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Why do I cry when I eat spicy food?

Our eyes may also become watery when we eat very spicy foods. The capsaicin or allyl isothiocyanate can irritate the membranes in our eyes, causing the tear ducts to kick into overdrive trying to wash the irritant away.

thehindu.com - Why do we get a runny nose when we eat spicy food? - The Hindu

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July 18, 2015 06:03 pm | Updated July 20, 2015 02:45 pm IST

D. Janani, Chennai.

As a defence system against animals and birds destroying plants, certain chemicals are found in the plant’s tissues. Capsaicin also known as Allyl isothiocyanate is one of such chemicals found in chillies in very high quantity in the placental tissue that holds the seeds, as well as in lower concentrations in other parts of the fruit. Allyl isothiocyanate, in the form of a colourless oil is also found in plants like mustard and radishes. Like capsaicin, it serves as a defence for the plant against various animals. It also works as an antifungal agent. These chemicals when eaten in good amount end up not only causing a “hot” sensation on our tongue, but also irritate the mucous membranes in our nose, causing them to become inflamed. This triggers those membranes to produce extra amounts of mucous as a defence mechanism to try to keep out whatever unwanted substance or particles are causing the irritation. Our eyes may also become watery when we eat very spicy foods. The capsaicin or allyl isothiocyanate can irritate the membranes in our eyes, causing the tear ducts to kick into overdrive trying to wash the irritant away. This can make our nose even more runny as some of the tears drain into your sinuses. Capsaicin and allyl isothiocyanate also irritate various tissues inside our body, such as the intestines. This causes our body to react by trying to flush the irritant out. This is why after eating spicy foods we sometimes have the dreaded “liquid fire” poop.

From Rashmi Jain, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

This week’s question

Unlike in animals and plants, why is it that all humans belong to one species?

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Does chilli burn when you poop?

As it passes through your digestive tract, it triggers TRPV1 receptors, which is why some people experience cramps or an upset stomach after eating something particularly spicy. By the time the digested food reaches your anus, there's still capsaicin in the food waste and your butt feels the burn.

thrillist.com - Why Does Spicy Food Make It Burn When You Poop? - Thrillist

Everyone knows that feeling. You have some excellent spicy food. It's delicious going in. It's torturous coming out. Well, as SciShow explains in a new video, that's in part because there are more similarities between your mouth and your butthole than you'd probably care to admit. When you eat something spicy, the spiciness of that food often comes from the compound capsaicin. As SciShow explains above, capsaicin binds to your TRPV1 receptors. One of the jobs of these receptors is to detect heat, which is why you feel the delicious burning in your mouth when you eat foods containing the compound. However, TRPV1 receptors are all over your body, because any body part might bump the hot stove. Like with any amount of heat the body detects, your body attempts to cool down when you eat spicy food. That's why you have reactions like sweating that are more frequently triggered by a hot summer day or bustling kitchen. As you might have guessed at this point, there are TRPV1 receptors in your anus. When you eat, say, a habanero, the capsaicin isn't completely digested. As it passes through your digestive tract, it triggers TRPV1 receptors, which is why some people experience cramps or an upset stomach after eating something particularly spicy. By the time the digested food reaches your anus, there's still capsaicin in the food waste and your butt feels the burn. Now you have a deeper understanding of why it felt like your butt was on fire after you doused that late-night taco in hot sauce. You also can have a more complete appreciation for what this might have felt like the next day. Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email, and get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.

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