Why do people like spicy food?

[loyalyolayal]

I can't handle spicy food. @loyalyolayal @Pugilistic

 

[mb23100]

It's more efficient. You get to experience the burning sensation twice.

If you eat something sweet, you only experience the sweetness once.

 

[Renard]

What you're missing is: it's not painful. I can eat food so spicy it would make you run for the milk right away, but to me it's just a delicious and painless warm, prickly sensation. It's probably habituation, I don't remember being that immune as a kid.

 

[AgentSmecker]

Tastes good and keeps you regular.

 

[Halifax]

 

[Kalmah]

Is there a evolutionary reason?

There's actually a few good reasons. Ever notice how people who live in warmer climates eat the hottest/spiciest foods? Eating these dishes make you sweat which is the body's natural way to cool down. And then there's the antimicrobial effect of the plants the spicy/hotness comes from which helps in preserving foods in hotter environments where stuff like meat rots way faster. That's why meat dishes are typically the spiciest because they lack defences against pathogens and parasites.

 

[Sir Galahad]

 

[mb23100]

There's actually a few good reasons. Ever notice how people who live in warmer climates eat the hottest/spiciest foods? Eating these dishes make you sweat which is the body's natural way to cool down. And then there's the antimicrobial effect of the plants the spicy/hotness comes from which helps in preserving foods in hotter environments where stuff like meat rots way faster. That's why meat dishes are typically the spiciest because they lack defences against pathogens and parasites.

Interesting.......

 

[BEER]

I like food that tastes good, but I don't like food that's spicy just for the sake of it.

I'll eat Indian food because it's delicious. But I won't eat hot sauce that exists just to cause pain.

 

[M3t4tr0n]

It burns on the way out which lets me know I'm alive.

 

[sleepwalk]

I like food that tastes good, but I don't like food that's spicy just for the sake of it.

I'll eat Indian food because it's delicious. But I won't eat hot sauce that exists just to cause pain.

I'm with this fella. I love all kinds of spice, including hot stuff like chiles and wasabi but I'm not into climbing the Scoville chart gor the sake of... whatever the hell people do that shit for.

 

[ObsoleteSoul]

It releases chemicals that actually dulls pain, and makes you full faster.

 

[genecop]

Because it’s spicy..

 

[Jesus X]

spicy food is not really that spicy for people who grew up eating.

in mexican food it can take what might be a regular piece of meat or beans and give it great flavors, tacos are changed for the better depending on how good the "chile sauce" is made.

 

[TSO]

I love spicy food but it honestly makes no sense. It's painful to eat spicy food. Is there a evolutionary reason? This never made sense to me.

I'm eating habenero salsa I made right now. Spicey food kinda gets you high, and it tastes amazing.

 

[Jesus X]

pho,chinese and thai foods are also given great flavors depending on the spicy sauces they use.

 

[IloveTHIS]

Because it's delicious and once you're hooked you can't just go back to not eating spicy food. It's like salt or pepper for me.

Also pretty sure it does absolutely release endorphins, like what causes a runners high

 

[IDL]

Kills the bugs, which serves a health purpose in warmer climates, and a culinary culture builds up around it over time.

 

[Don Quixote]

It adds flare compared to boring milder foods.

 

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

i dont like food to hurt my mouth when i eat it. im also very white so that may explain that/.