Spicy Foods

       

Ah, spicy food. Is there anything better than a spicy meal, especially when it's homemade? There is no  one around to tell you that it's too hot, no overly-cautious cook afraid to add too much piquant, and no one to watch as you sweat bullets and gulp down your molten concoction just the way you like it. But  can spicy food damage our sense of taste? When do we know we've had too much of it? And do quesosakatenango chili peppers really cause  hallucinations that send you on a quest to find your soul-  mate (for all The Simpsons fans)? One can experience stomach problems and other conditions if a meal  is a bit too zesty. Furthermore, constantly eating hot food can have permanent negative effects on the body. Here's what you need to know about the negative impact spicy food can have. Now that you know  which foods can cause you harm, here is why they shouldn't be overused. 

Geographic tongue  

Eating potent things can cause a condition known as geographic tongue (genign migratory glossitis). It is  believed that geographic tongue is caused by an allergic reaction to certain comestibles. Whether or not it's caused by allergies isn't clear, but spicy food is usually the culprit. The condition appears quite  rapidly and produces irritation by forming strange patterns on the tongue. After an onset, one can have a weakened sense of taste for up to one month. It disappears with time and isn't dangerous, but it can be quite irritating.  

Gastritis  

An overabundance of spicy food can cause Gastritis. Gastritis is an inflammation in the stomach lining. It is usually triggered by infections, but spicy foods like chili peppers are also believed to reduce thestomach's protective barrier. Chronic gastritis can produce ulcers by allowing the stomach's own acids to  eat away at the lining. Ulcers can heal with time, just like any other lesion, but one must eat milder meals. Acid reflux  

   In some people, spicy food can trigger acid reflux disease, which isn't bad per se, but it can be bothersome. Restaurant cuisine often seems to elicit this condition -- all that burping men experience  after a nice Italian meal at their favorite bistro isn't a result of bad manners, it's the body not being able to handle all that strange, spicy cuisine. 

     Chronic acid reflux disease can also lead to esophageal cancer, but only in rare cases. Cutting down on peppery cooking is a good first step to reducing this risk. Acid reflux, especially at night, can also erode  teeth.  

Bad breath  

Garlic and onions are among the worst-smelling things a guy can eat, and they also happen to cause  bad breath. Granted, bad breath isn't much of a nuisance, but it can sometimes spell disaster, especially  on a nice first date. So avoid spicy cuisine on those nights.  

Insomnia  

Here's one most men probably didn't know: spicy food is bad for sleep. The cause is quite simple. The  body needs to slow down before it can snooze and spicy food raises body temperature (that's why we  sweat after a consuming fiery food). If one happens to consume something zesty before going to bed, it  can disrupt slumber. The first cycle of sleep is particularly sensitive to hot food. Damage to taste buds  Finally, constantly eating hot food can permanently reduce the sensation of taste. 

     I often hear people  assure others that they will get used to the burning of chili peppers. It's true, people do feel less   scorching after years of spicy abuse, but not because the body got "used" to the sensation in question. 

    Over time, taste buds wear out, making this reduced sensation nothing more than wear and tear of  chronic abuse. It's no different from people getting "used" to loud music in clubs in both cases the  body suffers permanent deterioration.