You know why everyone really gives chocolates on Valentine's Day, don't you? Because… chocolate is an aphrodisiac. And many people have certain "expectations" on Valentine's Day — whether the giver is scheming or just optimistic, there just might be a more lustful agenda…and why not? Valentine's Day is a great excuse to celebrate the sensual side of life.

Just the thought of aphrodisiacs is romantic and conjures up images of enchantment, love tonics, and unbridled lust. Men and women have been experimenting with ways to induce fiery passion since the beginning of time. An aphrodisiac is a food, drink, scent, drug, or device claimed to arouse or increase libido. Named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapture, the list of possible aphrodisiacs is extensive. Whether you're hoping to simply adore your partner, inject some passion back into a relationship, or get lucky with Tina from the office, aphrodisiacs may help.

Lust, libido, and chocolate go hand in hand. Chocolate's renown as an aphrodisiac began over 1,500 years ago in the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Delectable, creamy rich chocolate contains phenylethylamine (commonly known as the "love molecule") that is a chemical similar to an amphetamine and is thought to evoke the euphoria experienced by lovers.

But let's talk low-carb here for a minute. The last thing you want to do is give a gift that is going to derail your lover from a low-carb way of life. That would not be a very loving thing to do, even if it is in the name of passion. Now you are probably thinking you can substitute one of the delicious low-carb, sugar-free chocolates now readily available — that certainly is a possibility. However, you must keep in mind that your guy or gal might be one of those people who finds the laxative effect of the artificial sweeteners intestinally distressing, and you don't want to be remembered for giving the gift that keeps on giving especially on the most romantic day of the year.

So what can you do? There are many low-carb aphrodisiacs you may not have thought of since it's not something mentioned in the low-carb diet books.

Low carb treats to woo your loved one...

Vegetables: The low carber's best friend

Artichokes:   There is something very sensual about an artichoke. This vegetable has to be eaten with the hands while slowly savoring its succulent fleshy leaves one by one. The act of peeling off the leaves, dipping them into butter, and scrapping off the tender flesh with your teeth can be a very erotic experience. Try hand-feeding one to your lover.

Asparagus:   The most aphrodisiacal of all asparagus have thick pale stems and rosy purple succulent tips. Some say that eating asparagus for three successive days gives the most powerful sexual affect.

Celery:   contains a powerful male hormone called androsterone which attracts females and is thought to be released through sweat. Madame Pompadour used celery soup to seduce Louis XV when she thought her attractiveness was subsiding. It was also used as an aphrodisiac in Greek and Roman times. The Romans dedicated celery to Pluto, their god of sex and the underworld.

Truffles:   (not the chocolate candy kind.) These exotic, wild mushrooms are said to elicit strong sexual urges in humans. The chemical in truffles is also similar to a human male sex hormone that gives truffles their reputation. Their musky scent is said to stimulate and sensitize the skin to touch. Romans knew that truffles were a powerful aphrodisiac. There's little doubt the earthy, musky scent of the rare truffle makes the senses go wild, arousing both body and mind. Truffles are at their best in January and February.

Foods Of The Sea:

Mythology tells us that Aphrodite was born from the sea; so many types of seafood have acquired the status of being an aphrodisiac.

Oysters:   One of the world's classic love foods. Legend has it that Casanova ate 50 raw oysters every morning in the bathtub using a woman's breasts as a plate. Aphrodite burst forth from the sea and gave birth on the shell of an oyster giving mythology's one of its first aphrodisiacs.

Caviar:   appears to have qualities that nourish and enhance nerve cells, which in turn can heighten our romantic feelings. Caviar (fish roe) is said to have restorative and erotic powers.

Lobster:   Some cultures thought lobster was an aphrodisiac that made men seductive and sexy. The sensual pleasure of devouring lobster has long been thought of as a prelude to seduction. The ancient Romans considered them an aphrodisiac. Sometimes it is the sensual act of eating the food itself that heightens the libido. Who can forget the scene in Flashdance when Jennifer Beals ripped off a piece of succulent lobster meat, provocatively placed it in her mouth, pulled it apart with her teeth, then sensually and slowly licked butter sauce from her lips and fingertips?

Spices, Herbs, Etc.:

Chilies and other spices have been viewed as aphrodisiacs because of their physiological effects-a raised heart rate and sweating-are similar to the physical reactions experienced during passion. Chiles contain endorphins, which produce a feeling of well-being and energy.

A spice called cardamom has two androgens (hormones that increase sexual desire in men) and cineole, a compound known to stimulate the central nervous system. Ginger is said to be the food world's Viagra. Cinnamon and cloves are thought to have libido-enhancing qualities. Greeks and Romans believed that aniseed had special powers. Sucking on aniseeds is said to increase sexual desire. Chewing on licorice root is said to enhance love and lust and is particularly stimulating to women. Nutmeg was highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac.

Nuts:

Don't overlook giving a heart-shaped box full of nuts to your lover to promote lusty feelings.

Almonds:   are associated with passion and fertility and are used in certain countries as a love tonic. They have a slightly bitter scent that is supposed to excite women.

Walnuts:   contain manganese, which helps produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that heightens sexual arousal.

Hazelnuts:   are often found as an essential ingredient of ancient aphrodisiac recipes. Sometimes the oil of the nuts, or the ashes of their burnt shells, or the flowers were used.

Wine and Champagne:

Wine:   Drinking wine can be an erotic experience - a glass or two may greatly enhance a romantic interlude. Wine relaxes and helps to stimulate the senses.

Champagne:   Throughout history it has been considered the drink of love — its sparkling bubbles of elixir disarm, arouse, and lower inhibitions. Dom Perignon described it as drinking stars. Casanova, the great lover, gave champagne to his new conquests so that they would be mesmerized by him.

The scents of foods are also an aphrodisiac, and they are carb-free. The unusual test results from experiments done in these areas showed that the odors of common foods appear to turn us on more than anything else. Intriguing studies show that men are extremely reactive to the smells of pumpkin pie and licorice. The scents women found most arousing were Good & Plenty and cucumbers.

Neurologist Alan R. Hirsch, M.D., from the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, did studies relating certain scents to changes in blood flow to the genital areas of men and women. The most dramatic results were achieved in men using a combination of lavender and pumpkin pie scents (which includes ginger, cinnamon, and clove). This combination stimulated penile blood flow by as much as 40 percent! A combination of black licorice and doughnut scents increased penile blood flow by 32 percent. (None of the scents tested had as significant an impact on women.) Candles or bath products in those scents might be the best low-carb aphrodisiac of all!

If your goal is to have a sensuous Valentine's Day that ends up turning into something you can't tell your mother about, add some low-carb aphrodisiac magic to your Valentine's Day as risqué foreplay.

This year, I will be Aphrodite and he will be Adonis. We will feast on a dinner of lobster and artichokes with buttery sauce that we will slowly lick off our fingers. Pumpkin spice and lavender candles will scent the room and bathe it in flickering light, and I'll be wearing eau de doughnut...

Have a sensual Valentine's Day!