| September 2021 It was a struggle to pick a featured ingredient this month. September is such an in-between season and what might still be readily available in California, like fleshy, tree-ripened peaches, is a mere memory in Nova Scotia. So instead of celebrating a seasonal aphrodisiac ingredient, I took a new approach and decided to see what's getting googled. And do you know what one of the most googled aphrodisiac ingredients is?...Goji berry! A search for the term goji berry offered over twenty million results. Obviously, people are into goji berries. But if you're not among the googlers and are still sitting there wondering what the heck a goji berry might be, you aren't alone. This exotic fruit is really only regularly ingested in Western culture by the health food crowd...and maybe some middle-aged moms trying to turn back the clock with superfoods. And it's true, goji berry offers an almost unmatched number of nutrients beneficial to fighting the signs of aging. But it is also a potentially aphrodisiac food offering a wealth of nutrition beneficial to sexual health. Getting back to explaining what goji berries are, these exotic fruits are native to China. Goji berries were supposedly used in traditional Chinese medicine since the 3rd Century. Interestingly, the berries are also called "happy berries" in China. You may also have heard of them as wolfberries. Although the names are used interchangeably in the Western world, it turns out there are distinctions. In fact, the term goji berry technically refers to the Tibetan goji berry, or Lycium Barbarum. However there are an estimated 80 varieties of lycium berries, one of which is the Chinese Wolfberry. And it is this variety that is known by Chinese healers to treat male sexual dysfunction. Goji berry--including all varieties, I assume--was used for centuries in traditional medicine for many purposes but the most recognized is for an ability to seemingly stop aging. One Chinese legend was of an herbalist who ate goji berries every day and lived to age 252. We generally can't get fresh, ripe goji berries in most parts of the world because the fruit doesn't transport well. But we can buy and eat dried goji berries by the bagful. But are the berries shipped overseas the Tibetan goji berries or the Chinese Wolfberries? I can't say. But I do know that the berries sold around the world are recognized for supporting weight loss, heart health and even male enhancement. Now, if you want to talk about why goji berry is considered aphrodisiac, the biggest reason is great news for men. According to at least one study, (and a whole lot of Chinese history), goji berry may improve sexual ability and ejaculation response. It may also improve sperm quality and mobility, which is good news for any couple trying to conceive. Some goji berry proponents go so far as to say that this Chinese super fruit could be a replacement for sexual dysfunction medications. I wouldn't go that far based on some research into the response of rats but it would definitely be enough to inspire me to add some goji to my diet, were I suffering from these sexual issues. But there are other reasons your sex life might appreciate a little goji juice. Goji berries may help to control blood sugar. Now you're probably wondering what this has to do with sexual health. Well, it turns out the two are linked. High blood sugar is often associated with low libido in both men and women. However, the most widely accepted and most researched use for goji berries is for erasing signs of aging. Goji berries contain high levels of antioxidants. According to beauty site Byrdie, scientifically proven beauty benefits of goji berries include reducing hyperpigmentation, reducing oxidative stress and promoting the production of collagen and elastin. While fighting aging may not improve your performance in the sack, it might boost your confidence levels and possibly even your mood, and that's sexy. As for how you eat goji berries, the Chinese use the dried berries in many savory chicken and pork dishes as well as stews and tea. They're also great for tossing into trail mix. And you can use them to sweeten breakfast porridge. (Don't forget that oats are among the 10 best foods for men's sexual health.) The article on goji berries I wrote for Eat Something Sexy contains additional information on this Asian fruit as well as a link to a fairly amusing recipe for goji berry wine. Let me know how it goes if you try it!
And don't forget that if you want more aphrodisiac recipe ideas, you can follow me on Pinterest!
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