Considering all the uncertainty of modern life, there is something perverse about attempting to quantify romance. Take aphrodisiacs. Why try so hard to debunk pleasant myths thousands of years old?

There are writings in nearly every ancient culture chronicling the sway held by aphrodisiacs. According to a dusty tome published in 1958, by Alan Hull Walton, called Aphrodisiacs: From Legend to Prescription; it was not a question of whether a culture’s history had evidence of the belief in and the use of aphrodisiacs, the differences would be how vague or explicitly the guidebooks of the time would tell the tale.

Never, in the over three hundred pages, did this scholarly author seek to bust the myth of aphrodisiacs. No, his job was to show the happy reliance our love lives have always had on food. Sure, he acknowledged that in many cases the verve attributed to the aphrodisiac was simply good nutrition having its way with us. And, yeah, sometimes the academic tone could be a little clinical, but in the end, he was no killjoy.

Nowadays, we can expect in February to see the reoccurring article about the aphrodisiac myth. Along with the list of the promising foods, the article cites the same research study done in 1989 by the FDA that concludes there is not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of the folklore of foods as aphrodisiacs.

At the risk of being accused of piling on. Seriously, the FDA?

It is well known that the FDA is grossly under funded and have had their hands full lately. So, by no means, should they revisit this research. Let’s just take figuring out which is more amorous, avocados or oysters, immediately off the FDA to-do list forever. In fact, can we agree as a society to ease up on the scientific exploration on this topic?

Even if the FDA published breakthrough research proving certain foods undoubtedly were mood enhancing, wouldn’t that just ruin the mystique of what should be an to each their own matter?

If you believe in the power of garlic and someone else swears by pine nuts or curry, why take away the juju of foods anyone can pick up on at the bodega on the corner on your way home for work for a couple of bucks?

It is time to embrace the not knowing. Learning about aphrodisiacs should happen by gossiping, reading old books and frequent experimentation. Certainly, not from a government agency press release.

So remain curious. If by chance your reputation as a great experimenter in the foods of love becomes widely known, then you will have something in common with dear Mr. Walton. He amusingly reported that his while writing his book, which did include recipes, that his dinner invitations were eagerly accepted. Invariably, guests would look over their plates wide-eyed and ask is this “cookery”?

With food prices what they are, even the unromantic and unconvinced might become believers. What could it hurt?