Manly men like it hot!

Image: Flickr/prilfishDo you like it hot? So hot it makes you cry? Well, according to this study, that means it's likely you have a lot of testosterone. Here, researchers tested whether liking spicy food is related to testosterone levels in men. And sure enough, men with the highest levels of testosterone added the most Tabasco sauce to their mashed potatoes. This leaves us wondering whether this correlation holds for women, too. Thesis, anyone?Some like it hot: Testosterone predicts laboratory eating behavior of spicy food. "In the present study, we analyzed the relationship between eating behavior of spicy food and endogenous testosterone. Participants included 114 males between the ages of 18 and 44 recruited from the community. They were asked to indicate their preferences regarding spicy food and were then asked to season a sample of mashed potatoes with pepper sauce and salt (control substance) prior to evaluating the spiciness of the meal. A positive correlation was observed between endogenous salivary testosterone and the quantity of hot sauce individuals voluntarily and spontaneously consumed with a meal served as part of a laboratory task. 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." Related content: Why meat dishes are spicier than vegetable dishes.Optimizing the sensory characteristics and acceptance of canned cat food: use of a human taste panel.Does Guinness really taste better in Ireland? Science weighs in.