There are some foods that have such a tremendous amount of health benefits, they should be consumed on a regular basis. Some of these include leafy greens, anything from the berry or cruciferous family, lean meats, organic eggs, certain teas, and a substantial amount of herbs and spices. Even though many of these foods are called superfoods because of their health benefits, these should come with a warning label. This is because these foods may not be suitable for some, to an extent that they should not consume these superfoods at all. One of these foods is chili peppers! Despite their health benefits and being a superfood, there are some downsides to them that need to be recognized. In fact, chili peppers should be avoided completely by people who have a sensitive gut and have certain digestive issues. It is important to understand your body and how it reacts to these foods to maintain optimal health. You must be aware of the specific foods that are beneficial for you and those that are harmful.
Chili peppers are a member of the nightshade family, Solanaceae. They are the fruits of the Capsicum plants. Even though the peppers have originated in Mexico, the Spanish and Portuguese explorers and traders have transported them across the globe and these are now widely grown across the world, including India, China, and Turkey. Now, chili peppers are considered as one of the most in-demand commercial crops in the world and are a staple in a large variety of cuisines. Chili peppers can be eaten dried, cooked, raw or added into powders and sauces for a strong and spicy flavor.
Chili peppers have an active alkaloid called capsaicin. The more capsaicin a pepper has, the hotter it is. This gives the unique hot and spicy kick that so many people love!
Besides the spicy flavor, there is much more to chili peppers! We are first going to examine the health benefits of eating the peppers before we dive into the cons. Many studies have shown that chili peppers have numerous benefits like maintaining healthy vision to inhibiting the growth of cancer. If you are not sensitive to chili peppers, eating them is generally beneficial for your overall health. Here are the top reasons to incorporate them in your diet:
It can help prevent or slow the progress of dementia and Alzheimer's disease as you age. It is believed that they help increase the flow of oxygen and iron to the brain, therefore improving cognitive functioning.
And most importantly, chili peppers offer a longevity boost! In a recent study conducted in China with over half a million people, observed that consuming fiery foods six times a week reduced the risk of death by 14%, and consuming them 2 days a week reduced the risk by 10%.
Despite all the health benefits of capsaicin present in chili peppers and its fiery flavor, it is also a well-known irritant to the body. Chili peppers and foods prepared with chili peppers can burn your skin, throats, stomachs, and even burn on their way out of the body! Capsaicin can irritate the stomach lining and intestines, and cause diarrhea for those who have a sensitive gut.
As the food travels from our mouth through the entire digestive system, it is subjected to a very efficient digestive process involving different organs, hormones, and digestive juices. If you are intolerant to chili peppers, once you eat it, the capsaicin molecule stimulates certain pain receptors that immediately inform the brain about the burning sensation. The brain, in turn, releases pain blockers called endorphins in an effort to provide relief. There is a mix of feeling, less pain but slightly euphoric. This burning sensation, however, becomes more intense in the small intestine and colon. As a result, less water is absorbed here, and the process of excretion speeds up causing diarrhea.
Chili peppers do not cause ulcers, but some people may suffer from severe pain and upper gastrointestinal symptoms. If you have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease, dyspepsia, ulcerative colitis or Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) then you may be more sensitive to foods containing chili peppers. It is possible that you may be prone to experiencing symptoms associated with hot and spicy dishes.
You may be very sensitive to certain foods if you have Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome. This is because your body is physically and mentally drained from prolonged and extreme stressors. Even the slightest amount of inflammation in your body from eating spicy food like chili peppers can severely affect you and even cause an adrenal crash.
Be very careful when you are handling the peppers for cooking. Wear gloves when you touch them and avoid getting them near your eyes.
Spicy foods can be very strong irritants and it is important to identify the symptoms like diarrhea so that you can take necessary action. Prevention is best by avoiding spicy food like chili peppers. If you suffer from a high level of sensitivity from spicy foods, the symptoms are not always a bad sign, it is just the body’s way of protecting you from these irritants. Either way, it is best to be conscious of how to deal with your body after eating spicy food.
There are a few ways to reduce the severity of symptoms and still benefit from eating these hot, spicy foods. A few tricks include:
If you get diarrhea after eating chili peppers or something that irritates the gut lining, your body will try to heal itself in a few days. As long as you do not eat more spicy food or caffeinated drinks and you drink lots of water. However, if symptoms persist even after a few days or you show signs of dehydration, please consult a physician before the condition worsens.
Chili peppers have a tremendous amount of health benefits. However, you should never consume them as a treatment option for any ailment without professional guidance from a health care practitioner. If you suffer from a very sensitive digestive system for health reasons or otherwise, you should eat chili peppers with extreme caution. If you find that you experience from uncomfortable symptoms, consult your doctor and find out if you should eat or avoid chili peppers in your diet.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Chili peppers can be eaten as part of a well-balanced AFS diet, however, caution must be taken with each individual. If symptoms occur from hot and spicy food, it is recommended to speak to a healthcare practitioner immediately.
