Strawberries are real food of love
Rhiannon Edward

Eating strawberries and raspberries can increase your sex drive, a nutritionist claimed yesterday.

Patrick Holford, the founder of the London based Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ON) said both fruits have high levels of zinc in their seeds which unlike most fruits are eaten rather than removed. Zinc, he explained is the nutrient most associated with sex for a number of reasons. These include the fact it governs testosterone which is needed for sperm production. Second, a woman’s body apparently prepares itself for sex more quickly if her zinc levels are high.
A man can deplete his entire zinc supply if he has sex three times in twenty four hours, according to Mr Holford whose charity was established in 1984 to study and research nutrition. “My message is simple, every time you have sex, or simply want to ready yourself or your partner for sex, you should consume a handful of raspberries or strawberries, he said. But there are other benefits too. They are incredibly high in anti-oxidants which help 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.” Mr Holford said.

ION was commissioned to analyse the nutrition.

May 25th 2004