I understand that Eagle Brands is well respected for their various food products across the nation. Until recently I never had occasion to be the recipient of the urge to write a review for an Eagle Brands product. But
that was before I tried one of their Habanero Poppers. All I can say is that if you like Eagle's potato-based snacks you'd better load up on them now. I say that because I have a habit of finding foods and drinks I like only to see them withdrawn from the market almost immediately. We used to joke around my house that I was a cereal killer because it seemed every time I found a cereal I enjoyed it would disappear off grocery store shelves upon the nonce. My all time favorite breakfast cereal was a delectable sugary delight called Fruity Islands and if you ever tasted Fruity Islands I know you remember them. I had never before nor since tasted anything that came in a cardboard box that was quite as sublime as Fruity Islands. So, naturally, they didn't last long. The list goes on and on of food and drink products I've killed. There, I've given you fair warning.
Eagle Brand Habanero Poppers are not really potato chips. They are spherical and hollow and as light in texture as a Munchos chip. They are also dusted with a habanero seasoning. Does that mean that Habanero Poppers are too hot to take? Not at all; in fact, they are not even as hot as Habanero Doritos. Instead, they are merely delicious with just the right amount of habanero flavoring to make them tasty and addictive. Of course, I can eat a raw habanero and not beg for mercy so if you think the mild sauce at Taco Bell is too spicy you may want to take it easy on these poppers. The combination of their light, airy construction and that fiery zest make for a bag that you will find to far too much on the far side of not enough. Grab two or three bags to tide you over while you munch on these gifts from the great spicy god while watching a movie on Saturday night with the kids.
What are poppers?
Poppers is the term used for the group of chemicals known as alkyl nitrites, which include amyl nitrite, butyl nitrite and isobutyl nitrite. Trade names of poppers include; Ram, Thrust, Rock Hard, TNT and Liquid Gold.
Poppers are also known as ‘rush’ and can be brought legally.
What do poppers look like?
Poppers come as a clear or straw-coloured liquid in a small bottle or tube.
How are poppers taken?
Poppers are volatile liquids, which are taken by breathing in the powerful vapours through the mouth or nose from an opened bottle.
What are the immediate effects of poppers?
The vapours from poppers increase the heart rate and open up all the blood vessels, including those around the heart, while lowering blood pressure.
Sniffing poppers gives an immediate rush of blood to the brain, which feels like you are going over the top of a roller coaster. The intense feeling wears off very quickly, within 2-5 minutes but the sudden drop in blood pressure can make you feel very dizzy and lose your balance (fall over).
Poppers can leave you with bad headaches and if spilled can burn the skin. Regular use can cause skin problems around the mouth and nose.
What are the long-term effects of poppers?
There is no evidence that poppers cause any long-term damage, but drinking them could kill. If you have anaemia, glaucoma or heart problems using poppers could have fatal consequences.
What class drug are poppers?
Amyl nitrites (poppers) are a prescription only medicine and though possession is not illegal, supplying can be an offence.
The following is a list of foods that reportedly act as aphrodisiacs. Some are said to be aphrodisiacs simply because of their shape and some because of their aromas, while others claim a chemical basis for their "love" powers. This is by no means a complete list and, unless otherwise noted, there is no readily available research to back up their claims.
Aniseed
Also known as anise, the ancient Greeks and Romans believed that you could increase desire by sucking on anise seeds. Aniseed does include estrogenic compounds (female hormones), which have been reported to induce similar effects to testosterone.
Avocado
The avocado tree was called a "testicle tree" by the Aztecs because its fruit hangs in pairs on the tree, resembling the male testicles. Its aphrodisiac value is based on this resemblance.
Bananas
In addition to the phallic shape of the banana itself, the banana flower also has a phallic shape. Bananas are rich in potassium and B vitamins, which are said to be necessary for sex-hormone production.
Basil (sweet basil)
For centuries, people said that basil stimulated the sex drive and boosted fertility as well as producing a general sense of well being. The scent of basil was said to drive men wild -- so much so that women would dust their breasts with dried and powdered basil. Basil is one of the many reported aphrodisiacs that may have the property of promoting circulation.
Cardamom
Cardamom is an aromatic spice. Certain cultures deem it a powerful aphrodisiac and also claim it is beneficial in treating impotence. It is high in cineole, which can increase blood flow in areas where it is applied.
Chocolate
Chocolate has forever been associated with love and romance. It was originally found in the South American rainforests. The Mayan civilizations worshipped the Cacao tree and called it "food of the gods." Rumor has it that the Aztec ruler Montezuma drank 50 goblets of chocolate each day to enhance his sexual abilities.
Researchers have studied chocolate and found it to contain phenylethylamine and serotonin, which are both "feel good" chemicals. They occur naturally in our bodies and are released by our brains when we are happy or feeling loving or passionate. It produces a euphoric feeling, like when you're in love.
In addition to those two chemicals, researchers at the Neuroscience Institute in San Diego, California, say that chocolate may also contain substances that have the same effect on the brain as marijuana. The substance is a neurotransmitter called anandamide. The amount of anandamide in chocolate is not enough to get a person "high" like marijuana, but it could be enough to contribute to the good feelings that serotonin and phenylethylamine produce. Does that mean it increases sexual desire? Probably not -- but if it makes you feel good, it might lower your inhibitions so that you're more receptive to suggestion.
Carrots
The phallus-shaped carrot has been associated with sexual stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction.
