A guy said that that Zinc acting as an aphrodisiac for him. Is there any scientific basis for this or is it just the placebo effect? I tried some for a week leading up to an appointment and felt I had a bounce in my step, but maybe I was just rested up, I don't know.
Dear Alongtheway,
I am not a physician or a nutritionist, but here's what I can say with certainty: if you don't have a zinc deficiency, taking extra is not going to act like some sort of natural Viagra. In fact, if you overdo it, you could have zinc toxicity, which has been observed at levels above 150 mgs/day. That in turn can alter your levels of HDL cholesterol, so don't go overboard if you're on a good daily multi-vitamin regimen already. An occasional extra dose of zinc seems to work to strengthen the immune system, however, - I've taken about 50 to 100 mg/day when I've felt a cold coming on, and somehow it seems to ward it off.
On the other hand, zinc deficiency manifests as growth retardation, hair loss, diarrhea, delayed sexual maturation and impotence, eye and skin lesions, and loss of appetite. Zinc helps maintain a healthy immune system, is needed for wound healing, helps maintain your sense of taste and smell, and is needed for DNA synthesis. Vegetarians may need as much as 50% more zinc than non-vegetarians because of the lower absorption of zinc from plant foods, so they need to have good sources of zinc in their diet. Those addicted to alcohol may also have zinc deficiencies.
Why not look at your multi-vitamin to see how much zinc there is in there? And of course, if you're not taking daily vitamins, now may be a good time to start. You can then gauge the "aphrodisiac" effect with or without the extra dose. Just don't overdo it, please.
As for oysters being a natural aphrodisiac, no wonder; these little mollusks are super-high in zinc. Then again, so is veal and elk?!?
Put the pedal to the metal, I guess,
The Love Goddess
Interestingly, I actually am a vegetarian, so that's good to know. I've also been known to knock a few drinks back, too, although I'm not an addict-- despite what my ex-wife, the cops, that counselor, the lawyer and that judge said. (Just kiddin' about that last part.) Thanks!