Skip the love potions and toss the Viagra — a simple trip to the grocery store may be all you need to make your sex life sizzle like never before. Just put some anchovies, oysters and licorice in the cart and you may be well on your way to a recipe for love. But is it really that simple, and does it work?

The notion that certain foods are natural aphrodisiacs with libido-lifting qualities is almost as old as time itself. In fact, the ancient Greeks used aphrodisiacs for age-old problems like relieving sexual anxieties, increasing fertility and boosting sexual performance. In those times, Casanova had the skinny on erotic edibles. As legend has it, he seduced a virgin by sliding an oyster from his lips to hers, arousing her sexual appetite. But before you dismiss it as mere myth, there’s logic behind the folklore. Oysters are high in zinc, which boosts testosterone levels — a hormone important for the sexual functioning of both men and women.

Sexy Foods: Your Edible Aphrodisiacs