In what is now present day San Antonio, Texas during the 18 th century sermons were preached about the overindulgence of “Spanish stew.” The legend goes that these sermons often referred to the chili stew as “soup of the devil,” as chili was considered an aphrodisiac and the priests feared that this stew would lead to irrepressible excitement. Unfortunately for them, this nickname backfired, serving only to make the dish more popular.

Sexual satisfaction and the pursuit of foods, formulas and functions that enhance and stimulate sexual desire and performance is an age-old quest. Food alone is historically intimate. Beginning with references in the venomous power of food made in biblical history—Adam and Eve succumbing to their vulnerability in the face of the tree of knowledge of good and evil—and, originating in antiquity from Greek, Egyptian, and Roman mythologies could be responsible for the earliest fascination with this mysterious lust for sexual understanding.

Many common “aphrodisiacs” are found in Mexican dishes. From the earliest and most commonly known stimulants found in that sugary sensation that is chocolate—once a rare gem that made it even more sensuous—to the atmosphere that spicy foods such as pepper, curry, and chili create.

The way a food looks, smells, and tastes—or even the way it feels—can make us feel sexy. Description alone can tantalize erotic ignition. The sweet nectar of a ripe peach, the velvetiness of a smooth avocado, the phallic representation of a large, matured banana, and even the physical likeness of a chili’s spicy bite symbolizes the sensual, romantic, and erotic nature of craving.

Chilies may have gained their reputation in ancient times for being sexually stimulating because of their shape. Many foods were once considered aphrodisiacs because of their phallic representation. The shape of a chili pepper, much like that of a banana, has a long tube with a slight curving of the tip. Now, more advanced studies explain its more likely stimulating properties in the explanation of its internal makeup.

Chilies, jalapenos, peppers, curries and other spicy foods mirror the reactions you experience during a sexual encounter by releasing endorphins that give you the pleasurable feeling of a natural high. Endorphins are commonly associated with the heavenly feeling a person achieves when exercising called a “runner’s high.” Chilies can also stimulate this gratifying awareness, which causes your heart to race and ignites the flushing sensation that causes you to sweat. Such a response simulates sexual arousal—only sweatier.

A 5,000-year mystery, aphrodisiacs have ignited controversy, pseudo-science and plain superstition. Many scientists dismiss aphrodisiacs as folklore, maintaining that there is no scientific fact to support the sexual benefits that come from using foods thought to be rich in natural sex aids.

It may be impossible to conclusively negate natural sex enhancers due to the placebo effect and the erotic stimulation of the imagination. It is important for the sake of sexual betterment to try and explain the obvious sensations that certain foods create. How can we ignore the traditions of cultures all over the world that began with the ancient Greeks naming such ingredients after their goddess of love, Aphrodite?

Chilies have historically been considered an aphrodisiac, not only for the obvious physical affects you get from eating them and the representation of their physical makeup, but for their health benefits as well. Chilies are rich in vitamins A and C. They also contain the compound capsaicin.

Vitamin C makes the body more alert and dilates the blood vessels. Vitamin C may also increase the bodies’ metabolism by as much as 25 percent.

The Aztecs, Maya and other Mesoamerican people, like most ancient cultures, considered procreation an important moral and religious obligation, and recognized the connection between nutrition and fertility. Food was harder to obtain, so the nutritional value of food was important to the reproductive process. The vitamin A in chilies plays an important role in reproduction and helps to regulate the immune system.

Capsaicin, in small doses, has a healing affect on the body and can also serve as a natural pain reliever. It may be the secret ingredient that aids in ultimate sexual gratification. Capsaicin is a molecule found in hot peppers that is the root of the receptor glands that transfer pain. This is the substance that gives peppers their spicy kick.

The fibers of the neuronal cells carry the stimulus from areas such as the tongue, to the roots of the spinal cord. When the neuron gets excited there is a perception of pain, which causes the body to release pain mediators, stimulating nerve endings, which is thought to increase your circulatory system and can strengthen and increase blood flow.

Chilies may also cause an irritation of the genitals and urinary tract that could feel similar to sexual excitement. But, what exactly is “sexual excitement?” Sex drive and arousal are controlled by the chain reaction of key elements that begin when we hear, feel, think, touch, smell, or encounter something sexually stimulating. Your blood vessels dilate; your heart begins to race, and your brain releases transmitters that tell our bodies that something is good and pleasurable.

These scientifically tested reactions to the ingredients in the physical makeup of a chili are reactions you can equate to sensations one might encounter when consuming such a food as chili, and other spicy foods. The reaction of these inflammatory mediators mixed with the health benefits of vitamins, along with dilated blood vessels, an alert body, increased blood flow, and the physical sensation of feeling “hot” can be explosive in many ways.

Still, some scientists argue that there is no scientific proof that aphrodisiacs work to treat sexual dysfunction. But, what if the desire for sexual betterment is driven by a healthy person? What if dysfunction isn’t a problem and the desire is to merely peak in sexual gratification? Their argument seems to be exclusively in opposition to over-the-counter medications and chemical formulas and not those found in nature.

Psychophysiological aphrodisiacs are those, which are not internal, but rely on other senses such as visual, tactile and olfactory. An example of this is vanilla, whose scent, rather than any food value, is cited as an aphrodisiac and said to be the most popular mood-lifting aroma. Any dish, when prepared correctly, can intensify the taste buds. Chilies provide a rush of heat, sometime so intense, that it can pervade the body and take possession of the senses.

The proof in the power of aphrodisiacs is a steady mix of nutrition, science, and of course, history. In the end, chilies may not cause instant arousal, but the physical affects you experience when consuming them can’t hurt. Always keep in mind that chilies should be consumed internally and never used on the exterior. Rubbing them on the body will cause a reaction, but probably not the pleasant reaction you are looking for. Nevertheless, a healthy diet including the internal use of this peppery fruit, along with energy and a sound mind will certainly increase your libido.

Alcohol has long been considered a “social lubricant.” Chilies might then be considered “sexual lubricants” and let’s face it, sex can always be enhanced with a little bit of lubricant. But, chilies—like love, lust and sex—are impulsive, so please handle with care.