Recently, many people who love spicy food have been asking: when they face dishes like boiled fish and hot pot, they often eat until they are sweating profusely and having a great time, but in the days that follow, they feel all sorts of physical discomforts. What's going on?
Eating too much spicy food can not only lead to constipation and "heatiness" (上火), but it also makes one more susceptible to colds or other illnesses, a point that is often overlooked. The main reason for this is the decrease in immunity caused by consuming spicy food. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), foods containing chili, pepper, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions, ginger, and garlic are collectively called "pungent foods." These foods have a strong "dispersing" effect. Consuming too much can easily "consume Qi" (耗气), and in severe cases, it can lead to a deficiency of Qi (气虚). The most obvious symptom of Qi deficiency is a weakened immune system. Therefore, many people who eat too much spicy food feel weak and tired all over. Once these symptoms of Qi deficiency appear, illnesses like colds can arrive unexpectedly.
Generally speaking, spicy food is more suitable for people living in humid regions like Sichuan. For people from drier northern regions, symptoms like "heatiness" and Qi deficiency are more severe. In terms of body constitution, some people have a "yin deficiency with excessive fire" (阴虚火旺) constitution. They are prone to symptoms like a dry mouth, a sore throat, and constipation. While eating spicy food might feel satisfying for a moment, it will later worsen these symptoms several times. Especially after severe constipation, metabolic waste accumulates in the body for a long time, and the toxins within can seriously harm one's health.
The feeling of breaking into a sweat shortly after eating spicy food, which feels very comfortable, is mainly because spicy food can stimulate sweat glands, accelerate metabolism, and promote the circulation of Qi and blood, which has certain benefits for the body. However, spicy food must be consumed in moderation. For people in the north, once or twice a week is enough. Moreover, foods that can promote the circulation of Qi and blood are not just chili. Warming foods like oranges, pumpkins, red dates, and mutton can achieve the same effect. After eating spicy food, it's best to appropriately increase your water intake and consumption of vegetables and fruits to mitigate the adverse effects of pungent foods.