Hot and Spicy Foods: The Pleasure and the Pain

Whether we prefer our food spicy and how often we consume spicy foods depends on our genes, cultural background and, of course, on our personal taste. Traditionally, spicy food is consumed more frequently in South America, Asia and Africa than in Europe. Cultural conditioning thus helps to shape personal preference and habituation. In warm countries, hot and spicy foods also help to lower the body's skin temperature by increasing sweat production.