More Testosterone for Men Who Love Spicy Food?

Alpha males are chili lovers?

According to a French study, men with higher testosterone levels are likely to love spicy food. This is because the said hormone "drives men to seek thrills and new sensations, leading them to frequent 'more stimulating social groups and take more risks,'" as explained by one of the study's authors, Laurent Begue.

"In this case, it applies to risk-taking in taste," Begue was quoted by The Telegraph as saying. "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."

Interestingly, the study, which was featured in the journal "Physiology and Behavior," was titled "Some Like It Hot."

"Conducted by researchers from the University of Grenoble-Alpes in France, 114 men ages 18 to 44 sat down to a meal of mashed potatoes with spicy pepper sauce and salt," Time noted. "Researchers saw a clear correlation between higher hot sauce usage and higher levels of testosterone levels found in the saliva of the men."

"In other words, men with greater testosterone levels tended to douse their food with more hot sauce," the news source said.

Chili peppers contain the chemical capsaicin, which "binds with the pain receptor to produce the characteristic burning sensation," MailOnline explained.

This, then, results in increased perspiration, elevated heart rate, and the release or adrenalin and endorphins in the body. As such, happiness-inducing hormones can also be triggered.

If you're wondering whether chilis have a similar effect on women, the answer remains elusive. That's because the effect of spicy food on female members of the population has not yet been studied. However, this new research result could influence French cooking.

"Commentators say the research may inspire Gallic chefs to spice up their recipes and provoke a radical change in the eating habits of French men," The Telegraph said. "Unlike their British counterparts, relatively few have acquired a taste for hot curries. Many see chili as an assault on their taste buds that hinders enjoyment of the subtler, more delicate flavours of classic French cuisine."

We won't be surprised to see spicy variations in classic French dishes some time in the future, though.

The authors of the study, however, believe that the mechanisms that influence the testosterone-chili link remains unknown.

"A wide range of factors, including genetic, physiological, psychological and social forces, influence the liking and consumption of capsaicin-containing food," the researchers stated, as quoted by Time.

Will you be sprinkling Sriracha or Tabasco on your next meal?