Summertime is, to me, synonymous with spicy peanut noodles, which I've been making every summer since I was allowed to cook pasta by myself. I love them so much that they almost make suffering through vicious, swampy heat and humidity feel worthwhile. Almost.

The BMJ recently published a case report about a 34-year-old man admitted to an emergency room in Cooperstown, NY with thunderclap headaches; a particularly painful kind that can be a sign of cerebral haemorrhaging. His symptoms included dry heaving and intense head and neck pain.

The man traced his anguish to a chilli eating contest a few days prior where he consumed a single Carolina Reaper, the Guinness World Record holder for the world's hottest chilli.

There are chillies you know are going to be spicy and chillies you know are not, but then there are the chillies that could be mild, hot, or "please remove my tongue from my mouth and place it in a glass of ice milk". Luckily, there is an easy way to predict the spicy outcome, and it was right under our noses all along.

Spicy food is the best food, but between the painful capsaicinoids, the bloating from drinking too much water, and the inevitable sweating, spicy food can also be uncomfortable to eat. Here are some tips to enjoy the spice without the bloating, sweat and tears.

Alcohol is not the best thing to reach for if your food is too spicy for you. But if you love the burn of spicy food and want to intensify the flavour of your meal, a glass of wine can compliment it well.