Each of us has a different attitude to spicy food. Some people like to tickle their nerves and taste buds, while others find it difficult to eat even lightly spiced food. And how does spicy food affect the body as a whole? Is there any benefit from such food or is it only a strain and harm to the body?
Spicy foods (especially hot peppers) contain capsaicin. This substance helps dilate blood vessels and improves heart function. In addition, capsaicin helps the immune system destroy pathogens that may enter the digestive tract with food.
Although spicy food can be beneficial, it should not be abused. According to experts, spicy food can affect the body both positively and aggressively.
Thus, people who should avoid spicy food include:
- People suffering from chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: all because the increased production of gastric juice can only increase inflammation, in addition, spicy food irritates the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract. Especially spicy foods can cause a lot of GI problems for people with irritable bowel syndrome. Also, if a person has diarrhea, spicy food of any kind is contraindicated in the diet.
- It is better for those who have problems with the gallbladder to avoid hot spices, as spices stimulate gastric secretion and increase acidity levels.
- Patients with chronic hepatitis are often prone to diseases of the esophagus, stomach, intestines and other digestive organs. It is better for such patients to avoid spicy food. But if you really want to, you should try not to eat spicy food on an empty stomach to reduce the risk that it will stimulate the gastric mucosa.
- Sufferers of rosacea (facial redness) medics also advise to refrain from spicy food, as it provokes the expansion of blood vessels located close to the skin, which causes aggravation.
- In case of inflammation or mouth sores, spicy foods should be excluded from the diet, in addition to acidic or bitter foods.
How will you feel if you eat something that is too spicy for you?
The first thing a person feels is a sharp bitterness, a burning sensation on the tongue, sometimes a brief loss of taste and numbness. It feels like a hot metal has been inserted into the esophagus. Inability to normally perceive normal food with the taste buds. This is essentially a hot pepper burn, resulting from the large amount of capsaicin. If at this point you ask the endoscopist to look at the state of the mucous membrane of the stomach and esophagus, there will be a pronounced picture of edema: hyperemia, redness. Sometimes even a picture of acute gastritis.
From too spicy food people do not die, but even in a healthy person excess spices can provoke an allergic reaction or even cause gastric and duodenal ulcers.
Do you like spicy food? Have you ever experienced unpleasant sensations after eating spicy food? Why?
To ensure that the harm of spicy food does not exceed its beneficial properties, it is recommended to eat it in moderation. Learn to add spices in reasonable quantities, and then you will be able to eat delicious food while maximizing the benefits to your body.