Well I thought I would write a little piece on the effects of Capsaicin on the human body and why people just love to feel that heat!
Capsaicin is the active compound in chillies that provide you with that unmistakable fiery feeling in the mouth (and any other sensitive areas!). They work by binding with the VR1 receptor (vanilloid receptor subtype 1) this is the receptor that also picks pain up when we burn ourselves with something hot therefore causing a “burning” sensation.
The feeling of chilli heat can be described as pleasurable in certain amounts and also cause extreme pain in larger doses. Much like the natural high from exercising, jumping from a plane or a German mistress beating you with birch, people who ingest enough Capsaicin will experience what has come to be known as an “endorphin rush”.
Endorphins are active compounds within the body similar to opiates, that when released act as a natural pain reliever and promote a sense of well being. After eating copious amounts of chilli you may find yourself feeling almost tipsy and a little happier, it’s not un-heard of to even hallucinate slightly in larger amounts.
It is often said that eating chillies is addictive and keeps you coming back for more, now I can’t say for certain whether this is true, you probably won’t find your self doing unspeakable things in a public rest room for a Habanero hit. Yet you will find yourself craving a good spice blast every now and then, whether that may be a nice tingling fajita or a raging inferno of an Indian curry.
There are many purported health benefits associated with chillies ranging from aiding nasal congestion's to helping to relieve pain. A well known secret of many people around the world chilli has also been shown to help fight cholesterol and keep your weight in check! So next time you embark on a weight loss program why not choose to spice up your regime with some fresh chillies rich in vitamins, you can even try a good bottle of hot sauce low in calories, the perfect low fat partner to a meal.
Further studies carried out on capsaicin showed that it killed cancer cells in rats, all of these studies are in the early stages but show great potential for chillies having an ongoing use in the medical field.
I hope you now know a little bit more about the wonderful world of spice and how it can help bring some fire back into your life!
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