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Why do some humans love chili peppers?

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Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#171

Post by throwaway4PP »

wizofaus wrote: post #164
epgui wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Biochemist who went to med school: very hot beverages will indeed cause tissue damage, and can cause oral cancer. Though English uses the same word to describe both (“hot”), there is no relationship between “spicy” food and high temperature stuff, apart from the fact that they both stimulate pain receptors (but in very different ways, one being harmful and the other being harmless).

When you say harmful are you suggesting the pain receptors themselves are damaged by "spicy" substances? Is that why we develop increased tolerance? Though many people don't seem to, even after 40 or 50 years or eating spicy foods on an at least weekly basis.

Pain receptors that are activated by burning are indicating something harmful is occurring to your body not because the receptor is actually activated, but because of the cellular damage that triggers the receptor.

On the other hand, capsaicin doesn't activate pain receptors by cellular damage. It activates pain receptors by allowing a flood of (Na+? Ca2+?) ions through cellular walls. This triggers the pain receptors to fire without the cell damage. That is a laymen's description of reference [1].

It's interesting because the biochemistry of spicy foods differs by the 'spicy' compound. Capsaicin isn't the only one at play, wasabi and horseradish-containing foods have an entirely different molecule responsible for producing the spicy sensation, allyl isothiocyanate.[2] If you're a fan of spicy peppers and horseradish, you have definitely noticed the difference in how the 'heat' manifests: capsaicin-containing foods cause areas of damaged skin or mucus membranes to feel painful, usually localized in the mouth or around nail beds of those preparing the peppers.

Horseradish on the other hand, with it's spicy-ness provided by allyl isothiocyanate, produces a heat that - for me - is more located in the back of the head or in the upper sinus cavities. A completely different sensation than that of capsaicin.

Unfortunately, I don't know what the biochemical method of action is to produce those feelings. I'm sure it is buried deep in the literature, but it isn't on the wiki.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin#Mechanism_of_action

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyl_isothiocyanate

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#172

Post by wizofaus »

bergenty wrote: post #170
wizofaus wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd love to see someone peel and chop enough carrots for a worthwhile snack in seconds! How do you chop chickpeas?

Oh come one, I obviously don’t chop the lima beans or chickpeas. I don’t peel carrots, wash and then chop in under 20 seconds per carrot literally. If I want to make them really fine I use a peeler to thinly slice them into discs (I’ve gotten very good at this, can probably do a carrot in a minute. I don’t have a mandolin slicer).

Actually with a mandolin and skipping peeling you literally could do a carrot in 4 or 5 seconds, but the slices tend to be so thin you'd have trouble eating them as finger food. Anyway I'm keen to try your suggestion.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#173

Post by morelisp »

cpach wrote: post #89
stared wrote: post #77

Well, at least for me, it is simple: a controlled pain sensation, in low quantities, giving a sense of excitement (even thinking about it gives me a tingling sensation and makes my mouth full of saliva), in higher - followed by a flood of endorphins. It is essentially getting high on locally-produced painkillers. From anecdata, chili-loving is strongly correlated with sensation seeking, or rather: the balance between…

This. A former co-worker loved chili. He also loved psychedelic mushrooms and other drugs, and he pondered if there was some kind of connection there, that perhaps it was the case that chili gave him a way to experience a similar kind of thrill in a safer, more controlled way.

Teach me, chile, and I shall Learn.

Take me, chile, and I shall Escape.

Focus my eyes, chile, and I shall See.

I feel no pain, for the chile is my teacher.

I feel no pain, for the chile takes me beyond myself.

I feel no pain, for the chile gives me sight.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#174

Post by bergenty »

wizofaus wrote: post #172
bergenty wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oh come one, I obviously don’t chop the lima beans or chickpeas. I don’t peel carrots, wash and then chop in under 20 seconds per carrot literally. If I want to make them really fine I use a peeler to thinly slice them into discs (I’ve gotten very good at this, can probably do a carrot in a minute. I don’t have a mandolin slicer).

Actually with a mandolin and skipping peeling you literally could do a carrot in 4 or 5 seconds, but the slices tend to be so thin you'd have trouble eating them as finger food. Anyway I'm keen to try your suggestion.

Yeah I really need to get one.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#175

Post by virgildotcodes »

rocket_surgeron wrote: post #163

My question isn't "why do some humans love chili peppers"? Spicy is tasty. My question is "why do some people love ASSBLASTER 9000 NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST hot sauce"? You know, the kind that comes with a warning on it. The difference is like sipping on a cocktail while the guy next to you chugs pure ethanol.

