Yeah, I knew a guy out west who specially prided himself on his ability to chew up the hottest peppers with gusto, and he was VERY macho. Yessiree. He was constantly daring all the other men to eat those peppers.

There may indeed be something to it on an energetic level...as I've noticed that men with the most fiery personalities often like eating hot spiced food. Hot foods are also said to be helpful in combating cold weather, and I think there might be something to that.

The Eastern books I've read about diet have an interesting comment about that. They talk about Yin and Yang energies in food. Yin tends to be cool, tranquil, and calm...it is associated with sweet or mild foods and with flowing water...and the female forces. Yang tends to be hot, aggressive, and active...it is associated with salty or spicy foods and with fire...and the male forces. Yin is also alkaline, while Yang is acidic.

An excess of either Yin or Yang in one's life leads to health problems. So does an insufficient amount of either. Extremes are always harmful. An individual is healthiest (and wisest) when balancing Yin and Yang in equal measure.

Our modern food industry bounces people back and forth between massive infusions of Yin (refined sugar in food and alcohol) and equally massive infusions of Yang (overuse of salt and hot spices).

When you overbalance on either Yin or Yang, one of two things can happen. You either become chronically addicted to the overbalance...or you get hit with cravings to overbalance in the opposite direction with a hit of the opposite type...and you get addicted to the energy swings that result.

I don't know whether the modern food industry knows that, but they're certainly acting like they do, and it helps them sell more of what they push, which is essentially a gigantic drug trade which bounces you back and forth between huge amounts of salt and sugar...both of which are quite harmful when taken to excess.