Among the five flavors—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty—none is as captivating and irresistible to many as spiciness. Eating spicy food induces profuse sweating in a short time, which feels very comfortable because the spiciness stimulates sweat gland secretion, accelerates metabolism and the circulation of qi and blood, and is beneficial to the body. However, spicy food should be consumed in moderation. Excessive consumption has side effects, not only causing constipation and "internal heat" (上火), but also increasing the susceptibility to colds or other illnesses. This is often overlooked, mainly because eating spicy food can lower the immune system.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chili peppers are known as "pungent-flavored foods" and have a strong "dispersing" effect. Consuming too much can easily "consume qi" (耗气). Therefore, eating too much spicy food can make one feel weak and tired. "People with qi deficiency should not eat too much spicy food," says Yang Li, a professor from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. These individuals often exhibit symptoms like a weak body, fatigue, and spontaneous sweating. Due to the dispersing effect of chili peppers, this type of person will sweat excessively, worsening their condition. Those who are typically prone to "yin deficiency with excessive fire" (阴虚火旺) often experience symptoms like a dry mouth and throat, a sore throat, and constipation. While eating spicy food might bring temporary relief, it will subsequently worsen these symptoms several-fold. Generally, spicy food is more suitable for people living in humid regions like Sichuan. For people in drier northern regions, symptoms like "internal heat" and qi deficiency will be more severe. A recent study in Germany shows that the best time to eat spicy food is at noon, when the digestive system is strongest. Eating spicy food at night can easily lead to diseases like stomach ulcers.
Furthermore, the season also matters when it comes to eating spicy food. "The best season to eat spicy food is winter, as it is cold and chili peppers help raise body temperature. The worst season is not the hot summer, but autumn," Yang Li says. TCM has a theory that the five flavors correspond to the five organs: sour enters the liver, pungent enters the lungs, bitter enters the heart, salty enters the kidneys, and sweet enters the spleen. Autumn is a time when the lungs are particularly prone to "dryness" (肺燥), making it especially unsuitable for eating spicy food.
Yang Li reminds: "People's tolerance for spiciness varies. The best state is to eat a spicy dish until you break out in a light sweat. For those who can tolerate mild spiciness, a dish with a little spice is acceptable daily. However, for people whose constitution is not suited to spicy food, it is best to limit it to once a week at most.