India, Nov. 13 -- From South America to India to the Far East, chillies and spicy food are an integral part of the cuisine. But why do people enjoy exposing themselves to such food? Especially since the body's response to such food normally indicates it is not comfortable with it.

As per an article in The Guardian, the thing that gives chillies their 'hotness' is a chemical called capsaicin, and this is an irritant that is meant to protect plant seeds from being eaten by birds. When we ingest this chemical, our body sends signals that it needs to get rid of this chemical.

This results in reactions like sweating, tearing, and a runny nose. However, despite all these encumbrances, a lot of people around the world, possibly a majority, can...