They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But a Cox a day might also keep sexual frustration at bay.
New research has shown that the humble apple could be an extremely potent aphrodisiac.
The study, conducted in Italy, found that daily consumption of the fruit can boost sexual pleasure in women.
Researchers analysed 731 'healthy' Italian women aged 18 to 43.All of the participants were asked to report on their daily apple consumption and eating habits.
They were then split into two groups; one that ate apples regularly, as in more than one a day, and another which ate less than one a day.
The participants were also asked to answer the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) , which comprises 19 questions about sexual activities, including frequency and overall satisfaction.
It was found that eating at least one apple a day was linked with higher FSFI scores - suggesting the popular fruit really does boost sexual pleasure.
Eating more apples apparently increased the research participants' lubrication and sexual function, enhancing the overall sexual experience.
The researchers, whose work was published in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics,think the reason for this may be because apples contain phloridzin - a compound that is similar to the female sex hormone estradiol, which plays a large role in sexual arousal.
A spokesperson for the research team, said: 'This study suggests a potential relationship between regular daily apple consumption and better sexuality in our young women population.'
