Punnet Passion
Rush for strawberries after they’re dubbed new Viagra.

The Great Strawberry Rush was on last night after the fruit was dubbed " nature’s answer to Viagra".

Sales at one supermarket chain, Asda, have rocketed by 17 per cent while another stockist, Somerfield, is offering bigger portions to cope with demand.

Asda sales are expected to shoot up even further as growers have been warned that orders could triple in time for the bank holiday weekend.

Demand soared after Patrick Holford, founder of The Institute for Optimum Nutrition, revealed on Monday that the high level of zinc in strawberry and raspberry seeds increased testosterone within a few hours.
He added that the fruit was great alternative to the anti-impotency drug Viagra.

The reason is because strawberries and raspberries, particularly strawberries, are the perfect aphrodisiac as both fruit have high levels of zinc in their seeds which unlike most fruits are eaten rather than removed.
Zinc, Mr Holford, explained, is nutrient most associated with sex because it governs testosterone, which is needed for sperm production.

A woman’s body apparently prepares itself for sex more quickly if zinc levels are high and a man can deplete his body’s entire zinc supply if he has sex three times in 24 hours.
Asda’s produce buyer, Lee Harper, said, "We have definitely seen a marked difference in sales figures. This research has definitely had a passionate effect on our shoppers". Somerfield usually expects to sell 9000 tons of the fruit over the summer, but sales have quadrupled since Tuesday.

A spokesman said: "Our stores have seen a huge rise in demand as shoppers get their hands on our tasty fresh berries."Women customers are outnumbering the men by five times."

Mr Holford’s London-based charity was established in 1984 to study and research nutrition.
He said: "My message is simple- every time you have sex, or just want to ready yourself or your partner for sex, you should consume a handful of raspberries or strawberries.

"And it’s not just the zinc content of the berries which is beneficial in the bedroom.
"They are incredibly high in anti-oxidants which helps to optimise blood flow to the sex organs, and they have the lowest glycaemic load of any fruit, meaning they provide sustained energy levels at only a few calories.

They'll bear fruit

With so many lotions and potions on the market promising to boost your sex drive and give you a night of passion to remember, it's hard to believe the humble strawberry could possibly do the job better.

But then strawberries have a fine tradition in the bedroom. They've been described in erotic literature as "fruit nipples" and it's their shape and taste that makes them so sexy, never mind their libido-enhancing zinc they apparantly contain.

That little blue viagra tablet may get you raring to go, but popping a pill just can't compare with the sensation of sliding a strawberry between your lips and teasingly biting the end off - just think of Kim Basinger being fed them, blindfolded for 9 1/2 weeks and then tell me the chemical solution is more fun.

Champage is reputed to heighten the aphrodisiac effect of strawberries which may be why Brit's sink so many bottles of the stuff. It is during Wimbledon fortnight that the strawberry really comes into its own. A punnet on centre court may be extortionate, but the fruit could explain why, for those two weeks, Tim Henman has so many female fans eating out of his hand.

Daily Express, May 28th 2004