Oysters; orgasmic obsession...

[Edited: most links changed since publishing] "...they may change sex one or more times during their life span. The gonads, organs responsible for producing both eggs and sperm, surround the digestive organs and are made up of sex cells, branching tubules and connective tissue...", of course - Oysters!

"The oyster's a confusing suitor

It's masc., and fem., and even neuter.

But whether husband, pal or wife

It leads a painless sort of life.

I'd like to be an oyster, say,

In August, June, July or May"

Ogden Nash (1931)

There's a good site from Ilene Polansky, owner of Maestro S.V.P., Seafood Bistro and Oyster Bar, Montreal, Quebec; the site provided the interesting description above the poem, much more here. [not .much more; anymore; just the link is only to the restaurant]  Oysters are not only delicious, (OK,OK!...like Marmite...love or hate?) but they're also one of the most nutritionally well balanced of foods, containing protein, carbohydrates, lipids and many vitamins and minerals. Although they are seen as an expensive food for the rich they have a long history of being consumed by hoi polloi. Interestingly - and not widely known - are the oyster beds within the UK; the town of Whitstable in Kent is noted for oyster farming from beds on the Kentish Flats that have been used since Roman times. In the early nineteenth century, oysters were very cheap and were mainly eaten by the working classes - disease, pollution and hence non-availability were the reasons for the change in 'clientele'. For centuries, men have believed that oysters and other shellfish are natural aphrodisiacs. But, until now, there has been little, if any, scientific evidence to support that claim. A new study, however, shows that oysters, clams, mussels and scallops all have chemical compounds that release sex hormones such as testosterone and oestrogen. HOORAY! 

[...Span's pervy O sidetrack: talking of hormones, oxytocin. This differs from natural sex steroid hormones, testosterone etc, that are generally synthesized from cholesterol in the gonads and adrenal glands: oxytocin is a peptide (chain of amino-acids) and is released during orgasm by both sexes...guess which one this link concentrates on... ]

Back to the research..."The findings are certainly interesting, but we still have a way to go before saying that there is scientific evidence that clams, oysters and scallops boost libido," he said....BOOO! Only last year Anahad O'Connor, New York Times, May. 24, 2005, wrote:

"…after all these centuries, the science behind the claim remains murky. Oysters are high in zinc, and a number of studies over the years have linked zinc deficiencies to impotence and delayed sexual development. But no major study has examined whether eating an oyster has any direct impact on arousal." But Samantha Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Medical Center, said the oyster effect might be mostly psychological. "If you tell someone that something is an aphrodisiac," she said, "a lot of times they'll get aroused just thinking about it."…yep, I agree entirely Sam, but how can I avoid the embarrassment in public places?

Finally... best recipes...there are too many to mention although no dressing (steady!) or just a squeeze of juice (I said STEADY - you've been reading the oxytocin and juices link haven't you!) do it for me...there's the famous Oysters Rockefeller from New Orleans (also in the picture) or 'Old' Orleans, Ontario's Oregano Oysters....a veritable 'O' fest! S.O. 

P.S. Gavin...the Odour post is 'in progress' but I keep getting side-tracked - as you can see! 

P.P.S. There is a sex toy called The Oyster...apparently. I am not going to add the link, what do you think I am! DON'T answer that! ;-)