Which of the following foods is not considered an aphrodisiac?
A. Hot peppers
B. Figs
C. Oysters
D. Graham crackers
D.
Graham crackers, named after Presbyterian minister Sylvester Graham, are not considered an aphrodisiac. Graham believed eating a vegetarian diet rich in bread products could help keep society “pure” by preventing people from having impure thoughts and suppressing the impulse to masturbate (which Graham considered to be a catalyst for blindness and early death). While no food has scientifically been proven to stimulate desire, some foods do have certain “feel good” properties. Historically, spicy foods such as hot peppers were thought to awaken the senses, figs, rich in antioxidants, may help increase blood flow, and oysters, well oysters resemble certain parts of the anatomy. We’ll leave it there.