The challenges of eating spicy peppers on TikTok have sparked many questions about the harm that consuming hot foods and sauces might cause. Does spicy pepper actually harm the body? One nutrition expert from the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio suggests that although spicy peppers can burn the tongue and lead to some gastrointestinal discomfort as they pass through the digestive tract, they can actually help improve long-term health.
Capsaicin, the compound in peppers that causes that distinctive heat, is an oil-like chemical that binds to pain receptors on the tongue and throughout the digestive system. It's capsaicin that makes your brain feel like it's burning when you bite into a jalapeño. Nutritionist Gina Metalonis explained, "But capsaicin doesn’t actually burn you; rather, it tricks your brain into believing a temperature change has occurred, leading to sensations of heat and pain." She added, "It's just your body’s attempt to cool down and get rid of the symptoms caused by the unforgettable spice, such as a runny nose, sweating, watery eyes, and even drooling."
The study found that while eating spicy food, the body's temperature actually rises in an effort to cool the body down. Capsaicin typically separates from the pain receptors in the mouth after about 20 minutes, but then a whole new set of symptoms can begin as it starts to move through the digestive system, potentially causing a burning sensation in the chest, hiccups, swelling of the throat, nausea, vomiting, painful bowel movements, and even diarrhea.
However, experts believe that the short-term struggle may be worth it in the long run. According to Metalonis, research has shown that those who eat spicy food six times a week had a lower risk of early death compared to those who had spicy food less than once a week. The benefits included lower cholesterol, a decreased chance of heart disease, improved stomach and gut health, and even weight loss. However, while these studies found correlations, they did not prove causation.
Capsaicin is also a key ingredient in many pain relief medications used to treat conditions from arthritis to fibromyalgia to headaches. According to Metalonis, the good news is that for most healthy individuals, even those participating in extreme challenges involving the consumption of spicy peppers to set records, eating spicy foods does not pose any significant or lasting risks to health and typically does not require medical treatment.
