Spicy fooddoes what it does thanks to an active ingredient in chili peppers called capsaicin.

People who enjoy turbo-charged spicy food swear by the mood boost they get when they eat it.

Before you think Barrus is a little nuts, there’s research to back him up.

Plate of nachos

That’s why people who consume lots of spicy dishes report feeling a “runner’s high.”

So, the next time you’re craving something vindaloo, you may just need a little pick-me-up.

Peppers at a market