Long term effects of spicy food

[KebabMeister]

What are the long term effects of eating very spicy foods, such as very hot chilli peppers?  I'm interested in the effects to mouth, throat, stomach, intestines and obviously rectal.

I know that spices are good for the blood but what about the negative issues?

[dmsjps]

Don't know the answer to your question, except to say that it doesn't appear to have had any detrimental effects on the people who introduced them to us! There's probably no worries - except for the jippy tummy for the ones who aren't used to it, but everyone gets past that stage.

[Bangkok]

A Thai friend has eaten so much napalm strength chilli that her taste buds are covered in cysts and she as lost the sense of taste, probably permenently

[3Styler]

there have been strong links to bowel cancer, in fact my uncle used to eat loads of raw chillis and died of bowel cancer aged 38.

[sglazier]

Interesting, -- I had a shish kebeb last night, KebabMeister . whenever I get a kebab I ask for extra green chillis, I love them. Once you eat one you just want more! Now I have found a local shop which stocks proper kebab shop chillis, I've usually got some in the fridge. Long term effects? well I get a bit of jip if I overdo it.....

[BigDogsWang]

I know just what you mean sglazier. They are one of the most addictive things you can taste. When you bite into them you get this wonderful warm tasting salty liquid spilling out. Aren't they called Jalepeno's? Another treat is the sliced ones with Nacho's and cheese.

[KebabMeister]

Thanks for the replies!

My main reason for asking is that I love hot spicy food!  I usually have very hot vindaloo's every week as well as chilli sauces etc.  Last weeks vindaloo was so hot that I couldn't eat it.  First time ever.  It left such a horrible pain in my stomach I honestly thought I had consumed acid!  I simply can't express how painful it was!

I also ate half a jar of extra hot Turkish green chilli peppers (about twice as hot as jalopeno and about 10 tasted similar to a vindaloo).  Obviously it causes the odd stomach upset but its not that common.  However coming out the other end can be very painful!

Anyway, I was just concerned about the after effects to what seems like my addiction to hot stuff!  I can't eat onions anymore since it brings on IBS but chillis/peppers I'm fine with!!

spglazier - know the feeling about the green chillis... it's the mouth watering feeling that makes you want more and more!

[babie984]

hi,
as i was surfing through the net i found the article below... and i also run into this thread.

EATING SPICY FOOD: WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS?
http://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/21/garden/eating-spicy-food-what-are-the-effects.html?&pagewanted=1