You thought something felt off when you loaded those grocery bags into the trunk. Now, your back muscles are tight and the pain is excruciating—crap. To loosen things up, you could pop some ...

Capsaicin, an active compound derived from chili peppers, has gained attention in clinical research for its ability to ...

Ever wondered why spicy foods make your mouth feel like it's on fire? Ever wondered why spicy foods make your mouth feel like it's on fire? The answer lies in a chemical compound called capsaicin.

Capsaicin in spicy foods can slightly increase calorie burning and may support digestion. Eating spicy foods can also trigger symptoms in people with acid reflux and gastritis. Possible benefits from ...

Last month, hot pepper expert Ed Currie received an acknowledgement that warmed his heart. His newly bred pepper, which he dubbed “Pepper X,” had been publicly named the hottest pepper in the world by ...

Spicy foods taste spicy because they contain a family of compounds called capsaicinoids. Capsaicin is the major culprit. It’s found in chillies, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, and is even the active ...

Today’s column looks at chile heat chemistry. But first, how to classify chile. When eaten, chile is a vegetable, a fruit in horticulture but it can also be a spice. Pigments found in chile are used ...