Table of contents:
- Cayenne pepper is spicier than regular chilies
- What happens to the body after eating cayenne pepper
- Why can capsaicin cause these reactions?
- A powerful way to deal with spiciness
- 1. Drink milk
- 2. Chew other foods
- 3. Eat sugary foods
For those who like spicy food, it is incomplete to eat or snack without fried chilies. However, do you know why the taste of cayenne pepper can be many times spicier than ordinary big red chilies?
Cayenne pepper is spicier than regular chilies
Chili has many types with different levels of spiciness. The spicy taste of cayenne pepper is produced from a chemical called capsaicin. The more capsaicin there is, the spicier the chilies will taste.
To measure the level of spiciness or the capsaicin content in chilies, of course you don't taste it directly with the tongue. The reason is, there is a special way that is safer and more accurate, namely by using the Scoville Scale (SHU).
In Indonesia, cayenne pepper is considered one of the hottest types of chili. Quoting from the Tempo page, cayenne pepper has a score of 100 thousand when measured using the Scoville scale. Meanwhile, large red chilies are only around 30,000 - 50,000 SHU.
The record for the most spicy chili in the world according to the Guinness World Records is held by the Carolina Reaper which has a spiciness level of 15-31 times that of cayenne pepper.
What happens to the body after eating cayenne pepper
Capsaicin has long been known to have the potential to relieve pain and increase the body's resistance to infection. There have also been many studies that report the effect of capsaicin to encourage the body's metabolism to work up to 5% faster to burn more fat. This calorie burning effect is even known to continue working up to 20 minutes after you finish eating.
In addition, capsaicin is also believed to be effective in lowering bad LDL cholesterol levels while at the same time increasing HDL good cholesterol levels in the body. Still doubting the potential benefits of eating spicy food?
On the other hand, although it is useful, capsaicin also risks causing annoying side effects. Eating chilies can make most people experience stomach pain or heartburn, burning mouth and throat, to runny noses, sweating profusely, to tears. This is because capsaicin can trigger cell irritation in the membranes of the mouth, stomach, throat and eyes if consumed mostly.
Why can capsaicin cause these reactions?
Capsaicin is a stimulant compound. Various physical "symptoms" that appear after we eat spicy food appear because capsaicin works to stimulate the nerves to increase the body's core temperature. When you eat cayenne pepper, the central nervous system in the brain reacts by dilating blood vessels in various parts of the body.
This is what triggers the skin to become red and sweaty when we are "sick". This dilation of blood vessels also triggers an increase in the production of saliva in the mouth and mucus in the nose.
In severe cases of "grief" you may also become temporarily deaf because the excess production of saliva can cause a blockage of mucus in the eustachian tube, which is the tube that directly connects the throat to the ear.
On the other hand, capsaicin is a foreign compound for the body. Therefore, the various "pungent" reactions that you experience actually also become the body's subconscious defense system to fight and repair the detrimental effects of capsaicin irritation.
Your body's immune system detects that the capsaicin intake from your spicy food is out of tolerance so it must be fought.
A powerful way to deal with spiciness
The capsaicin content in cayenne pepper is indeed effective in increasing appetite. No wonder this makes many people eat spicy food frantically regardless of the sensations that arise afterwards.
Well, if you are a spicy lover but are confused about how to relieve spiciness afterwards, the tips and tricks below might help:
1. Drink milk
Milk is a powerful spicy remover. According to the American Chemical Society, the casein protein contained in milk can help replace the capsaicin compound that sticks to the nerves of your tongue.
You can also eat foods made from milk-derived products, such as cheese, yogurt, or kefir to relieve spiciness and burning sensations that arise in the mouth.
2. Chew other foods
When you are hot, chew on other foods that are slightly tough, such as crackers, chips, cookies, or even rice in a ball. Eating other foods when you are hot aims to give a different signal so that the receptors in the mouth don't absorb capsaicin compounds quickly.
You can also eat starchy foods, such as breads to ease the spiciness.
3. Eat sugary foods
Eating sweet foods can also be a powerful way to deal with the spiciness you are experiencing. However, don't just eat sweet foods. Avoid eating foods that contain added sweeteners. It would be nice, eat natural sweet foods from honey.
Consuming one tablespoon of honey can help absorb the spicy oil contained in capsaicin so that it can lighten the spicy taste you feel.
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