Here in Poland, I know many people who like spicy food but none that are elderly or ill.
When you are at mercy of other people (like being taken care of -- when you have medical condition or are elderly), you eat what you are given and it usually is also consumed by other people and basically vetoed by any one of them.
Think about this: it is very likely you can associate driving expensive cars with good health and less chance of dying of all causes (well... except maybe car accident). Do expensive cars improve health? Or maybe most people need to work to be able to drive expensive car and this means they also do better in their life, have means to deal with medical issues and to have varied diet that people who do not work or have low paying jobs?
I think in most western world eating spicy food is a choice and if you can make that choice and don't have to contend with what other people give you you are already ahead.
Here in Poland, I know many people who like spicy food but none that are elderly or ill.
When you are at mercy of other people (like being taken care of -- when you have medical condition or are elderly), you eat what you are given and it usually is also consumed by other people and basically vetoed by any one of them.
Think about this: it is very likely you can associate driving expensive cars with good health and less chance of dying of all causes (well... except maybe car accident). Do expensive cars improve health? Or maybe most people need to work to be able to drive expensive car and this means they also do better in their life, have means to deal with medical issues and to have varied diet that people who do not work or have low paying jobs?
I think in most western world eating spicy food is a choice and if you can make that choice and don't have to contend with what other people give you you are already ahead.