Aarti Jhurani

Eating something that makes you sweat when the weather already does a fine job of it may seem counterintuitive. But for decades, researchers have debated whether that sweat is precisely the point – or whether the relationship between hot climates and spicy food is more myth than biological adaptation. One influential explanation emerged in 1998, when researchers Jennifer Billing and Paul Sherman examined 4,578 meat-based recipes from 36 countries.

Sparkling blue waters, a sense of tranquillity and luxurious experiences are synonymous with an island-resort holiday in the Maldives. With hundreds of properties to choose from, I recently checked into JA Manafaru on Haa Alif, the northernmost atoll in the country. I am greeted by a member of the hotel’s staff at Male's Velana International Airport, from where I am whisked away to the seaplane terminal.

In my teens, I thought people in their forties were almost done with life – they had the house, the car and the kids; they had ticked off society’s checklist and were basically just waiting it out until it was time to kick the bucket. I turned 41 last month, and it’s safe to say I have strayed off the conventional path. I don't own a house, I have no children and I haven't done half the things I want to. And, hopefully, I'm nowhere near the end of my days.