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There is little evidence that spicy food in hot countries is an adaptation to reducing infection risk

Author

Listed:
  • Lindell Bromham

    (Australian National University)

  • Alexander Skeels

    (Australian National University)

  • Hilde Schneemann

    (Australian National University
    University of Cambridge)

  • Russell Dinnage

    (Australian National University)

  • Xia Hua

    (Australian National University
    Australian National University)

Abstract

Spicier food in hot countries has been explained in terms of natural selection on human cultures, with spices with antimicrobial effects considered to be an adaptation to increased risk of foodborne infection. However, correlations between culture and environment are difficult to interpret, because many cultural traits are inherited together from shared ancestors, neighbouring cultures are exposed to similar conditions, and many cultural and environmental variables show strong covariation. Here, using a global dataset of 33,750 recipes from 70 cuisines containing 93 different spices, we demonstrate that variation in spice use is not explained by temperature and that spice use cannot be accounted for by diversity of cultures, plants, crops or naturally occurring spices. Patterns of spice use are not consistent with an infection-mitigation mechanism, but are part of a broader association between spice, health, and poverty. This study highlights the challenges inherent in interpreting patterns of human cultural variation in terms of evolutionary pressures.

Suggested Citation

  • Lindell Bromham & Alexander Skeels & Hilde Schneemann & Russell Dinnage & Xia Hua, 2021. "There is little evidence that spicy food in hot countries is an adaptation to reducing infection risk," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 5(7), pages 878-891, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:5:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-020-01039-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-01039-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Scott Claessens & Thanos Kyritsis & Quentin D. Atkinson, 2023. "Cross-national analyses require additional controls to account for the non-independence of nations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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