It has been scientifically proven that spices prevent our food from spoilage and thus, north Indian foods tend to be so spicy. Bacteria and foodborne pathogens cannot survive in a hot environment, which is provided by spices. Countries with a hotter climate have comparatively spicy cuisine. Is Indian food actually spicy? It is simply untrue that Indian food is always hot and spicy. While spices are used in Indian cooking, they are not what makes food spicy. As for chiles (which add the heat to a dish), they are a matter of preference and can easily be omitted from most recipes.