Is there any genetic part to this, or is it general conditioning. If it’s the latter, are there people that never get used to it?
In: Biology
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On the most basic level, there is a physiological change in the way your capsaicin (which is the chemical that makes hot things hot.) receptors respond when they detect capsaicin. Continued exposure to spicy food actually causes the nerve associated with transmitting the “hot’ signal to degrade. There is no perminant damage though and the nerves will return it normal after extended periods of eating mild food. Not that mine ever will because I won’t ever stop eating spicy food.
People from countries where food is extremely spicy think nothing of sweating throughout dinner. They’ve built up a tolerance to the heat from chili peppers, and they’re used to it. Many people in America don’t eat spicy foods because they don’t have experience with the flavors, but for a person who wants to begin enjoying them, all it takes is practice.
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