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Tag: Trpv1 receptors

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What Does a High Spice Tolerance Mean? The Science Behind the Heat

3 min read
Research indicates that genetics can account for 18–58% of an individual's enjoyment and tolerance of spicy foods. This means what a high spice tolerance truly means is a complex interplay of inherited traits, learned behaviors, and psychological factors that influence how a person perceives and reacts to the 'burn' of capsaicin.

Where Does Chilli Heat Come From? The Science Behind the Spice

4 min read
Archaeological evidence shows that humans have been enjoying the spicy kick of chilli peppers for at least 6,000 years. This distinctive heat sensation, however, isn't a taste but a response to chemical irritants that originated in the Americas. The answer to 'where does chilli heat come from' lies in a specific group of compounds designed to deter predators.

Why do spices hurt your tongue? The painful science behind spicy food

4 min read
According to the National Institutes of Health, the burning sensation from chili peppers isn't actually a taste but a pain signal sent by your nerves. This is precisely why do spices hurt your tongue, as the active chemicals in spices trigger pain and temperature receptors, creating a powerful heat sensation.

Why Is Eating Spicy Food So Painful? The Science of Capsaicin

3 min read
According to the Scoville scale, the Carolina Reaper pepper registers over 1.5 million heat units, while a bell pepper has zero. This vast difference in 'heat' is why is eating spicy food so painful, as the chemical capsaicin triggers a pain response in your body, rather than a taste sensation.

Can Your Body Build a Tolerance to Spices?

4 min read
According to a study on identical and fraternal twins, genetics can account for 18% to 58% of an individual's enjoyment of spicy food. This means that while some people have a natural edge, the ability to build a tolerance to spices is a very real, learned phenomenon rooted in neurobiology.