Eating Spicy Food Doesn't Mean You're Tough, says SCIENCE
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Date: 2019-10-09
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Comments and reviews: 10
BoyBalastog
You're entirely correct that desensitization progressively numbs the subjective pain of chillies the more often you eat them. Admittedly, I've opted for something more spicy than I otherwise would be able to comfortably have on many an occasion with the very implicit belief that I'd come off as tougher somehow despite being relatively sensitive to it back then. Thing is, I never stopped trying to push that threshold after one particular night where I downed a shot of chili-steeped vodka. I sat there feeling as if I was in over my head and that I needed to take a swig of the milk they provided fast. But I had friends around me who also took shots. So instead, I took control of myself mentally, just sat, closed my eyes, and learned to focus away from it, and just let it take its course. I ended up not even having to drink the milk until way after the heat subsided. For the first time in my life, having never meditated before, I really felt as if I could take control of my impulses and empty my mind. Chilies more than anything taught me that, yeah, I can be pretentious about being tough, but that actually following through on that allowed me to experience a glimpse of what it's actually like to be in heightened control of myself. Call it a mix of sensation seeking and sensitivity to reward, I guess. But that's my take on why I constantly challenge myself to withstand progressively spicier food and still feel proud about being more desensitized to it than others.
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You're entirely correct that desensitization progressively numbs the subjective pain of chillies the more often you eat them. Admittedly, I've opted for something more spicy than I otherwise would be able to comfortably have on many an occasion with the very implicit belief that I'd come off as tougher somehow despite being relatively sensitive to it back then. Thing is, I never stopped trying to push that threshold after one particular night where I downed a shot of chili-steeped vodka. I sat there feeling as if I was in over my head and that I needed to take a swig of the milk they provided fast. But I had friends around me who also took shots. So instead, I took control of myself mentally, just sat, closed my eyes, and learned to focus away from it, and just let it take its course. I ended up not even having to drink the milk until way after the heat subsided. For the first time in my life, having never meditated before, I really felt as if I could take control of my impulses and empty my mind. Chilies more than anything taught me that, yeah, I can be pretentious about being tough, but that actually following through on that allowed me to experience a glimpse of what it's actually like to be in heightened control of myself. Call it a mix of sensation seeking and sensitivity to reward, I guess. But that's my take on why I constantly challenge myself to withstand progressively spicier food and still feel proud about being more desensitized to it than others.
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Lycanthr0py
You seem to argue in your video that specifically men who enjoy spicy foods do so for the reason that it gives them social power; they think it makes them look cool (correct me if I'm wrong. The problem here is that men in general are more interested in acquiring some type of alpha status, it's just wired in our biology. If we have two groups of people, men who enjoy spicy foods and women who enjoy spicy foods, isn't it expected based on biology that the men will be more of the sensitivity-to-reward -type than the women? If we compared men who play football and women who play football, wouldn't the exact same results be likely? You wouldn't attack these men in a childish way saying they enjoy football only because of the social status, but instead you'd recognize they pursue social satus more than females, _because they are simply male and that's what males do_. I suppose this same point applies to the chili-eating men.
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You seem to argue in your video that specifically men who enjoy spicy foods do so for the reason that it gives them social power; they think it makes them look cool (correct me if I'm wrong. The problem here is that men in general are more interested in acquiring some type of alpha status, it's just wired in our biology. If we have two groups of people, men who enjoy spicy foods and women who enjoy spicy foods, isn't it expected based on biology that the men will be more of the sensitivity-to-reward -type than the women? If we compared men who play football and women who play football, wouldn't the exact same results be likely? You wouldn't attack these men in a childish way saying they enjoy football only because of the social status, but instead you'd recognize they pursue social satus more than females, _because they are simply male and that's what males do_. I suppose this same point applies to the chili-eating men.
