I would just add, that tolerance is worth developing. You get a new world of flavors open to you, but also you get this wonderfully stimulating sensation which can help you feel good, but isn't necessarily fatty or sugary.

It also has the added bonus of stimulating your intestines. Good for when you are feeling unhealthy.

I cook with more peppers when I feel indicators of a possible cold or flu. It seems to help. I have also read claims of it eroding arterial plaque and lowering cholesterol. Only non-suspect study a quick Goog turned up was a NIH study on lowering cholesterol on rabbits(it did!).

Anecdotally, it definitely helps to speed things along to recovery. I also find spicy food ironically helps in very hot, dry weather.

It also makes the deserts' relative cold months more tolerable. Probably not a good idea in northerly parts where sweating on a sub-0 day/night might be a hazard.

I didn't even consider that, thanks for a new perspective. Good point about sweating in freezing weather though, you're right, you definitely want to stay as dry as possible in (for example) the boreal forests of Canada.