Today's interesting fact has to do with pregnant women and an old wives tale.

Even today, pregnant women are told that if they have a curry, it will either induce the birthing process, or reduce the time it takes to give birth.

While there is some evidence that a hot curry can start the process, there has been no evidence the length of the process is reduced at all and the chemical compounds within the various spices also have another effect.

When a woman gives birth, her body produces various endorphins and chemicals that reduce the amount of pain she experiences during the birth.

Unfortunately the various compounds within the curry, stop the endorphins produced from stopping the pain.

So the result is, while a curry may help start birthing, it means the woman in question feels all the pain, instead of having the pain reduced, as she would normally.