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prathification
Very interesting conclusion, I personally enjoy pushing my spicy food threshold. Im of Indian heritage and a dude btw. Heres the thing, I always assumed that I felt as much pain when eating spicy foods as the next dude, but heres the curious bit, after eating spicy food I feel my sinuses clear up, my mouth tingling and my brain lights up with a rush of energy(it might be the dopamine) and that always makes me feel like pushing the heat threshold, and therefore, Ive always chosen the spiciest option whenever I can, whether Im cooking for myself, ordering delivery or eating with friends and family. Im wondering if the whole dudes eat spicy food because it makes them feel proud about other people perceiving them as tough thing comes into play if youre eating spicy foods in a communal setting versus alone at home? Im curious if these men might pick milder options if dining alone versus if theyre eating communally?
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Very interesting conclusion, I personally enjoy pushing my spicy food threshold. Im of Indian heritage and a dude btw. Heres the thing, I always assumed that I felt as much pain when eating spicy foods as the next dude, but heres the curious bit, after eating spicy food I feel my sinuses clear up, my mouth tingling and my brain lights up with a rush of energy(it might be the dopamine) and that always makes me feel like pushing the heat threshold, and therefore, Ive always chosen the spiciest option whenever I can, whether Im cooking for myself, ordering delivery or eating with friends and family. Im wondering if the whole dudes eat spicy food because it makes them feel proud about other people perceiving them as tough thing comes into play if youre eating spicy foods in a communal setting versus alone at home? Im curious if these men might pick milder options if dining alone versus if theyre eating communally?
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Neethu P
I'm an indian who grew up in canada, so i'm surrounded by people who have a lower spice tolerance than I do. And it's always kinda funny and a lil borderline annoying (when they get too aggressive) when people egg me on to try the hottest most mouth scorching flavours of wings/ramen/shawarma spice level/whatever. Whether I feel the spice pain or not, at a certain point with aggressively spiced flavours, the chilli is the only thing you taste and there's no other flavouring to it. It's only purpose is to inflict pain, which is kinda boring to me. Anyways, point being, I agree with you. Eat the flavours you know you like, whether it be honey garlic or suicide spice LOL
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I'm an indian who grew up in canada, so i'm surrounded by people who have a lower spice tolerance than I do. And it's always kinda funny and a lil borderline annoying (when they get too aggressive) when people egg me on to try the hottest most mouth scorching flavours of wings/ramen/shawarma spice level/whatever. Whether I feel the spice pain or not, at a certain point with aggressively spiced flavours, the chilli is the only thing you taste and there's no other flavouring to it. It's only purpose is to inflict pain, which is kinda boring to me. Anyways, point being, I agree with you. Eat the flavours you know you like, whether it be honey garlic or suicide spice LOL
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Jeremy Barnes
It sounds like from Dr. Byrnes' study that people actually DO have different experiences, just some like it (for either extrinsic or intrinsic reasons) and some don't. I've definitely gotten a lot better with (read: desensitized myself to) spice over the years, but in that time I've also come to enjoy the sensation a lot more. Same experience, different reaction. Not to say that makes me more of a badass or anything of course, I just have different taste. For people who don't like spicy food, maybe they're not desensitized enough, or maybe they just haven't given it enough of a shot yet (or have and just don't like it.
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It sounds like from Dr. Byrnes' study that people actually DO have different experiences, just some like it (for either extrinsic or intrinsic reasons) and some don't. I've definitely gotten a lot better with (read: desensitized myself to) spice over the years, but in that time I've also come to enjoy the sensation a lot more. Same experience, different reaction. Not to say that makes me more of a badass or anything of course, I just have different taste. For people who don't like spicy food, maybe they're not desensitized enough, or maybe they just haven't given it enough of a shot yet (or have and just don't like it.
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no th
It's different when your culinary traditions are steeped in spices. You naturally desensitise to chili-- I purposefully have to stay away from them to an extent so that all chilis lose their punch and lack heat. I agree with everyone who says: A. Every chili has a different, unique and wonderful flavour for different culinary contexts. B. Being able to eat spicier foods lets you eat and appreciate a much broader palette of dishes. And having that tolerance still lets you appreciate any dishes without heat so having a good degree capsaicin tolerance is only a plus when it comes to eating and appreciating food.
