Some people just can’t seem to get enough of spicy food and hot peppers.
While you might be able to argue spicy food really takes the flavor of mealtime up a notch, the hot pepper scale isn’t for everyone. Sadly, some people shy away from super-hot peppers and never even get the chance to feel the burn. For those on the opposite end of the spectrum, there may be a good reason why they tend to seek out the sometimes painful result of consuming fiery hot peppers that rank high on the Scoville Scale.
Some refer to it as being spice drunk.
You may not have heard that one before, but you’ve probably heard people refer to a similar feeling as a runner’s high. It happens after completing a long period of aerobic exercise, which is followed by a feeling of euphoria. It’s somewhat similar to being spice drunk. When you eat capsaicin, which is the spicy hot compound naturally found in hot peppers, you start feeling a burning sensation in your mouth. Your pain receptors recognize the burn and tell your body to release endorphins. You also start releasing dopamine. Together, the two give you a “spice drunk” felling. Sure, there’s some pain, but there’s also some pleasure derived from the pain. That feeling may be what drives some people to work through the burning pain and try out hotter and hotter peppers.
Luckily, there are plenty of great options for pepper lovers.
Whether you’re ready to try out one of the scorching hot peppers on the hot pepper scale, or you need to start a bit lower on the scale, there’s virtually no limit. You can try fresh peppers, dried peppers, or any one of the hot pepper products out there to get your hot pepper fix whenever you get the craving.
