Men who enjoy spicy food have higher testosterone levels | Daily Mail Online
Why liking hot curries really does make you the alpha male: Men who enjoy spicy food have higher testosterone levels
- Researchers from the University of Grenoble compared the hormone levels of 114 men
to the amount of chilli sauce they added to mashed potato - Those with highest testosterone were found to add more chilli to their food
- Chilli peppers have also been found to increase testosterone levels in rats
- Testosterone is known to increase risk taking behaviour and could explain why men
with higher levels seek out hotter food to prove themselves
It is a scene repeated in curry houses around the world - male customers
trying to prove their manhood by eating the hottest curry on the menu.
trying to prove their manhood by eating the hottest curry on the menu.
But now is seems this rite of manliness may actually be based on scientific
fact after researchers have shown that only real men go for the
spiciest food. Physiologists at the University of Grenoble, in France, have found that men with a taste for spicy foods tend to have higher levels of the hormone testosterone.
fact after researchers have shown that only real men go for the
spiciest food. Physiologists at the University of Grenoble, in France, have found that men with a taste for spicy foods tend to have higher levels of the hormone testosterone.
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Eating a beef vindaloo while out for a
meal may do more than make you sweat - it can prove that you have
higher testosterone levels, according to the research by scientists at
the University of Grenoble
meal may do more than make you sweat - it can prove that you have
higher testosterone levels, according to the research by scientists at
the University of Grenoble
Testosterone is known to make men more adventurous, aggressive and sexually active.
Those with the highest levels tend to be more dominant, or the alpha
male, of a group.
Those with the highest levels tend to be more dominant, or the alpha
male, of a group.
The researchers believe that by eating hot curries, men may also be
boosting their hormone levels as chili peppers have been shown to
increase testosterone levels in rats.
boosting their hormone levels as chili peppers have been shown to
increase testosterone levels in rats.
Professor Laurent Begue, who led the study, said: 'We demonstrated a positive
correlation between salivary testosterone and the quantity of hot sauce
male participants voluntarily and spontaneously consumed with a male.
correlation between salivary testosterone and the quantity of hot sauce
male participants voluntarily and spontaneously consumed with a male.
'Additionally
testosterone levels correlated with participants' perceptions of the
spiciness of their meal after a tasting task.
spiciness of their meal after a tasting task.
'This study provides new insights into the biology of food preference by
expanding our understanding of the link between hormonal processes and
food intake.'
expanding our understanding of the link between hormonal processes and
food intake.'
The chemical in chilli peppers that creates heat is called capsaicin and
binds with the pain receptor to produce the characteristic burning
sensation.
binds with the pain receptor to produce the characteristic burning
sensation.
This is known to cause physiological changes in the body, raising the heart
rate, increasing perspiration and releasing endorphins and adrenalin.
rate, increasing perspiration and releasing endorphins and adrenalin.
It is this that produces the uncontrollable sweating that can sometimes
accompany eating really hot food but some research has also shown it can
trigger the release of hormones involved in happiness.
accompany eating really hot food but some research has also shown it can
trigger the release of hormones involved in happiness.
The researchers involved in the lastest study, which is published in the
journal Physiology and Behavior, tested 114 men between the ages of 18
and 44 from from Grenoble after advertising for participants to take
part in food tasting panel for a food research company.
journal Physiology and Behavior, tested 114 men between the ages of 18
and 44 from from Grenoble after advertising for participants to take
part in food tasting panel for a food research company.
They were asked to indicate their preferences regarding spicy food and had the levels of testosterone in their saliva measured.
They were then asked to season a sample of mashed potatoes with Tabasco hot
pepper sauce and salt before then evaluate the spiciness of the meal.
pepper sauce and salt before then evaluate the spiciness of the meal.
The researchers found that those with higher levels of testosterone tended
to put more chili sauce on their potato while there did not seem to be
any correlation with salt.
to put more chili sauce on their potato while there did not seem to be
any correlation with salt.
Professor Begue said it could be that the higher levels of testosterone are
leading men to seek thrills and take risks by eating hotter food.
leading men to seek thrills and take risks by eating hotter food.
Previous research in rats has shown that eating chili may also increase levels
of testosterone, particularly if they consumed a regular diet containing
capsaicin during adolescence.
of testosterone, particularly if they consumed a regular diet containing
capsaicin during adolescence.
Writing in their paper, titled 'Some like it Hot', Professor Begue and his
colleagues said that further research would be needed to see if a
preference for spicy food produced similar changes in humans.
colleagues said that further research would be needed to see if a
preference for spicy food produced similar changes in humans.