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It's different when your culinary traditions are steeped in spices. You naturally desensitise to chili-- I purposefully have to stay away from them to an extent so that all chilis lose their punch and lack heat. I agree with everyone who says: A. Every chili has a different, unique and wonderful flavour for different culinary contexts. B. Being able to eat spicier foods lets you eat and appreciate a much broader palette of dishes. And having that tolerance still lets you appreciate any dishes without heat so having a good degree capsaicin tolerance is only a plus when it comes to eating and appreciating food.
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Sam Evans
It's not just a machismo thing you nob. Pain triggers the release of endorphins which creates a rush. Some people enjoy that rush. And it's obviously safer if you're only simulating pain without actually hurting yourself. These videos are usually well-researched. But an experiment with a sample size of 100 people is hardly scientific proof of anything. I'm a man and I eat spicy food because pain without consequence is fun. Your increasingly sensational editorializing is getting old. I'm out. Also, nice (un)ironic flex at 7: 19
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It's not just a machismo thing you nob. Pain triggers the release of endorphins which creates a rush. Some people enjoy that rush. And it's obviously safer if you're only simulating pain without actually hurting yourself. These videos are usually well-researched. But an experiment with a sample size of 100 people is hardly scientific proof of anything. I'm a man and I eat spicy food because pain without consequence is fun. Your increasingly sensational editorializing is getting old. I'm out. Also, nice (un)ironic flex at 7: 19
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Tenshi Chan
funny enough, I have a very very high pain threshold, to an unhealthy degree, but I can't stand spicy. at all. To give an example, I was in labor with my son and the nurse would look at the monitor and make comments like wow, that must have been a huge contraction. But I never felt a single contraction pain from start to finish. But with spicy food, anything spicier than ketchup makes me want to vomit. I can eat things like wasabi and horseradish with no issues, but feed me a Bird's Eye and you'll be wearing it.
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funny enough, I have a very very high pain threshold, to an unhealthy degree, but I can't stand spicy. at all. To give an example, I was in labor with my son and the nurse would look at the monitor and make comments like wow, that must have been a huge contraction. But I never felt a single contraction pain from start to finish. But with spicy food, anything spicier than ketchup makes me want to vomit. I can eat things like wasabi and horseradish with no issues, but feed me a Bird's Eye and you'll be wearing it.
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pegatrisedmice
Now that was a hot take. But seriously, who cares? Eat what you want, spicy food is cool and exciting, and being good at eating it is no different than being good a some useless sport like football. It makes you as 'tough' as being good at anything else. Also the bodybuilder analogy was wrong, it's not like men are lifting weights to help others lift couches or whatever, men do it to feel badass, and that's ok, as long as you're not being an asshole in the process.
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Now that was a hot take. But seriously, who cares? Eat what you want, spicy food is cool and exciting, and being good at eating it is no different than being good a some useless sport like football. It makes you as 'tough' as being good at anything else. Also the bodybuilder analogy was wrong, it's not like men are lifting weights to help others lift couches or whatever, men do it to feel badass, and that's ok, as long as you're not being an asshole in the process.
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Mr. Scary
Another great video man. Your are the man. Like I've said before your good at this. Gordon Ramsay would be proud. Lol Your whole idea on how people think there better at capsaicin was awesome I think that when people compare themselves on how there better than others at it. But your science method makes so much sense I learn something new every time I watch any video you've uploaded. Been here from the start. Thank you once again for the lesson.
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Another great video man. Your are the man. Like I've said before your good at this. Gordon Ramsay would be proud. Lol Your whole idea on how people think there better at capsaicin was awesome I think that when people compare themselves on how there better than others at it. But your science method makes so much sense I learn something new every time I watch any video you've uploaded. Been here from the start. Thank you once again for the lesson.
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