Many friends have had this experience: after eating spicy foods like mala hot pot or boiled fish, their bodies often feel uncomfortable, their resistance decreases, and they are more prone to catching a cold. Why is it easier to catch a cold when eating spicy food in the spring?
This is because, eating too much spicy food not only causes constipation and "internal heat" (上火), but also weakens the body's "firewall," making it very easy to catch a cold or other illnesses. Especially when the weather is dry and various viruses become active, it can easily lower resistance and lead to catching a cold.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, foods containing chili peppers, black pepper, and Sichuan peppercorns are all collectively referred to as "pungent foods." These foods have a strong dispersive effect. Consuming them excessively can easily deplete *qi*, and in severe cases, it can lead to *qi* deficiency. The most prominent symptom of *qi* deficiency is a weakened immune system. Therefore, many people who eat too much spicy food will instead feel weak and tired. Once these symptoms of *qi* deficiency appear, illnesses like the cold will also arrive unannounced.