Photo courtesy Morguefile
Chili peppers
Chili peppers
Eating chili peppers generates physiological responses in our bodies (e.g., sweating, increased heart rate and circulation) that are similar to those experienced when having sex. The capsaicin they contain is responsible for the effects and is also a good pain reliever. Another reported effect of eating large quantities of chili peppers is an irritation of the genitals and urinary tract that could feel similar to sexual excitement.
Cucumbers
Aside from its phallic shape, the scent of cucumbers is believed to stimulate women by increasing blood flow to the vagina.
Figs
Figs are another fruit that claims aphrodisiac qualities based on its appearance. An open fig is thought to look similar to female sex organs.
Garlic
Long ago, Tibetan monks were not allowed to enter the monastery if they had been eating garlic because of its reputation for stirring up passions. Garlic increases circulation.
Photo courtesy CDFA
Ginger root
Ginger
People have deemed ginger root an aphrodisiac for centuries because of its scent and because it stimulates the circulatory system.
Honey
In medieval times, people drank mead, a fermented drink made from honey, to promote sexual desire. In ancient Persia, couples drank mead every day for a month (known as the "honey month" -- a.k.a. "honeymoon") after they married in order to get in the right frame of mind for a successful marriage. Honey is rich in B vitamins (needed for testosterone production) as well as boron (helps the body metabolize and use estrogen). Some studies have suggested that it may also enhance blood levels of testosterone.
Licorice
In ancient China, people used licorice to enhance love and lust. The smell appears to be particularly stimulating. Alan R. Hirsch, MD, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, conducted a study that looked at how different smells stimulated sexual arousal. He found that the smell of black licorice increased the blood flow to the penis by 13 percent. When combined with the smell of doughnuts, that percentage jumped to 32.
Nutmeg
In ancient China, women prized nutmeg an aphrodisiac, and researchers have found it to increase mating behaviors in mice. There is no evidence to prove the same happens in humans. In quantity, nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect.
Photo courtesy NOAA
Matoya oysters
Oysters
Romans documented oysters as aphrodisiacs in the second century A.D. They are known to be high in zinc, which has been associated with improving sexual potency in men. (An additional hypothesis is that the oyster resembles the female genitals.) Recently, mussels, clams and oysters have been found to contain D-aspartic acid and NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) compounds may be effective in releasing sex hormones like testosterone and estrogen. Scientists have not determined whether there are enough of those compounds in the shellfish to make any difference.
Papaya
Papaya (like aniseed) is estrogenic, meaning it has compounds that act as the female hormone estrogen. It has been used as a folk remedy in promoting menstruation and milk production, facilitating childbirth and increasing the female libido.
Pine nuts
People have been using pine nuts to stimulate the libido since Medieval times. Like oysters, they too are high in zinc. Pine nuts have been used for centuries to make up love potions. The Arabian medical scholar Galen recommended eating one hundred pine nuts before going to bed.
Now let's take a look at some aphrodisiac non-foods and how they're supposed to accomplish their effects.
Like the aphrodisiac foods listed on the previous page, some of the aphrodisiac ingredients often found in supplements may have some research to back their claims, but most do not.
Arginine
Arginine is an amino acid found in meat, nuts, eggs, coconut milk and cheese. It forms nitric oxide in the body, which increases blood flow to the genitals. Arginine, when combined with other supplements, is said to enhance sexual desire in women.
Epimedium
According to pharmacognosist Albert Leung, Ph.D., and Arkansas herbalist Steven Foster, the epimedium herb has been proven to improve the sexual function of male animals in experiments. It acts somewhat as an androgen (sex hormone) and might stimulate sexual desire in women who are androgen-deficient.
Fennel
Fennel is reported to increase the libido of both male and female rats. Fennel has compounds that mimic the female hormone estrogen. However, in doses greater than about a teaspoon, it can be toxic!
Ginseng
Ginseng is another long-touted aphrodisiac. Recently, the Journal of Urology reported, "the Mean International Index of Erectile Function scores were significantly higher in patients treated with Korean red ginseng than in those who received placebo." In animal studies, ingesting ginseng doesn't appear to have an immediate effect on testosterone levels, but the ginseng may trigger other mechanisms that lead to increased performance and libido.
Rhino horn is primarily fibrous tissue with fairly large amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Since low levels of these minerals can lead to weakness and general fatigue, taking large doses of these elements could increase stamina if levels were low to begin with. It's understandable, then, how it could have historically appeared to be an aphrodisiac (in addition to its resemblance to an erect penis). People who didn't have deficiencies of those minerals wouldn't have seen the same affect.
Spanish fly
Probably one of the most famous aphrodisiacs is Spanish fly. It is made from a beetle that secretes an acid-like juice, called cantharidin, from its leg joints when threatened. Because it would be more difficult to remove just the juice, the entire beetle is dried and crushed to produce the powder. When Spanish fly powder is ingested, the body excretes the cantharidin in the urine. This causes intense irritation and burning in the urogenital tract, which then leads to itching and swelling of the genitals. This swelling and burning was once assumed to be sexual arousal and led to the belief that Spanish fly had aphrodisiac qualities. But cantharidin is highly toxic. The kidneys suffer inflammation as well and can be permanently damaged. Spanish fly can cause severe gastrointestinal disturbances, convulsions and even death.
WHOLESALE EAGLE
Yohimbe
Yohimbe is used both as an herbal aphrodisiac and in a prescription drug used for erectile dysfunction in men. It comes from bark stripped from a West African evergreen tree. Yohimbine, the primary active ingredient of yohimbe, blocks alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and increases dilation of blood vessels, which are both involved in achieving and maintaining an erection. The herbal form of yohimbe can be dangerous if taken in the wrong quantities.
