eli5 What happens biologically when we become accustomed to spicy food?

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My wife can swear that her mouth is on fire after eating certain foods, but when I try the same exact food I often barely detect the heat she’s talking about.
I wasn’t always like this, it was an acquired taste. Sweet chilli used to be hot to me, now I dabble with habanero, naga, etc so I know something has changed physiologically…what was it?

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Spicy is not a taste, it’s a sensation. A pain sensation.
People who like spicy food are, in a sense, a bit masochists.

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