Most scientists believe capsaicin acts mainly as a deterrent against would-be mammal predators such as rodents. But recent research suggests this may not be the whole story. US scientists working in Bolivia have studied how hot and mild chillies differ in their susceptibility to a certain harmful fungus.
It turns out that the hotter the chilli, the better its defences against the fungus, leading the researchers to propose that heat may have evolved to help chillies deal with harmful microbes, as well as hungry mammals.
Birds, unlike mammals, are not bothered by capsaicin, and their digestive systems actually encourage chilli seeds to germinate. So when birds fly away and spread their droppings, they help the parent plant to disperse its seeds. Chillies are inherently unpleasant to humans — capsaicin is technically a neurotoxin — and yet every day, more than two billion people around the world consume them.
Our obsession with chillies can be at least partly explained by the fact that our body releases endorphins in response to the burn. Curiously, humans appreciate a number of flavours that are inherently distasteful, says Professor Joel Bornstein, a neurophysiologist from the University of Melbourne.
The more concentrated the nerve receptors in a particular part of your body, the more sensitive that part is to capsaicin. Handling the outer layer, however, is usually not painful. Fortunately for heat-seekers, it appears capsaicin does not cause permanent tissue damage, even in high doses. Close Menu. Facebook Twitter Instagram Instagram Adventure. Popular this week A long way from home: Antarctic penguin makes it all the way to New Zealand New Zealand conservationists have released an adelie penguin back into the sea after the Antarctic-based bird swam thousands of kilometres to make a rare visit.
Read All about your taste buds! Some studies point to a link between personality traits and enjoying spicy food. For example, some evidence suggests that people who are thrill seekers also enjoy the burn of spicy food!
One thing that is known is that a tolerance to spice can be learned over time. In countries like Mexico that are known for their spicy cuisine, kids are usually exposed early and often to hotter meals. As a result, they become used to spicy food and can tolerate hotter and hotter foods as they age.
Milk, yogurt or sugar can help sooth the heat in your mouth caused by spicy foods. Oh no! There are a few things you can do to cancel out the overly spicy curry you just wolfed down. The best cure for a fire in your mouth? A glass of milk. Dairy in general can help, so yogurt or cream are other options. This not only made my heart beat faster, but it also made my pupils dilate.
Every round the chillies got hotter and both of us soon dropped out. Had we been able to tolerate biting into some really hot chillies, it's possible we would have experienced a "chilli endorphin high". Endorphins are natural opiates, painkillers which are sometimes released in response to the chilli's sting.
Like opiates they are said to induce a pervasive sense of happiness. It is a form of thrill-seeking - feeding our brains' desire for stimulation. Although it is not something I have personally ever experienced, I have certainly heard it described by hard core chilli eaters.. But beyond the pain and the perverse pleasures, are there any health benefits to eating chillies?
In a recent study done by researchers from the University of Vermont they looked at data from more than 16, Americans who had filled in food questionnaires over an average of During that time nearly 5, of them had died.
This supports the finding of another recent study, carried out in China, that came to similar conclusions. The researchers speculate that it could be that capsaicin is helping increase blood flow, or even altering the mix of your gut bacteria in a helpful direction. Whatever the reason, it adds to my pleasure as I sprinkle chilli on my omelette in the morning.
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