11 Cases When People Should Avoid Eating Spicy Food
1. Individuals with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, or hypertension, should not eat chili peppers. This also includes those with chronic bronchitis, pulmonary heart disease, and pulmonary tuberculosis. Capsaicin can cause a sharp increase in circulating blood volume, a rapid heartbeat, and tachycardia. A large intake in a short period can lead to acute heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Even if no emergency occurs, it can hinder the recovery of existing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and pulmonary diseases.
2. Patients with chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, or esophagitis should avoid it. Due to the stimulation from capsaicin, the mucosa can become congested, swollen, and eroded, and gastrointestinal motility can increase sharply, causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, and affecting the recovery of digestive function.
3. Patients with chronic cholecystitis, cholelithiasis (gallstones), or chronic pancreatitis should avoid it. Capsaicin stimulates an increase in gastric acid secretion. Excess gastric acid can cause gallbladder contraction and spasm of the sphincter of Oddi, leading to difficulty in bile excretion. This can trigger cholecystitis, biliary colic, and pancreatitis.
4. Patients with hemorrhoids should avoid it. Capsaicin can cause congestion and swelling of hemorrhoidal veins, worsening the condition and even leading to perianal abscesses. Additionally, spicy food can worsen constipation, further aggravating hemorrhoids.
5. Patients with conjunctivitis (pink eye) or keratitis should avoid it. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, it is considered "heaty" and can worsen the condition.
6. Postpartum women and pregnant women should avoid it. It can lead to mouth sores, constipation, and can also cause illness in breastfed infants.
7. Patients with kidney disease should avoid it. Capsaicin is excreted through the kidneys and can damage renal parenchymal cells. In severe cases, it can lead to changes in kidney function or even renal failure.
8. Patients with hyperthyroidism should avoid it. They often have a naturally rapid heart rate, and consuming spicy food can further accelerate it, making the symptoms more pronounced.
9. Patients with dermatitis and some other skin diseases should avoid it, as consumption often worsens the condition.
10. Underweight individuals should avoid it. They often experience symptoms like a dry throat, a bitter taste in the mouth, and irritability. Eating spicy food not only aggravates these symptoms but can also lead to bleeding, allergies, and inflammation. In severe cases, it can cause infections like carbuncles and abscesses.
11. Patients currently taking traditional Chinese medicine for treatment should also avoid it, as capsaicin can affect the efficacy of the treatment.
Even healthy individuals should not consume spicy food long-term. According to relevant data, a significant proportion of patients with esophageal and gastric cancer have a history of long-term spicy food consumption. In summary, while spicy food is delicious, it should be consumed in moderation.