IF FOOD BE THE FUEL OF LUST....   Since time immemorial, food and love have travelled arm-in-arm: a good dinner is an almost universal prelude to a good night’s passion, sharing food for some being a prerequisite to sharing love. The less serious, though, should be warned, as in some cultures, the union that follows is intended for life, not just one night. Little wonder, then that through the ages man, and his sometime accomplice in such matters, woman, should have wanted to make sure that the food matched the occasion. Aphrodite, from whose name the word 'aphrodisiac' is derived, has cast her mantle over many foods through the ages and the following is just a small list. Naturally, spices, expensive and aromatic, have long been regarded as love boosters. Cardamom, second only to black pepper in importance on the Malabar Coast, has been used since 5th century BC and Nicholas Culpeper, who combined herbalism with astrology assigned it to Venus, even though it is strictly a member of the ginger family, which is ruled by Mars, for this reason (The English Physitian, 1652). Black Pepper, another expensive spice in classical times, was also seen as a powerful aphrodisiac. Greek and Roman courtesans used a mixture of black pepper and myrrh, mixed with equal quantities of two scents named Cyprus and Egyptian as a love potion. Coriander, with the slightly narcotic properties that earned its early European name of 'dizzycorn', was used, along with cumin by the early Egyptians, as an important ingredient in magic love potions and made into eau-de-toilette in 17th century Paris. Cumin is also valued in witchcraft as an ingredient for ensuring fidelity. Fenugreek, the spice that gives curry its characteristic smell, contains diosgenin, a substance that acts in a similar way to the body's own sex hormones and is recommended by Chinese herbalists to cure impotence and the Prophet Mohammed decreed that its seeds should be valued as much as the gold they resemble. Saffron, the most expensive spice, probably gained its status in this category of foods because of its high value and its use as a dye for royal and holy garments, making it a symbol of power and status since the earliest times - and power and wealth has always been the strongest aphrodisiac. Cinnamon, a beautiful, sweet spice, is not traditionally regarded as an aphrodisiac, but it has been shown to help insulin work more efficiently in converting glucose into energy - and plenty of that is needed in seduction. Ginger, hot and lusty, was regarded as ‘nookie nosh’ in the Tudor period and was Henry VIII’s favourite spice for this very reason! It is actually a very good digestive and probably helped him recover more from those huge banquets he loved more than anything else. Nuts and lentils - so important in South Indian cuisine, are high in manganese, a mineral that assists in the production of a substance that transmits sensual experiences to the brain's pleasure centres. Vegetables too play their part. Those high in vitamin C, such as okra (bindi), sweet peppers, tomatoes (strictly a fruit), etc. may prevent DNA damage in sperm, helping to prevent infertility. Foods high in vitamin A, such as dark green vegetables and yellow or orange fruit and vegetables, such as carrots, pumpkin, yam and yellow squash are worth looking out for too, as vitamin A is essential in the production of sex hormones and, in women, counteracts excess oestrogen, which, in quantity, can reduce sex drive. Another useful vitamin is B6, found in brown rice, fish and peanuts. Figs were a staple food in ancient Greece and were fed to athletes to improve stamina whilst oysters, being high in zinc, are certainly good for male potency. The most unlikely of all aphrodisiacs must be garlic and onions, whose properties are said to 'inflame the baser passions'. This is one of the reasons that Hindu Brahmin and Jain sects ban them from their diet. This theory was also put forward by Andrew Boorde in the 16th century. In his 'A Dyetary of Helth' he said that 'Onions doth promote a man to veneryous acts'. Obviously the man had no sense of smell! Even this can be countered by a sprig of parsley, giving you a shot of vitamins C and A, both good for the sex drive.