The health benefits of spicy food could not have been further from my mind. But emerging research links chili peppers—if consumed more reasonably than I did at that restaurant—to better health.

Whether it’s jalapeno poppers or spicy chili, hot foods go best with cold drinks. But which beer is works best to tame the heat? Psst, it’s not an IPA.

Q: I eat spicy food almost every day. I love the taste and the tingle, but I wonder: How is all that heat affecting my body? Eating spicy food can produce a variety of physiological reactions ...