Masculinity and meat are linked in the male mind, says a new study.

Meat and masculinity are intimately linked in the male mind, says a new study.

The research found that male consumers believed that meat had masculine qualities, whereas vegetables were seen as feminine.

"To the strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American male, red meat is a strong, traditional, macho, bicep-flexing, All-American food," the report said, according to Medical XPress.

"Soy is not."

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University and Louisiana State, conducted experiments using words men used in association with certain foods.

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They also analyzed 23 languages that used gendered pronouns to see if words relating to meats were more masculine.

Most languages related meat to the male gender it was found, the Independent reported.

Meat-eating was also associated with strength and power, whereas vegetables were seen as weak.

According to ABC News, the reasons could be that meat consumption is linked to hunting – a typically male activity in humans.

The findings suggest that getting men to eat a healthier, plant-based diet is particularly difficult.

The recommend trying to sell vegetarian options by giving them more masculine appeal, like giving soy burgers grill marks, reported National Geographic.

The study was published in the Journal of Consumer Research.