Do you prefer hot, spicy food? If you do men, according to a new French study, your curry-loving habits may indicate that you have higher levels of testosterone.

Researchers at University of Grenoble found that regular consumption of chili peppers may raise levels of testosterone, the hormone that is believed to make men more “alpha types” – adventurous, enterprising, risk-taking and sexually active.

Saliva samples of 114 men aged 18 to 44 were measured after they were given a plate of mashed potatoes and invited to add chili sauce to taste. Researchers found that those who added the most had the highest testosterone. In contrast, significant correlations were not observed between testosterone and behavioral preference for salty foods.

This study suggests that behavioral preference for spicy food among men is related to endogenous testosterone levels.

 

JOURNAL SOURCE:

Some like it hot: Testosterone predicts laboratory eating behavior of spicy food. Physiology & Behavior (Impact Factor: 3.16). 12/2015; 139:375-377. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2014.11.061