65 h. ago Why do people love spicy food – even when it hurts to eat it?

Tearing up, sweating and other bodily functions are all signs that the body is trying to expel spicy foods as quickly as possible. But there is a simple reason why some people enjoy those sensationsThe first thing to understand about eating spicy food is that it really isn’t a matter of taste. Capsaicin, the active chemical in capsicum plants that are a key ingredient in anything you’d think of as “spicy”, evolved as an irritant to stop mammals from chewing and destroying plant seeds. It acts on the nervous system directly through receptors in the tongue, throat and skin – no taste buds required – and, in theory, tells our bodies that the thing we’ve just ingested is something to get rid of as soon as possible. The obvious question, then, is: why do some of us like the sensation so much?To start to understand that, it’s helpful to know a bit more about what’s going on in the body. “Think of an engineering brief where we have to detect irritants in a system and clear them rapidly,” s...

Politics

5 d. ago Mashed potatoes are smoother and tastier when 2 fridge staples are added

A culinary expert shared a straightforward method for making the perfect mashed potatoes, and it involves just two key ingredients

Politics

1 week ago Scrambled eggs will be perfectly creamy if you ditch milk for 1 ingredient

Scrambled eggs are a breakfast staple, but many people are making a big mistake when it comes to cooking them.

Events

2 w. ago The grim reality behind the production of key ingredient in many cosmetics

Seaweed has been farmed off Zanzibar for decades, but there is a new boom underway

Events

2 w. ago HelloFresh recipe developer says 2 ingredients are key to tasty shepherd's pie

If you're a fan of shepherd's pie, there's a simple way you can make the classic dish taste even better. It's all down to the mashed potato topping, according to HelloFresh's Mimi Morley

Events

2 w. ago Three chefs say gravy will taste so much better if you add one key ingredient

One top chef says he can’t cook without this much-loved ingredient, which enhances gravy and countless other meals

Events

3 w. ago Are hand sanitisers the next thing to be banned by the EU? Key ingredient under scrutiny 'due to cancer risk'

EU health officials proposed getting rid of or replacing products containing the ingredient over cancer concerns and the increased risk of pregnancy complications.

Events

3 w. ago Easy Halloween party treats with 1 key ingredient that won't cost a fortune

A poll has found that Halloween is now the second most popular family event of the year, with many planning to go all out with decorations and food.

Events

3 w. ago 5 simple Halloween snack recipes with just 1 main ingredient for family fun

Why not try these simple but effective recipes that use just one key ingredient in a variety of different ways.

Society

3 w. ago Halloween party food: 5 simple recipes to make with one key ingredient

Halloween is now the second most popular family event of the year after Christmas, with the majority of households going 'all out' - here are five recipes to impress this year's party goers.

Society

3 w. ago Struggling with dry, sore hands? Skin doctors reveal the key ingredients in creams that soothe and prevent future flare

Cold weather can affect our hands in a variety of ways, leaving them red raw and chapped, or making them feel uncomfortably dry-but a leading dermatologist says it is possible to find relief.

Events

3 w. ago Hair loss sufferer 'would definitely recommend' £20 tablets that work in 'weeks'

The hair loss treatment has been formulated by nutritionists and contains 14 key ingredients including MSM, AnaGain, Saw Palmetto, Silica, Alfalfa, Zinc and Biotin Saw Palmetto

Economics

3 w. ago How to tell if beauty products are actually worth the money according to expert

Beauty CEO Georgina Tang has shared some insight into what to look out for when shopping for skincare and haircare products, and some key ingredients to look out for

Politics

3 w. ago Gordon Ramsay's 'extra creamy' scrambled eggs with one key ingredient

Gordon Ramsay has shared his simple recipe for the best ever scrambled eggs – and there's one key ingredient to make them extra creamy.

Events

3 w. ago 'Silky smooth' scrambled eggs recipe is 'completely different' you just need to ditch 1 thing

Scrambled eggs should be creamy, silky and bursting with flavour - but it's easy to get them wrong. One simple change could be the key to perfect scrambled eggs

Society

4 w. ago Woman, 53, thought she ruined her hair forever until she found 65p

Dr Vegan's Hair Saviour is a plant-based, 100% vegan, science-backed tablet that combines 14 key ingredients

Politics