The Science Behind Why We Eat Spicy Food Even If It Hurts

emy on Unsplash" />Curry plated up beside some red chillies.I once turned to my partner as he tucked into a spicy takeaway meal and asked him, “How does that actually feel? Like, in your mouth? Does it hurt sometimes?”I had expected him to say no, that it wasn’t painful, just gave him a bit of a thrill. Instead he responded that yes, it was sometimes painful but that was part of the joy of it. Now, as somebody that has found certain barbecue sauces a bit much, this baffled me. You eat it almost because it’s painful? Hmm. It turns out that there is actually real science behind this though and my partner’s questionable tastebuds are completely normal. Maybe I’m the weird one? Probably not worth overthinking it...Spicy food hurts, but in a good way“Most spicy food will contain the chemical capsaicin – it’s found in things like chillies or jalapeño peppers and acts as a deterrent to mammals who might snack on them and prevent further crops from growing,” experts at BBC Bitesize explained.“When our receptors detect capsaicin, it triggers a reaction. It’s not unlike what would happen if we ate something before it cooled down and it can leave the mouth feeling incredibly hot.”You’re telling me.For some people though, this results in a (rather bizarre) rush of endorphins. Writing for The Conversation, Paul Terry, Professor of Epidemiology at University of Tennessee Health Science Center, explained: “The pain produced by spicy food can provoke the body to release endorphins and dopamine. This release can prompt a sense of relief or even a degree of euphoria.”But the professor warned that “if spicy foods are uncomfortable to eat, or cause unpleasant symptoms like migraines, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, then it’s probably best to avoid those foods”.“Spicy food may cause these symptoms in people with inflammatory bowel diseases, for example,” he added.There are health benefits linked to spicy foods, tooIf you do enjoy spicy food, the good news is there are actually quite a lot of health benefits associated with eating it. According to BBC Good Food, some of these include:Reduced blood pressureHealthy weight managementReduced risk of metabolic syndromeImproved gut microbiomeAnti-ageing benefitsHeals stomach ulcersReduces painAnti-cancer benefitsImproves blood glucose levelsReduces the risk of heart diseaseI am happy for you all.Related...So THAT’s Why Spicy Food Makes Your Nose RunCan Food Actually Be TOO Spicy? Doctors Explain What It Can Do To Your Body.Wish Your Kid Would Eat Spicy Food? Here's What (And What NOT) To Do

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