Is Cheese Really An Aphrodisiac?
By Master of Gastronomy Amy Reiley
It's not seasonal nor is it figure-friendly, but it is one aphrodisiac I think most of us can't resist. Honestly, I could probably go vegan, if it weren't for my love of funky, aged, dairy goodness.
(Related: Watermelon is sexy!)
Like cocoa, cheese contains phenylethylamine (PEA), one of the ingredients that gives chocolate its aphrodisiac reputation. PEA is related to the release of endorphins. (Yep, that's how chocolate got the legendary reputation as being "better than sex.") However, some cheeses are reported to contain more than ten times as much PEA as is found in chocolate. Holey orgasm, Batman!
Like other protein-rich foods, cheese also promotes dopamine production. Dopamine influences alertness and reaction time. And we all want our lovers to have excellent reaction time!
(Related: Spice Up Your Love Life With Apricots)
Yes, cheese is one of those foods that, eaten in excess, can clog arteries as it slowly increases the girth of bellies and hips. But in small portions, cheese offers protein, promotes happy hormones and makes you more kissable. That's right, cheese helps to kill bacteria in the mouth.
Research by the late Dr. Max Lake indicates that the scent of cheese can also cause an aphrodisiac sensation. In Scents and Sensuality, Lake discusses his informal findings that the scents of certain cheeses, ripe triple creams like brie in particular, are similar to that of human pheromones and have the ability to turn on both sexes.
(Related: Better Sex: The Coconut Connection)
Oh cheese, is there nothing you can't do?
Despite Lake's recommendations, my favorite cheeses are aged sheep and goat's milk wedges with a faint bitter and herbal edge. I also love those aged cow's milk cheeses with the crunchy crystals (which are actually amino acid clusters that form with age).
I could happily sit down and eat cheese by the chunk, no bread, nuts or poached fruits to dilute the experience. But too much of this activity would create thoroughly un-aphrodisiac results. Want some A great ways to stretch the flavors of cheese? Try my favorites. They take 5 minutes to make and have an effect on my stress-frazzled brain like culinary Xanax.
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