Pretty much every culture on the planet boasts its own sure-fire aphrodisiacs — there’s probably no element of human sexuality more riddled with rumors and sketchy “science” than what is or is not a legit aid to sexual arousal and performance. Everything from tiger penis to cobra blood to tarantula limbs has been claimed as a fool-proof aphrodisiac somewhere — the real test of an aphrodisiac’s potential, apparently, being how likely you are to be killed trying to get it. But do they work?

While a lot of supposed aphrodisiacs are just snake oil and placebo effect, there are a few things that are proven to increase sexual desire: Testosterone supplements, for example, definitely work, and there are plenty of foods that are confirmed sexual stimulants. Sexual performance drugs like Viagra and Levitra are easily confused with aphrodisiacs since they can help men with impotence or erectile dysfunction get hard, but they’re technically not aphrodisiacs since they only help with the physical functioning of the penis and do not contribute to sexual arousal.

So what actually works? AskMen stays on top of the very latest sexual health and psychology news to get the info you need on foods and nutritional supplements that can help you get and stay virile. 

More Like This: Libido, Sex Drive, Sexual Health