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DEAR DOCTOR
BBC Science Focus
|December 2023
WHY DO! LOVE SPICY FOOD, WHEN IT DOESN'T ALWAYS LOVE ME? WHAT CAN DO?
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It's unlikely that spicy food will ever love you, if it doesn't already. But keep up the good work and continue to eat it regularly because as well as creating the taste sensations you crave, chilli is also good for you. Some studies suggest that people who consume it regularly are healthier and live longer than non-chilli eaters.
Beyond that, being a chilli-lover can also reveal aspects of your personality to the wider world. Research at Pennsylvania State University, US, suggests that 'sensation-seekers' with a sensitivity to reward are more likely than other types of people to turn to foods containing chilli.
This story is from the December 2023 edition of BBC Science Focus.
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