Stomach ache after eating spicy food? this turned out to be the cause

For those of you who are fans of chili peppers, you may occasionally experience stomach pain or feel heartburn after eating spicy food. In fact, you feel that it is daily food and is common. So, what causes a person to have a stomachache after eating spicy food?

What causes stomach pain after eating spicy food?

The sensation of heartburn or stomach pain after eating spicy food usually appears because you eat too much chili. As a result, your digestion becomes disturbed.

It is the compounds in spicy foods that cause heartburn or stomach pain that you experience.

Capsaicin is an active chemical compound that gives chilies a spicy taste. Each type of chili has a different amount of capsaicin.

The greater the amount of capsaicin in chilies used, the higher the level of spiciness of a food.

When in contact with the tongue, esophagus wall, or stomach wall, capsaicin molecules bind to nerve receptors that pick up pain signals.

This signal is then transmitted to the brain, where it is interpreted as pain and a burning sensation.

When these compounds reach the stomach, the stomach responds to the presence of capsaicin by producing mucus that protects it from irritation.

However, if you are exposed to capsaicin too much or frequently, the effectiveness of the mucus will decrease. As a result, this mechanism is no longer effective in preventing irritation of the stomach wall. As a result, you feel heartburn.

No need in large quantities, exposure to small amounts of capsaicin can also trigger this condition in people who already have digestive problems.

Apart from stomach pain, this condition can also occur after eating spicy food

Certain compounds in spicy foods can indeed cause heartburn. However, this condition can also indicate problems with the digestive system. This is even more so if heartburn appears along with other symptoms.

Stomach pain after eating spicy food can also indicate that you have the following conditions:

1. Diarrhea

After going through the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients, food waste will move towards the large intestine. The large intestine then absorbs water from the food waste to form solid feces.

Capsaicin speeds up the process. As a result, the large intestine does not absorb water optimally.

As a result, stool has a watery texture and makes you diarrhea.

2. Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)

You can also feel heartburn or stomach pain after eating spicy food if you have digestive problems, such as gastritis.

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach wall which can be caused by various factors.

The cause of gastritis can come from a bacterial infection, excessive alcohol consumption, or prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin.

Spicy food does not directly cause gastritis, but capsaicin can exacerbate the symptoms of this disease.

Be aware if heartburn after eating spicy food is accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, a full stomach, or bleeding during bowel movements.

3. Gastric ulcers

Gastric ulcer disease is characterized by injury to the stomach wall due to prolonged irritation.

Like gastritis, this disease can also be caused by bacterial infection and prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Gastric ulcer disease is characterized by a feeling of bloating, a burning sensation in the stomach, heartburn, as well as nausea.

However, you may mistake this symptom for regular heartburn after eating spicy food and so don't treat it immediately.

Stomach pain after eating spicy food is a natural thing. This condition occurs because the digestive system interacts with large amounts of capsaicin.

However, if you eat little or no spicy food, but your stomach still hurts after eating, you should be vigilant.

It could be, it is another sign of health. Try to consult with your doctor so you can find out the factors causing it.