As a guy who loves assblaster sauce, it’s just so good.

Not entirely sure I can communicate why I love super spicy stuff, but I do love the flavor of most chilis, and the intensity of the experience borders on the euphoric when the fumes are causing nearby people to react like they’ve been tear gassed.

I guess it’s a delicious way to get high?

Unfortunately after all this time my colon has not gotten nearly as desensitized to the heat as the other side of my GI tract.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#176

Post by epgui »

wizofaus wrote: post #164
epgui wrote: post #116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Biochemist who went to med school: very hot beverages will indeed cause tissue damage, and can cause oral cancer. Though English uses the same word to describe both (“hot”), there is no relationship between “spicy” food and high temperature stuff, apart from the fact that they both stimulate pain receptors (but in very different ways, one being harmful and the other being harmless).

When you say harmful are you suggesting the pain receptors themselves are damaged by "spicy" substances? Is that why we develop increased tolerance? Though many people don't seem to, even after 40 or 50 years or eating spicy foods on an at least weekly basis.

No, I said nothing of the sort. High temperatures are harmful, capsaicin is not.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#177

Post by JohnFen »

nicolas_t wrote: post #85
evnix wrote: post #2

shouldn't it be most humans? China and India and most of asia have chilli peppers and so does africa. It is the minority that cannot tolerate chillies. prior to chillies, black pepper, ginger and garlic was used and if used in appropriate quantities gives you a similar result. chillies are just a lot more economical to grow.

What's interesting is that even among cultures that eat very spicy food, some absolutely cannot tolerate it. I have a friend from Chengdu and some friends in Malaysia who cannot eat anything spicy. It makes it hard for them to eat food outside and they've had to learn by trial and error the restaurants that can actually limit the amount of spiciness.

I've found that my tolerance for spicy depends entirely on the spice. Chili peppers? Intolerable to me. Even "mild" dishes are too uncomfortable, and anything spicier is impossible for me to eat.

On the other hand, horseradish or wasabi is no problem even in high concentrations. Black pepper is no problem as well.

It seems to me that there must be a biochemical reason for the differences.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#178

Post by lock-the-spock »

djhaskin987 wrote: post #132

I have a deviated septum and allergies. My nose gets plugged up pretty quickly. Peppers make it much easier to keep things clear up there. It gets to the point where I start to crave peppers. I rarely eat a meal without some kind of hot sauce. I've been leaning more towards Sriracha until this year's shortage, then reverted to Tabasco.

Try making your own sauces! Fry some chillies with a lot of oil and add some salt - that's it. In a glass that lasts forever. You can add other spices or e.g. peanuts or small tofu pieces for more flavour and texture. Works with fresh chillies but also with dried ones, which makes it super cheap - you'll get a kg bag at your local Indian/chinese shop for next to nothing. ou can vary it with different ingredients, powder vs chopped vs whole chillies, remove the seeds for more fruity and less spicy flavour, ..

Store the result in a strong condiment/jam glass (you don't want it leaking..). Also makes a great gift.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#179

Post by wizofaus »

epgui wrote: post #176
wizofaus wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you say harmful are you suggesting the pain receptors themselves are damaged by "spicy" substances? Is that why we develop increased tolerance? Though many people don't seem to, even after 40 or 50 years or eating spicy foods on an at least weekly basis.

No, I said nothing of the sort. High temperatures are harmful, capsaicin is not.

Sure, it read a little ambiguously to me sorry.

Re: Why do some humans love chili peppers?

#180

Post by everforward »

virgildotcodes wrote: post #175
rocket_surgeron wrote: post #163

My question isn't "why do some humans love chili peppers"? Spicy is tasty. My question is "why do some people love ASSBLASTER 9000 NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST hot sauce"? You know, the kind that comes with a warning on it. The difference is like sipping on a cocktail while the guy next to you chugs pure ethanol.

As a guy who loves assblaster sauce, it’s just so good. Not entirely sure I can communicate why I love super spicy stuff, but I do love the flavor of most chilis, and the intensity of the experience borders on the euphoric when the fumes are causing nearby people to react like they’ve been tear gassed. I guess it’s a delicious way to get high? Unfortunately after all this time my colon has not gotten nearly as desens…

Out of curiosity, what's your experience of the effects? I tried a toothpick covered in that hot sauce that comes in a flashbang-like container, and the pain was serious. Not intolerable, but akin to a burn that would blister all over the inside of my mouth.

Do you feel less pain than that? Or is the pain just worth it?

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