Welcome back to another edition of our Neurospicy Lovers Blog! Let’s continue our exploration of making the bedroom a sensory celebration. So far, we have explored some fun tips and ideas for incorporating our hearing and smell into our intimate moments. As Emeril would say, let’s “kick it up a notch” this time and look at some ways to add taste into the mix!
As usual, our journey begins with delving into some of the facts and science behind the sense of taste and sex. Taste has a similar advantage to the sense of smell in that it is the only other sense that has an express lane to our brain. While the other senses go through a filtering process to identify the sensory input and determine the brain’s reaction, these two are given a direct pass to our brains and production of those critical sex chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Our sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) also help to maintain and rebuild the structure and function of our taste buds. Some research has also shown some differences in preferences between men and women in their taste preferences. While some findings show that men tend to gravitate towards sweeter tasting stimuli, women have been shown to have an increased sensory overall in detecting sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami flavors. We as humans also have the unique advantage of having over 10,000 taste buds! So what are some ways in which we can use this powerful sense to our advantage?
Explore Your Personal Tastes Together
The act of sharing food and exploring each other’s taste preferences together can be an act of intimacy before any sexual interaction even takes place. One only need remember certain cinematic offerings like 9 ½ Weeks or Tom Jones to demonstrate the increased charge that can take place when we “play with our food” and with each other. The information we can learn about our partners likes and dislikes can also then be taken into the bedroom and beyond for additional fun should the opportunity arise.
The Power Foods of Love
Although there is still some debate as to whether or not they exist, several people swear by the idea of certain foods being an amplifier to our moments of sexual intimacy. These foods, commonly known as aphrodisiacs, are thought to elicit additional feelings of sexual desire and improved performance when consumed. Examples of these power play foods include chocolate, wine, oysters, fresh fruits (strawberries, figs, pineapple, bananas), and additives like maca root or honey to name a few. The science can back up a few of these items by their antioxidants and nutrients improving blood flow, lubrication, or helping to increase production of our brain’s “feel good” chemicals. Others suggest that the suggestive appearance of some of these foods might also be responsible for triggering some of the arousal we may encounter. After all, who hasn’t heard that we “eat with our eyes”, too? While the research may be inconsistent or contradictory, it’s worth a shot to see what might work for you and your partner.
As Always, A Few Words of Caution and Safety
Experimentation can always be a wonderful part of exploring our desires and improving intimacy. However, like many things, we must explore responsibly. While some of these foods might help to improve the mood, moderation is key…alcohol being a prime example. If consumed in excess, it may have the opposite effect and dull our sexual response. Also be sure that you and your partner are in a safe location and head space for post-consumption. Nothing sexy about risking your safety or anyone else’s by engaging in drunk driving or limiting our ability to give consent to sexual activity. Another important factor to consider with the exploration of food: ALLERGIES. Communication is vital to avoid danger in this respect. If you or your partner has any known food allergies, definitely communicate those explicitly before bringing food into your play. Also know the signs of allergic reactions such as itching, hives, digestive issues like vomiting and diarrhea (again, not the sexiest to think about, but very important), and more severe signs of anaphylaxis like difficulty breathing. Always seek immediate medical help if these severe symptoms arise. Finally, best to keep any use of food in your play on an external level to avoid any embarrassing trips to the doctor or ER for infections or other injuries.
I hope this blog has given you both some important knowledge and inspiration to make your time together even yummier!
As Always, Have Fun and Stay Safe My NeuroSpicy Friends!