"Some like it hot," and according to scientists at the University of Grenoble, the manliest of men like it spicy. French cooks aren't usually into spicy food, but a new report says that regular consumption of chili peppers raises testosterone, which might make some men more "adventurous, enterprising and sexually active," according to The Telegraph.
"These results are in line with a lot of research showing a link between testosterone and financial, sexual and behavioral risk-taking," said Laurent Begue, one of the study's authors.
One hundred and fourteen men from Grenoble (southeastern France), between the ages of 18 and 44, partook in the study.
Testosterone levels were tested via saliva samples before being served a plate of mashed potatoes. The participants were told they could add as much chili sauce as they pleased. Those who added the most spice to their dish were the men with the highest testosterone.
Testosterone typically drives men to take part in "more stimulating social groups and take more risks," Begue said.
"In this case, it applies to risk-taking in taste. It is also possible that the regular consumption of spicy food contributes to increasing testosterone levels, although so far this has only been demonstrated on rodents."
Could this inspire the French to put some "ow" in their "oo la la," with French men proving their manliness with breath-stopping spices?
James M. Dabbs, an American scientist, published a book in 2000 in which he called testosterone the hormone of "heroes, rogues and lovers." He also tied high levels of testosterone to violence and crime, according to The Telegraph.
The report is titled, "Some Like It Hot," and will be published in the journal, "Physiology and Behavior."
