Adventurous Eating Can Boost Your Sex Life—And Help Save the Oceans
Here’s a wild idea that makes total sense: eating unusual seafood can spice up your sex life and protect marine ecosystems. That’s the pitch behind a bold new campaign encouraging people to look beyond the usual fish fillets and shrimp platters—and discover the power of culinary curiosity.
A Better Menu for You and the Planet
Let’s face it—most of us stick to the same handful of seafood options. Tuna. Salmon. Shrimp. Maybe some cod or tilapia. But this sameness takes a toll. Overfishing has put massive pressure on these popular species. Meanwhile, underutilized and perfectly edible alternatives—like sardines, oysters, mussels, and even jellyfish—go ignored.
That’s where adventurous eating comes in.
By choosing sustainable and lesser-known seafood, you reduce demand for overfished species. Even better, many of these options are loaded with omega-3s, zinc, and other nutrients that enhance circulation, hormone balance, and libido.
In short: it’s good for your love life and even better for the oceans.
Sexy Seafood? Science Says Yes
Seafood like oysters, clams, and anchovies are rich in amino acids and minerals that boost dopamine levels and stimulate desire. Zinc, for example, plays a key role in testosterone production. Omega-3s reduce inflammation and improve blood flow.
And let’s not forget—the act of sharing new foods, tasting bold flavors, and being adventurous at the dinner table sets the tone for more excitement everywhere else.
The Campaign: Eat Adventurously
Several ocean advocacy groups launched the Eat Adventurously campaign to shift public perception of seafood. Their goal? Make lesser-known options not just acceptable—but exciting. Chefs across the country are now creating dishes with sea urchin, mackerel, and even lionfish (an invasive species that’s causing chaos in coral reef systems).
Trying new seafood is no longer just an act of culinary exploration. It’s a statement. A way to protect ocean biodiversity while enhancing personal health and intimacy.
Maria Finn’s Book
Maria Finn’s new book, “The Whole Fish, How Adventurous Eating Can Improve Your Sex Life and Help Save the Ocean,” will be released by TED Books on October 25, 2012.
This look at aquatic ecosystems will shed light on social ecosystems that we create with our eating and lifestyle habits. This book will include personal stories by Maria from the fishing grounds in Alaska
and culinary hotspots of Northern California, along with profiles of innovators in the industry, consumer information and recipes by top chefs.
Maria lives on a floating houseboat in Sausalito, where she grows a rooftop container garden, despite the salty winds. She’s the author of the book, “A Little Piece of Earth, How to Grow Your Own Food in
Small Spaces” (Rizzoli, 2010), and the memoir, “Hold Me Tight and Tango Me Home” (Algonquin Books, 2010), which is in development for a new television series with FOX Studios. Her novel-in-progress, “Sea
Legs and Fish Nets,” was a finalist for the Pen/Bellwethetr Prize, founded by Barbara Kingsolver for novels that address issues of social justice.
Conclusion
So next time you’re planning a romantic dinner (depending on your own personal appetite or religious preference) skip the salmon. Try mussels. Grill sardines. Slurp oysters. It might surprise your taste buds—and ignite something even deeper. With every bold bite, you’re not only feeding passion—you’re helping heal the planet, one plate at a time.
