Definition
Drawing from the insights that bacterial growth is promoted by higher temperatures and spices can inhibit or kill bacteria, the antimicrobial hypothesis of spices argues that cultures in warmer regions of the world are more likely to include spices in their recipes (and benefit from the antimicrobial properties of spices) relative to cultures in cooler regions.
Introduction
Pathogenic microbes, such as disease-causing bacteria and viruses, have posed a threat to the health and reproduction of many organisms for as long as microbes have existed, thereby constituting a significant recurring adaptive problem (Thomas et al. 2012). In turn, the selection pressure imposed by pathogenic microbes gives rise to various physiological and behavioral adaptations that facilitate the prevention of microbial infections, such as the immune system, feelings of disgust, and avoidance instincts (e.g.,...
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References
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Yong, C.F., Yong, J.C. (2019). Antimicrobial Hypothesis, The. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2953-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2953-1
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