Sex appeal and food

According to new research, people who are willing to try new foods are perceived as the sexiest.

Do you want to be sexier? Try new foods!

Eating habits are linked to your personal sex appeal. Are you a creature of habit who always eats the same things? Well, accept the fact that few will actually find you sexy! Personality and Individual Difference - a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Elsevier – reports that a willingness to try new foods makes you seem sexier and more desirable! Can you believe that? Word of scientists! A recent study by Hannah Bradshaw (psychology professor at Washington & Jefferson College) finds that unwillingness to try new food is perceived as "unsexy" while willingness to try new foods, increases "sexual desirability."

Boring at the table… less desirable as partners

During a conversation with PsyPost magazine, Hannah Bradshaw, the lead author, tells how the idea for this study came about: "I was talking with a group of friends, and someone mentioned having dated a person who didn't like to try new foods and only ate things like chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese," The scientist explains: "I noticed that people seemed to think this was an undesirable quality in a dating partner. This led me to wonder whether one's willingness to try new food provides cues to mating-relevant characteristics." 

The research 

According to this research, "you are what you (are willing to) eat: Willingness to try new foods impacts perceptions of sexual un-restrictedness and desirability." The study by Dr. Bradshaw and her colleagues highlights that "willingness to try new food provides cues of sexual desirability and mating strategy." Also, "targets open to new food are rated as more desirable and more sexually unrestricted." The scientists say their "findings are specific to openness to new food, not general openness to new things." But not only that: "Targets open to new food are rated as less sexually disgusted." And finally, "inferences of targets' sexual disgust predict evaluations of their mating strategy." 

Don't be afraid to try new things!

If there's one lesson we can all take from this research, it's that you shouldn't be afraid to try new things. A little courage doesn't hurt! Trying new foods, taste unusual dishes, expand your horizons, and make you sexier! All kidding aside, varying your diet is essential, and it comes with many benefits. First of all, it improves your health, adding more essential nutrients to your diet. Secondarily, it allows you to have new experiences and appreciate different cultures and stories.