Sorting chilli peppers at a farm in Bogra, Bangladesh

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An extra-spicy extravaganza. Chilli pepper farm, Bangladesh

The super-spicy curries of Bangladeshi cuisine start out here in the chilli fields, where workers harvest and sort red chilli peppers by hand. Once picked, the peppers are sun-dried and used whole or ground to powder. The chillis not only add a tasty kick to foods but they help kill bacteria as well. Also, hot foods actually help diners cool down: One natural reaction to capsaicin, the active chemical in chillis, is sweating, which can help chill the skin amid tropical heat.

We're visiting this chilli harvest to mark International Hot and Spicy Food Day, which falls today. Whether you're already a huge chilli fan or just looking to broaden your spicy-food horizons, today's the day to try that super spicy curry or a burrito with habanero salsa - or if you're a fan of blander foods, maybe just switch up the heat with a Spice Girls or Red Hot Chili Peppers tune.