How Did Strawberries Become the Fruit of Love?

I was snacking on some strawberries tonight, and I began wondering, why is this fruit so associated with romance? I mean, let's face it, the seeds alone are a romance killer! So of course I couldn't relax until I found an answer to this question...if you know me at all, once a question I can't answer right off the top of my head enters my brain, I can't rest until my curiosity is satisfied.

I went on an Internet search, and I found that there are dozens of romance novels with strawberries in the title. I also found an article written in the UK that said strawberries were good for your sex life because of the high levels of zinc.

Strawberries can spice up your sex life

Last updated at 11:42 24 May 2004

Get fruity: Strawberries can boost your sex drive

Eating strawberries and raspberries can increase your sex drive, a nutritionist claimed today.

Patrick Holford, founder of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition, said both fruits have high levels of zinc in their seeds which unlike most fruits are eaten rather than removed.

Zinc, he explained, is the nutrient most associated with sex for a number of reasons. These include the fact it governs testosterone which is needed for sperm production.

Second, a woman's body apparently prepares itself for sex more quickly if zinc levels are high.

A man can deplete his body's entire zinc supply if he has sex three times in 24 hours, according to Mr Holford whose London-based charity was established in 1984 to study and research nutrition.

Beneficial in the bedroom

"My message is simple: every time you have sex, or simply want to ready yourself or your partner for sex you should consume a handful of raspberries or strawberries.

"And it's not just the zinc content of the berries which is beneficial in the bedroom.

"They are incredibly high in anti-oxidants which helps to optimise blood flow to the sex organs, and they have the lowest glycaemic load of any fruit meaning they provide sustained energy levels at only a few calories."

Mr Holford was commissioned to analyse the nutritional contents of strawberries and raspberries by British Summer Fruits, the marketing arm of leading UK soft fruit growers.

Laurence Olins, chairman of British Summer Fruits, said: "Let this be a call to arms for the men and women of the UK.

"The findings show berries to be as close as you can get to the perfect fruit."

British strawberries and raspberries will be available in shops from June to November.

This is great, but it doesn't tell me how this red fruit became so associated with love and romance that grocery stores have an entire section devoted to these red beauties around Valentine's Day...so the search continued.

I came across sites I am not going to share here...and to be honest I didn't bother clicking on...I found out that strawberries are associated with the Goddess Venus because of their heart shape, and they were banned at one time in ancient times because of their color...still can't figure that one out...and that strawberry soup was once served in France to newlyweds...I also came across why strawberries are served so often with champagne...because strawberries protect the stomach from alcohol, but I am still not completely satisfied.  All I can say is I am still in research mode. In the meantime, I will just enjoy them!