Q: I eat spicy food almost every day. I love the taste and tingle, but I wonder what effect this heat is having on my body.
David Julius, a physiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, said eating spicy foods can cause a variety of physiological reactions, including tingling on the tongue and lips and sweating.
“We all enjoy sensory experiences. Spicy food makes life more interesting,” he said.
But even for those who enjoy the taste, not all potential reactions are welcome.
Here’s what we know about how spicy foods affect your body, both positively and negatively.
sweat
If you like spicy food, you’re probably familiar with the immediate physical reaction that occurs: sweating.
That’s because some of the spiciest foods contain heat-activated compounds that bind to nerve receptors along the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth.
Chili peppers, which are central to the flavor of many spicy dishes, contain a compound called capsaicin, which binds to receptors when eaten, as Dr. Julius discovered in his Nobel Prize-winning research on the subject. Sends pain signals to the brain.
The main chemicals in peppercorns, horseradish, and mustard also bind to the same receptors, although less potently.
These nerves send signals to the brain similar to what would happen if you were exposed to real fire. As a result, you may start sweating and your face may turn red. That’s how you cool your body.
“Capsaicin tricks the body into thinking it’s warmer, and the brain thinks it needs to lose heat,” Dr. Julius says. “In humans, we do this primarily by sweating.”
May cause gastrointestinal upset
Eating spicy foods in moderation is generally safe for people who don’t have stomach problems. However, it can cause inflammation in areas that help with digestion, causing heartburn, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
People with gastritis, which is caused by inflammation of the lining of the stomach, may be particularly susceptible to worsening abdominal pain.
More research is needed, but may have health benefits
Research has shown that consuming spicy foods can have positive health effects. For example, one study found that taking a daily capsaicin supplement (the equivalent of 4-5 habanero peppers) boosted metabolism, helping participants burn the equivalent of 200 extra calories per day for 14 weeks.
And in a 2022 study of more than 6,000 adults, scientists found that chile consumption was associated with decreased calcium buildup in the walls of the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart.
However, it is unclear whether eating spicy foods regularly can reduce the chance of obesity and heart attack in the long term.
The evidence is mixed whether spicy foods increase or decrease the risk of cancer. Some studies have found that daily consumption of chili is associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, but not stomach or colorectal cancer.
Additionally, some experiments conducted on cells in the lab have shown that capsaicin and piperine, chemicals found in pepper grains, may help inhibit or destroy human breast cancer cells. However, scientists do not yet know whether these discoveries will one day lead to potential treatments.
A study published in 2015 surveyed nearly 500,000 people in China and found that those who ate spicy food 6 to 7 times a week over several years had lower risk of eating spicy food than those who ate spicy food less than once. It was found that the risk of death was reduced by 14%. Week by week.
The researchers believe these results may be related to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of spicy foods, which may protect against many health conditions such as diabetes and certain types of cardiovascular disease. I thought there was.
In rare cases, extreme reactions may occur
In rare cases, very hot peppers can cause extreme physiological reactions such as thundering headaches or vomiting severe enough to burst the esophagus, but such situations are not common for the average person or for hot peppers. Not the target.
If you have a bite of unbearably spicy food, Dr. Julius says it’s best to reach for something with a higher fat content, such as a glass of milk or a spoonful of sour cream.
Capsaicin is a fat-soluble compound, so no matter how much you drink it, it doesn’t dissolve in water.
“Eating something that contains fat when you’re in pain helps pull capsaicin out of your tissues,” he said. “Water usually doesn’t help much at that point.”
Dr. Julius added that it’s important to respect your own limits and not overestimate how much heat your body can absorb. With the right balance, you’ll find that mild charring makes for a satisfying meal.
And whether you eat it for health or taste, experts say if you like spicy food and your body can tolerate it, there’s no reason to avoid it.
