Food preference & personality: How strong a link?

Food preference & personality: How strong a link?

Can you trust a man who doesn’t like chocolate?

Will the smell of jasmine improve athletic performance?

What foods are considered aphrodisiacs?

If you prefer coffee over tea, what does that say about you?

Can green apples help ease the pain of migraines?

It’s undeniable, according to researchers and medical professionals – there’s a strong link between food preferences, personality and biology.

One of the foremost experts is Alan Hirsch, M.D, founder and neurological director of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation in Chicago, and author of “What’s Your Food Sign: How to Use Food Clues to Find Lasting Love.”  In a far-ranging online Q&A, Hirsch revealed the following, based on his Foundation’s more-than-200 research studies: 

·         Aphrodisiacs – Said Hirsch: “For men, a combination of lavender and pumpkin pie, doughnut & black licorice, and pumpkin pie and doughnut; for women, Good & Plenty & cucumber, baby powder, and lavender & pumpkin pie.” Hirsch added: “The greatest inhibition for women is cherry and charcoal barbeque meat.”

One questioner asked Hirsch if she should put pumpkin pie on the Valentine’s table, to which Hirsch replied: “If your aim is to induce sexual arousal, lavender and pumpkin pie increase sexual arousal, but you should also be aware that every single odor that we testing increased sexual arousal in men.”  Later, one questioner asked Hirsch: “My Mom always told me that you can’t trust a guy who doesn’t like chocolate. Any truth?”  Answered Hirsch: “Our studies have suggested that you probably can’t trust any guy.”

·         Cravings – Hirsch explained: “Cravings may indicate underlying changes in mood state. At different times in the menstrual cycle, women crave chocolate especially when they feel mildly dysphoric. Possibly this is because chocolate raises brain serotonin levels, like a mini Prozac.”

·         Chocoholics – Hirsch was asked: “What does it say about someone’s personality if they are a severe chocoholic?” Said Hirsch: “We don’t know because too many people are chocoholics. However, if you prefer dark chocolate, you tend to be more extroverted.” 

·         Coffee vs. Tea – “Those who prefer coffee (over tea) are responsible, ambitious, and aggressive. . . . Tea lovers tend to prefer to be alone and at home,” said Hirsch, who later added: “Green tea lovers are outgoing, flirtatious, are more romantically compatible with those who prefer lemonade or decaf-iced tea.”

What does your coffee say about you?

A host of studies confirms the link between coffee and personality.  One recent observational study (of 1,000 coffee drinkers), led by clinical psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, found a direct link between personality type and coffee preference.  Her findings, in brief, as reported by Emily Waters (in an article at www.psychcentral.com):

·         Black coffee? old school, purist;

·         Latte drinkers? comfort seekers, people pleasers, open book;

·         Frozen/blended coffee drinks? socially bold, trendsetters;

·         Decaf/soy milk/very specifically ordered coffee?  controlling, obsessive, perfectionist;

·         Instant coffee?  laid back, procrastinate, traditional in some ways.

Similar links were found by Judi James and James Moore, in their book “The You Code.” A report at www.hubpages.com summarized their findings: 

·         Black coffee?  Sharp, neat, to the point, minimalists;

·         Espresso? Experienced, exciting, energetic, fast talkers, moody;

·         Cappuccino? cute, loving, warm, passionate, caring, creative, honest, kind, hard working;

·         Latte? super laid back, balm, supportive in a relationship, indecisive;

·         Mocha? romantics, affectionate, compassionate, insightful, can be unreliable;

·         Frappucino? adventurous, make friends easily, often life of the party;

·         Decaf Soy Milk? attention seeker, self-righteous, can be high maintenance.

The Power of Aroma?

At www.scienceofsmell.com, (the web site for Hirsch’s Foundation), several studies are cited which demonstrate the power of aroma.  Here are two examples?  

·         Jasmine Aroma – “Our team has found that individuals’ reaction times are faster when exposed to jasmine aroma than when exposed to no odor at all. The results indicate that jasmine may be useful in enhancing athletic performance and facilitating physical therapy and rehabilitation.”

·         Migraines – “Our research has found that headache patients who find the scent of green apple to be pleasant experience a significant reduction in the severity of their migraines upon inhaling the fragrance.”

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