Although chili peppers have been in China for less than 400 years, modern people now live in an era of chili peppers. Except for the southernmost and northernmost provinces and cities, China has been covered by "chili peppers." While chili peppers are good, they should not be eaten in excess, especially during the dry spring season. Not only can they easily lead to "heatiness" (上火), but they can also irritate the stomach and intestines, causing non-infectious diarrhea.
Although the temperature in spring rises quickly, it can still feel very cool in the mornings and evenings. Gathering around to eat Malatang (麻辣香锅), spicy crayfish, or yangxiezi (羊蝎子, lamb spine hot pot) has become the best choice for family and friend gatherings. However, not everyone can handle spicy food. The visible reactions include mouth sores and pimples on the face; while uncontrollable diarrhea and constant trips to the bathroom until you're drenched in sweat are something only you know are caused by eating too many chili peppers.
Experts say that if the entire population excessively eats spicy food regardless of region or season, it usually leads to three major problems.
1. Over-stimulating the appetite, causing people to overeat or even binge eat, which in turn leads to obesity and problems like high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol. Cooking expert Qiao Jie points out that chefs generally "make it salty if it's spicy" to neutralize the spiciness, which increases the amount of salt used. This is also why Sichuan cuisine has a heavier taste. Overly spicy and salty heavy-flavored diets pose a dual threat to the body, indirectly inducing chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes.
2. Damaging the digestive tract. An overly spicy diet can easily cause a burning sensation in the stomach and intestines, leading to issues like gastroesophageal reflux, constipation, or dry stools.
3. For people with stomach ulcers or hemorrhoids, eating too many chili peppers can worsen their condition. Under the stimulation of capsaicin, hemorrhoids can even worsen into an anal abscess.
With frequent changes in temperature between warm and cold in spring, besides the easy onset of colds, the digestive tract can also become uncomfortable. Especially under the stimulation of spicy food, the gastric mucosa is more easily damaged, and the probability of non-infectious diarrhea is higher. Therefore, experts suggest that while spicy food is okay to eat, it should not be the main theme of your diet. Drink more water, try to keep your diet light, and eat more sprouts, beans, and juicy fruits and vegetables to replenish lost fluids and various vitamins for stomach maintenance.