Researchers assessed the personalities of 97 people via questionnaire and then asked them to rate how much they enjoyed increasingly “hot” foods after giving them a taste of capsaicin, the ingredient responsible for the spiciness of chili peppers. They found that people who are more “sensation-seeking,” meaning they are more open to risks and new experiences, continued to like spicy meals even as burn intensity increased, while less risk-loving people rapidly enjoyed these foods less and less. In fact, previous studies have linked a taste for spiciness with a tendency to enjoy gambling, driving fast cars, riding roller coasters, and other thrill-based experiences. The common behavior is the risk associated with these activities, explains Nadia Byrnes, MS, a doctoral candidate at Pennsylvania State University and the lead researcher of the study. Biologically, spice creates a sensation in the mouth that the brain interprets as burning or being on fire. When your body realizes there’s no real danger, it begins to interpret that sensation as a “thrill” similar to gambling or riding roller coasters. While there are many factors that play into why a person likes one type of food but not the other, paying attention to corresponding personality traits can help decide what diets work best for you and those around you. While research is still emerging what connects other personality types to different tastes, spicy food is a good place to start. If you aren’t much for speeding down the highway, try picking diet plans that skip on the hot sauce and Cajun food. “I think really it’s just understanding a little bit more of the food choice puzzle and these complex decisions,” Byrnes says. “It’s a little step, but in the grand scheme of things, understanding why people make the food choice decisions they do can help us help people eat healthier.” More from Prevention: Are You A Perfectionist? This Is Your Brain On Carbs Status Update: Facebook Makes You ______
