of the fruits and vegetables that probably help protect against cancer.
Carrots are a supposed aphrodisiac and are also chock full of beta-carotene, which strengthens the immune system and probably protects against cancer of the oesophagus.
Strawberries are full of vitamin C and make a great finger food. Their secret weapon is a phytochemical called ellagic acid, which some studies have shown can help inhibit the growth of cancerous cells.
Chocolate contains chemicals that affect neurotransmitters in the brain and create feelings of pleasure. Chocolate also contains more antioxidants than red wine. But remember that chocolate is an energy-dense food that should only be eaten sparingly.
So old wives tale or not, why not try WCRF¹s roasted red pepper houmous followed by oriental salmon served with an asparagus stir-fry topped off with chocolate-coated strawberries this Valentine¹s and judge the effects for yourself?