Are you eating too much spicy food? 5 effects you need to know

Side effects of spicy food include digestive upset, headaches, and nausea. Eating too much spicy food can cause many negative effects, such as gastrointestinal distress.

Burning mouth, hot lips, watery eyes – these are just some of the obvious symptoms of spicy food that we see right after eating green peppers or red peppers. But there’s a lot going on in your body that you’re not aware of. Spicy foods are dangerous and therefore not suitable for your dinner table. They can cause digestive issues, upset stomachs, and even headaches and nausea. Of course, this all depends on your patience and how hot you can handle it. While spicy foods are a big deal in some cultures, they can often be a painful choice for people who aren’t used to that level of spiciness. Read on to find out how eating spicy foods affects our body.

What makes spicy food spicy?

Spicy foods, in general, contain a bioactive substance called capsaicin. When you bite into it, the compound activates receptors in your mouth, causing a burning sensation. Our bodies have many receptors in the skin and around the mouth. They start working when exposed to heat. Capsaicin activates these receptors, which is why we rush to a glass of water after eating green peppers. When these receptors are activated, they cause burning sensations in our mouth, skin, stomach, and around our eyes. This is why very spicy foods can make you nauseous. In fact, this study, published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, shows that repeated exposure to capsaicin and hot peppers can cause severe desensitization.

Risk of Eating Spicy Food

There is no evidence that eating spicy foods like peppers will cause any harm to the body. However, moderation is always recommended. Here are some of the ways spices affect the body.

1. Gastrointestinal distress

Eating spicy foods for a long time causes heart disease or other stomach problems. This study, published in Current Medicinal Chemistry, suggests that spicy foods may cause high blood pressure, but the exact cause needs further research. Another study, published in Scientific Research, found that taking capsaicin may cause nausea and abdominal pain in addition to stomach pain.

2. Causes gastritis or ulcers

This study, published in Food Science and Nutrition Reviews, suggests that spicy foods may not directly cause gastritis or ulcers. However, they may make them worse if you already have these conditions. Therefore, it is best to avoid spicy foods when symptoms appear.

3. Weight gain

Yes, spices can help you lose weight. However, since most spicy foods are meat-based, they can cause overeating, which can lead to weight gain. And the urge to eat spicy foods first and then sweets can affect your weight in the long run. However, some spices can also prevent sugar cravings when consumed in moderation.

4. It can cause diarrhoea

Although you may feel your mouth burning when you start eating spicy food, when the food enters the intestines, it causes rapid digestion. This causes diarrhea and pain during bowel movement.

5. It can cause headaches

A thunderclap headache may occur after eating very spicy food. This is a headache that comes on quickly and is very painful. A study published in the British Medical Journal reported that a man who ate the hottest pepper in the world suffered a headache. A CT scan showed that the man’s cerebral arteries were narrower than normal. Thunderclap headaches occur when there is a sudden change in blood pressure.

What is too spicy when it comes to food?

There is no upper limit to the amount of spicy food you can eat. It all depends on a person’s patience. However, you can’t go too far and stay within certain limits. Your daily dose of spicy food may depend on your tolerance and taste.

Who should not eat spicy foods?

People with stomach problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, and gastritis should avoid spicy foods. Spicy foods will make symptoms worse and cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Is eating spicy foods dangerous in the long run?

Eating too much spicy food, or more spicy food than you can handle, can affect your health, especially your stomach. It can cause severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, and high blood pressure. However, when it comes to life-threatening conditions, most spicy foods do not cause these illnesses if consumed in moderation.

What if you’re allergic to spicy foods?

Just think, if you ate a whole green pepper thinking it was a bean, your mouth would burst into flames. What are you doing? First of all, don’t reach for the water. Since capsaicin is oil-based, water won’t help. But you can try eating some bread, milk, or honey. Milk is a good choice because it contains casein, which breaks down capsaicin molecules. Orange or tomato juice will also work.

So should you avoid spicy foods?

Everything that is enjoyed in moderation is harmless. Spicy foods also have many benefits. They support heart health, can speed up metabolism, and have anti-inflammatory properties. In fact, they can also improve your blood sugar. Learn the benefits of eating peppers and other spices. Spicy foods are also good for weight loss. It can reduce your cravings and curb your appetite.

How to make your meals delicious without being spicy?

If you like spicy food, you can eat it in moderation. However, if you want to reduce the spice a bit, you can try these tips:

• Adding an acid like vinegar or lemon juice can help reduce the effects of capsaicin.
• Adding sweeteners like honey can help make foods less spicy and less hot.
• Adding fat in the form of oil or nut butter will help reduce the spicy taste.
• If one of your dishes is spicy, you can make your main dish a little milder, which will affect the spiciness of the entire dish.
• Adding other ingredients like vegetables and herbs, or even water, will reduce the spiciness.