From Heartburn To Burning Diarrhoea; Know How Spicy Food Impacts Your Health

Spicy foods can be tempting and they can be a good option to indulge once in a while. However, if you’re eating spicy foods every day, it is important that you understand that it can impact your health severely. While spicy foods can make your meal flavourful, it comes with its own set of implications. Therefore, make sure to keep a check on your consumption of spicy foods as it can be detrimental to your health.

Spicy foods, especially those that have capsaicin in them can irritate the stomach lining. This causes discomfort, acid reflux or heartburn. People with conditions like GERD may witness worsened symptoms after consuming spicy foods.

People with peptic ulcers or other stomach issues may see their symptoms exacerbate, causing pain, nausea and indigestion. Capsaicin can stimulate acid production in the stomach, thereby, worsening existing ulcer conditions or slowing the healing process.

Capsaicin relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter, thereby, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the oesophagus. This can lead to heartburn or acid reflux, which may cause a burning sensation in the chest and throat, especially in people who are sensitive to spicy foods.

Spicy foods may stimulate digestion and lead to quicker bowel movements. In some people, this can lead to diarrhoea as capsaicin tends to irritate the intestines, speeding up transit time and causing loose stools.

Capsaicin also prompts the release of endorphins which act as natural painkillers in the brain. This endorphin rush causes a sense of euphoria and can lead to the development of a tolerance for spicier foods over time, as people might find it to be a pleasurable sensation that is linked to the release of these neurotransmitters.

Eating extremely spicy foods can impact the taste buds, thereby, causing a temporary loss of taste sensation. This numbing effect might last for several minutes or longer, depending on the level of spiciness.

Capsaicin increases body temperature, which leads to sweating, flushing and a feeling of heat. While this might not be harmful, excessive sweating can be uncomfortable and in rare cases, lead to dehydration if consumed in very large quantities.

Spicy ingredients like chilli peppers can cause skin irritation or even burns if not handled carefully. Capsaicin can lead to redness, itching or a burning sensation, especially if it comes in contact with sensitive areas such as the eyes or nose among others.

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