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Posted by on May 8, 2015 in TellMeWhy |

Where Does Pepper Get Its Heat from?

Where Does Pepper Get Its Heat from?

Where Does Pepper Get Its Heat from? When you eat a pepper, capsaicin, a chemical present in the pepper comes in contact with pain receptors in your mouth. These pain receptors sense heat. When capsaicin activates the receptors, they send a message to the brain telling it you have eaten something hot.

Your brain responds to the message by raising your heart rate, increasing perspiration, and releasing endorphins, which are special body chemicals that help, relieve pain. The highest concentration of capsaicin is present in the white flesh on the inside of a pepper and the coating on the seeds.

Capsaicin is water insoluble, which means a glass of water won’t cool your mouth once you bite into a pepper. If you’re looking for relief, try a glass of cold milk instead.

Chili peppers are native to the Americas and have been a part of the human diet for thousands of years. Chili peppers are a great source of vitamin C. Peppers come in all different sizes, shapes, colors, and spiciness levels.

A recent study discovered that capsaicin attacked cancer cells without harming healthy cells nearby. This discovery may be helpful for future cancer research and the development of cancer treatments.

Content for this question contributed by Tommy Grayson, resident of Newport, Campbell County, Kentucky, USA