Spicy is a very special flavor, some people stay at a respectful distance from each other, some people are not happy with spicy food, and others want to eat but worry about affecting their health.
Today, let’s talk about [spicy].
In addition to chili, pepper, ginger and so on also produce [spicy] feeling, but only the spicy of chili will be discussed here, and the spicy produced by other substances will not be discussed.
[Spicy], is a kind of pain
There is a substance in chili called capsaicin, which is also called capsaicin.
The content of different varieties of chili varies greatly, which leads to chili [some are spicy and some are not spicy]. Capsaicin is a wax-like substance with low solubility in water and is easily soluble in oil and alcohol.
In our mouth and skin, there are some specific nerve receptors that can bind to capsaicin. After binding, corresponding nerve signals will be generated.
This signal system is very close to pain, but far from taste and smell.
Therefore, spicy is a sense of pain, not taste.
Eating spicy food is addictive.
Spicy is a kind of pain. We all don’t want [pain], why do we love [spicy] deeply?
Scientists’ explanation for this is:
There are many areas in the brain. Neurons that sense pain and pleasure overlap. Both pain and pleasure stimulate dopamine neurons. After the pain caused by spicy food has passed, these neurons will release endorphins, thus producing pleasure.
To put it simply, eating spicy food can make people happy. The more you eat, the better you feel. The more you eat, the more you want to eat.
Eating spicy food can be practiced.
However, the body has a [tolerance threshold] for spicy. Beyond this threshold, there will be only [pain] and no [speed].
This threshold is different for everyone. A high threshold means “being able to eat spicy food” and a low threshold means “not being able to eat spicy food”.
Whether a person can eat spicy food has something to do with genes-after all, the status of nerve receptors is mainly determined by genes.
However, the human body will have certain adaptability to pain. Gradually adapting will raise the tolerance threshold for chili, gradually changing from [less spicy] to [spicy].
If you like spicy food but [your heart is more than you can do], you can start practicing from slightly spicy food, and maybe one day you can [eat spicy food] max.
Is spicy good for health?
When we are ill, doctors often tell us [avoid spicy diet], and many people will also struggle: does this mean that eating spicy food is not conducive to health?
The relationship between chili and health has also been debated in academia.
Earlier studies suggested that [there may be a relationship between eating chili and gastric cancer]. However, these studies have some design defects, which in themselves cannot explain that eating chili can cause gastric cancer.
Other scientists think capsaicin may be [anti-cancer]. They treat a lung cancer cell with capsaicin and find that it can inhibit the proliferation of this cancer cell.
Regarding the comprehensive effects of spicy food on health, let’s look at a study published by Harvard University in 2015.
The study analyzed the health data of nearly 500,000 people aged between 30 and 79 in China and followed up for several years.
After excluding the influencing factors, scientists found that:
Those who eat spicy food almost every day have a 14% lower risk of death than those who eat spicy food no more than once a week, especially in cancer, heart disease and respiratory diseases. The health effect of spicy food is more obvious among people who do not drink alcohol.
Ah, I’m going to buy chili to eat right away!
Wait a minute!
Although this is a large sample size and a well-designed experiment, the researchers themselves said that this is only an observational epidemiological study and cannot directly believe that [eating spicy food] can [cure diseases without diseases and defend oneself].
Don’t be like the previous [mung bean fever], no food is a panacea.
Do you want chili or not?
At present, eating spicy food in an appropriate amount is not a problem, at least, it does not show any harm. However, it may not be necessary to eat spicy food specifically for health and longevity.
In particular, we should remind everyone that eating spicy food may not be harmful in itself, but the heavy oil and salt that often appear with chili are not so innocent.
For example, boiled fish, spicy pot, spicy crayfish…
If there is no spicy food, it is better to eat more fresh chili or add some dried chili powder when cooking.
In addition, in addition to satisfying the desire of the mouth and tongue, you have to consider the bearing capacity of intestines and stomach and chrysanthemum… After all, both colon and anus have capsaicin receptors.
What if it gets hot?
Every person who dares to eat spicy food has a bitter experience of being [spicy].
After all, it is still very uncomfortable to exceed the [tolerance threshold].
When we feel hot, capsaicin already binds to nerve receptors. To alleviate this discomfort, capsaicin needs to be removed from the receptors and no longer binds to other receptors. But capsaicin is insoluble in water, so water is not a good way to relieve hot.
If it is spicy, is there any way to relieve it in what?
Some scientists have actually studied it and found that:
1. Gargling with water has a certain effect, and cooling with ice water can resist local burning sensation;
2. Iced whole milk has the best effect, probably because casein in milk is a good emulsifier, which can effectively wrap capsaicin and take it away.
3. Sucrose water has a certain [spicy] effect. 10% sugar water has the same effect as 5 C milk.
4. In theory, alcohol can dissolve capsaicin, but low concentration alcohol is not effective, at least 20% alcohol is good-this alcohol content is already equivalent to low alcohol liquor, and it is not a good choice to [relieve spicy]. However, if it is [spicy] to the hand, washing with alcohol is a good way.
Finally, I would like to remind you that your eyes are extremely sensitive to spicy food-you must not pick or wear contact lenses or rub your eyes if you touch chili.