The Health Benefits Of Spicy Food

Releases Good Hormones

Have you ever wondered why you feel energized after eating a spicy meal? You can blame those helpful little capsaicinoids for that too. Your nervous system interprets the burning sensation you experience when you bite into a chili pepper as a real source of pain. As a result, the brain releases endorphins and dopamine to counteract the pain. When the brain floods you with endorphins, those neurotransmitters work to block the central nervous system's ability to carry pain signals. At the same time, dopamine is released. Dopamine is a 'feel good hormone that produces a sensation of pleasure, which creates that energized feeling. In many individuals, eating spicy foods has the same effect athletes feel after they complete a difficult challenge. The brain releases good hormones to counteract the perceived pain and to help the body recover. This pleasurable sensation may contribute for the fascination some individuals feel with eating spicy foods.