Flirting with an attractive woman is not only fun, it's also good for your health. That's the finding of a new study that measured the hormonal impact of flirting on men.

Researchers at the University of California studied 149 male students between 18 and 24 years old. A third of the group talked to a male researcher while the others interacted with coeds aged 18 to 22. The psychologists then took a saliva sample from the men to measure hormone levels.

The scientists discovered that a mere five minute talk with a hottie boosted testosterone levels by 14 percent and cortisol - an anti-stress hormone - by a whopping 48 percent. Both testosterone and cortisol are associated with alertness and well being.

In contrast, the guys who spent time with the male researcher showed drops in both hormones.

Researchers have long known about a similar effect in animals, called the "mating response". The University of California scientists carried out their study to see if humans experienced the same hormonal boost.

Other studies have shown that married men or those in long-term relationships have lower testosterone levels than those still searching for a mate. Scientists believe that when men find women attractive, their brains send signals to the pituitary gland, boosting production of testosterone.

So you might just be better off chatting with your hot women friends than hanging out at the bar with your buddies.

photo credit: mark sebastian