Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers. It is irritating to mammals, including humans, and can produce a burning sensation in the mouth. The capsaicin in chili peppers and black pepper can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, thereby preventing heart disease to a large extent. However, some people are not suitable for eating spicy food, as it may cause some side effects.
I. Who should not eat spicy food
1. Constipation
If you suffer from constipation, never eat spicy food to keep warm. Because chili peppers are highly irritating, they can worsen the symptoms of constipation. Therefore, patients with constipation should not eat chili peppers.
2. Oral ulcers
As mentioned above, chili peppers are highly irritating. After eating chili peppers, patients with oral ulcers will not only experience pain but may also aggravate the symptoms of the ulcers.
3. Heart problems
If you have heart problems, you should not eat spicy food. Capsaicin can accelerate blood circulation and increase heart rate, which can worsen heart conditions.
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4. Patients with eye diseases
After eating chili peppers, patients with eye diseases may easily experience discomfort such as a burning sensation in the eyes and swollen eyelids. Eating too much may also aggravate eye diseases.
5. Patients with hyperthyroidism
Eating chili peppers can speed up the heart rate. Patients with hyperthyroidism often have symptoms of a rapid heartbeat. Therefore, if patients with hyperthyroidism eat chili peppers, it will keep their heart rate constantly elevated, which the body may not be able to handle.
6. Thin people
Thin people often experience symptoms like a bitter taste in the mouth, irritability, and a dry throat. Eating chili peppers at this time can worsen these symptoms and may also lead to anemia, allergies, and other issues.
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II. What to eat to relieve spiciness
1. Drink milk to relieve spiciness
Drinking milk is a good choice. The casein in pure milk is a good emulsifier that can repair the oral and digestive tract mucosal cells damaged by capsaicin and can also soothe the stimulated sensory nerves, relieving the spiciness.
2. Drink yogurt to relieve spiciness
Yogurt can relieve gastrointestinal discomfort caused by spicy food by forming a protective layer in the stomach and intestines. It can also soothe the dry, spicy sensation on the tongue and tongue, making it very effective for relieving spiciness. Therefore, drinking some yogurt when eating hot pot or Malatang can prevent the spicy food from irritating the stomach.
3. Drink yogurt to relieve spiciness
The fat and protein in yogurt can reduce the burning sensation of spicy food. Moreover, the sour taste of yogurt can neutralize the alkaline substances in chili peppers, also helping to relieve spiciness and clear heat.
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4. Drink beer to relieve spiciness
Many people are used to drinking water or eating staple foods to dilute the spiciness when they eat something too spicy. However, this method is not very effective. Capsaicin is a water-insoluble substance that can only combine with fats, oils, and alcohol. Therefore, when you eat something too spicy, you might as well try drinking some beer, as it is more effective than water at diluting the spiciness.
5. Eat sour foods to relieve spiciness
Capsaicin is an alkaline substance. Eating some sour foods while eating spicy food can neutralize the alkalinity in the mouth and relieve the spiciness. Therefore, when eating spicy food, it's a good idea to eat some sour foods or drink sour juices like orange juice or tomato juice to relieve the spiciness.
6. Eat cooling foods
Eating some cooling foods along with spicy food can also have a neutralizing effect, relieving spiciness and clearing heat. Duck, bitter melon, lotus root, water chestnut, tofu, etc., are all cooling foods that have the effects of clearing heat, promoting the production of body fluids, nourishing yin, and reducing dryness. They are the best partners for chili peppers.
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