Foreplay begins at the stove these days. Nigella Lawson's a veritable sex goddess and the best vibrating love toys are made by Breville. That's right, the kitchen hasn't been this sexy since Jack Nicholson went back for some Jessica Lange seconds in The Postman Always Rings Twice.

But it's not Jamie Oliver we should be thanking - Mother Nature has showered us with a smorgasbord of edible arousers that science confirms can turn you into a dynamic lover. And we're not talking about hippo snouts or hyena eyeballs either - these are everyday comestibles, such as pasta, chocolate and, best of all, steak. Pay attention, it's time to perfect your carnal cuisine ...

1. Penne for your dirty thoughts
Farfalle, fusilli, alphabetti, spaghetti - whatever type you prefer, if you're struggling to put yourself in a Fabio frame of mind then an increased intake of serotonin-inducing pasta may well be the solution. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter in the brain that governs mood.

So if you're feeling frigid, a bowl of tagliatelle will loosen up both of you. Incidentally, this is the same principle on which Ecstasy works, so think of it as a legal, altogether more wholesome high.

How it works The reason pasta is such an effective aphrodisiac is due to the multitude of foods with which it can be paired.
While stress is the nemesis of serotonin levels, the combination of carb-loaded pasta with foods containing the essential amino acid tryptophan (meat, fish, dairy) will give our happy-hormone count - and your sex life - a well-deserved spike. So for a night of passion, ignore those fancy Bill Granger recipes and settle for a good, old-fashioned, headboard-thumping bolognese or carbonara.

2. Out off the shell
One legend regularly trotted out is that Venetian playboy Casanova would eat 50 oysters a day to keep his libido buzzing like a caffeine-loaded bee. And while we're not suggesting a similar diet will turn you into an overnight libertine, there's definitely substance here.

How it works The link between oysters and sperm-replenishing zinc is well established, but the American Chemical Society reports oysters are also rich in rare amino acids that raise levels of sex hormones.

"You can't just find these in a health-food shop," explains George Fisher, a professor of chemistry at Barry University in the US, who led the research.

In his study, rats injected with the oyster chemicals recorded higher levels of testosterone in males and progesterone in females. "Increased levels of these hormones means you're going to be more sexually dynamic," Fisher claims. So by all means splash out if you're in the mood - just no jokes about pearl necklaces, please.

3. Sweet surrender
Ah, chocolate - the wench's favourite. Unenlightened men can be forgiven for believing it's the scourge of women who prize it second only to shoes. But this ignores the fact that chocolate benefits your sex life. Yup, a Mars a day etc . . .

How it works Chocolate contains three magic substances: caffeine, theobromine and phenylethylamine.

Caffeine stimulates the senses, theobromine elevates mood, while phenylethylamine triggers the release of endorphins. And it's also worth indulging your lady her favourite treat. Urologists from Italy's San Raffaele hospital found that "women who have a daily intake of chocolate showed higher levels of desire than others". So stop moaning and buy her a slab - you'll reap the rewards.

4. Pop your cherries
It's a misconception that for a foodstuff to make you strong like a bull, it must have once trotted around a paddock with a healthy pulse. Not so. Red meat is good, sure, it just doesn't have a monopoly on boners.

But don't be disappointed: we'll wager that your five-a-day sound a good deal more appetising when you hear that certain fruits boast the dual benefit of keeping your end up. Yup, raising your intake of cherries, pomegranates and figs will give you a rise in other areas as well.

How it works Researchers at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in the US examined the cholesterol levels and sex lives of 3250 men over the age of 24, finding that as cholesterol rises so does the likelihood of erectile dysfunction. So the key to boosting your body's natural lovemaking hydraulics is to eat foods which lower it.

Many fruits and berries, especially red ones, are high in beneficial plant compounds called phytonutrients, which are effective in reducing cholesterol and, by extension, giving you the horn.

And yes, that does mean red wine also works. Go on, light some smelly candles and crack open a bottle.

5. Raise the steaks
Never ones to shirk a challenge, we at Men's Health nonetheless like it when nature makes things a little easier. So when we find out that muscle-building red meat is great for your sex drive, it's a bit like telling us that watching The Footy Show with a bottle of VB is a good way to lose weight (alas, it isn't). 'nuff said - get thee to a butchery!

How it works It's a question of maintenance. Like oysters, red meat contains zinc, which boosts testosterone. But just as important is the high selenium count - half of the body's store of this powerful antioxidant is located in the testicles and not only is it essential for the production of testosterone and sperm, a steady intake reduces the risk of impotence.

To prove it, a study published in the Hawaii Medical Journal found that a month's worth of supplements, including selenium, improved the ability to maintain a hard-on in nine-out-of-10 men.

6. Morning glory
Your caffeine wake-up call not only arouses the brain, it also kick-starts other parts of your body. Recent research from Southwestern University in the US found men who drink at least one cup of java a day are twice as likely to describe themselves as sexually active. Those same men who regularly perform the Nescafe handshake also experience less erection problems than coffee abstainers.

How it works If you feel you lack the required vim to go the distance, a high dose of caffeine is thought to increase staying power. But be sure to make that a coffee hit for two.

In the Southwestern University study, female rats fed a dose of caffeine displayed a notable increase in sex drive.

Likewise, a recent report in Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behaviour confirmed coffee's positive affect on female libido, caused by caffeine's stimulation of the part of the brain regulating arousal.

So the next time she suggests a coffee rather than the pub, you may have more chance of getting lucky than you think.