Does he think he’s man enough to eat spicy foods? It might have something to do with him having higher levels of testosterone. A new study from the University of Grenoble found a positive correlation between and enjoyment of spicy food and a higher level of the hormone testosterone in the male body. Higher levels of testosterone are linked to typical ‘alpha’ male characteristics including aggression, recklessness and a higher sex-drive. In this case, researchers checked the higher levels of risk-taking in dietary choices. In the study 114 men aged between 18 and 44 were asked to indicate their preference for spicy food. They were asked to choose sauces for meals depending on heat and spice. When saliva samples were taken, it was found that the men who voluntarily and spontaneously consumed higher levels of hot pepper sauce had higher levels of testosterone. Speaking to The Telegraph, co-author Laurent Begue said: “These results are in line with a lot of research showing a link between testosterone and financial, sexual and behavioural risk-taking. “In this case, it applies to risk-taking in taste.” The results were identical for rats who, under the same study, were also shown to have higher testosterone levels amongst those who consumed spicy food.