They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. For many couples, cooking together can be a great way to connect. Cooking and dining are very intimate experiences, as they require attentiveness and collaboration. For those looking to turn up the heat in a relationship, cooking alongside a partner is a great place to start.

It’s hard to go wrong with a family recipe for a dose of down-home comfort, but if the end goal is to move things from the kitchen to the bedroom, you may consider taking a different route. You may be surprised to learn that there are actually certain foods that are scientifically proven to vamp up the human sex drive. This unique group of Aphrodisiacs happens to include my favorite vegetable- asparagus.

Scientists say that there's more to Asparagus than just their suggestive shape. Unprocessed food has the power to influence our bodies in a number of ways. Aphrodisiacs’ savory secret are their ability to stimulate the human sex drive. As stated by Dr. Nalini Chilkov L.Ac., O.M.D., these “love foods” have “circulatory, relaxing, and muscle strengthening effects, or visual, tactile or sensory impact that stimulates the psyche.

Essentially, the foods interact with the brain in such a way that gears up the mind and body for sex, due to its high concentration of folate. Folate aids in the production of histamine, which is an essential element to men and women’s sexual health.

My favorite way to prepare asparagus is on the grill, but this vegetable is delectable no matter how you slice, sauté or serve it. Not only are the slender, green stalks loaded with nutrients, but they also might be the secret ingredient to spice up your love life. Let’s be honest, nothing says “come and get it” like an Aphrodisiac.