Could chili really be the spice of longer life?
Recent research suggests that people who regularly eat spicy food may have a lower risk of premature death from cancer or coronary and respiratory diseases, but some experts are warning that excessive consumption could result in other illnesses. Shan Juan and Cheng Yingqi report.
Sit down in any restaurant in any Chinatown in a Western country and it's a fair bet that if you are not ethnically Chinese or don't speak reasonable Mandarin you will be offered the "regular menu", featuring localized versions of favorites such as sweet and sour chicken and other adapted dishes.
It's long been known that almost every Chinese restaurant in Western countries has a "secret" menu offering authentic food that only Chinese customers are thought likely to enjoy; such as noodles in a spicy broth as red as a fire truck.
