why we love spicy foods - because they are the new celebrities of the food world - by Mike

Why We Love Spicy Foods

Why We Love Spicy Foods is no longer a question. Spicy is the new star of every restaurant and every grocery store, from Wicked Wings at Fridays to Chipotle BBQ Snack Wrap at McDonald's. Have you seen the Spicy Guacamole Pringles lining the shelves at your local grocery chain? Spices, hot sauces and eye-watering concoctions are invading every aspect of our life.

Why is everything so hot? The big seller in the "Vosges Chocolates" is now cayenne chocolates. The common peanut is doing a hot dance with the introduction of Chili-Thai Lime peanuts. Coming to "Southwest Airlines" soon - you and I wish this was true. But seriously, our life is being invaded by these sinus-clearing, brow-moistening food enhancers, and no one is quite sure why.

There are theories that cayenne is becoming the darling of spices, and responsible for its trendy inclusion in everything edible. Other theories suggest we are being influenced by immigrants taste in foods. Food researchers and marketers have a different idea.

As we age our taste buds need a greater stimulus to taste what they tasted before. It's the Boomers with their bottomless checking accounts who are driving the new trend toward hotter and spicier food. As their olfactory buds diminish in power, the Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) have moved toward bolder and more flavorful foods. With 80 million in their group and the fact that they are richest age segment to ever live on earth, the market is responding by, well, making everything hot.

Las Vegas has excellent spicy restaurants: Hot N'Juicy, Lotus of Siam, Mesa Grill, Archi's Thai Kitchen, Social House at Treasure Island, B&B Ristornate at the Venetian, Firefly on Paradise, Gandhi's, and Ichiza to name a few. I have mentioned ones I know and love and that other diners keep on their favorites' list. B&B Ristornate is pretty expensive, but their spaghettini with spicy budding chives, sweet garlic and a 1-lb lobster is outstanding!

Let me tell you, there is a lot of talk about the spice turmeric amongst the hard science circles. Turmeric is the main ingredient in most Indian sauces. Someone has finally noticed that Indians have 75% less Alzheimer's than Americans. And the most likely reason is the anti-inflammatory ingredient of curcumin in turmeric. Maybe the boomers are only trying to remember what the past was like, not re-live it. Maybe you will see a new marketing on chips, Fritos, Pringles packaging: "Eat to remember." Maybe I am not eating enough spicy foods, I can't remember Why We Love Spicy Foods.