Genetically, some people are born with fewer receptors for capsaicin, which is the compound that makes hot foods taste and feel hot. These lucky individuals start life with built-in advantages.

Some people seriously love spicy food. Whenever they eat somewhere that gives them the option of a spice level, they choose the highest. At home, they put hot sauce on pretty much everything, even ...

News flash: Your mouth isn't actually on fire when eating spicy foods, but your brain certainly tells you it is. Spicy foods sound off fire alarms in the brain, leading to all sorts of extreme — and ...