4 Surprising Reasons You Might Be Craving Spicy Food

Sometimes, seemingly normal cravings for spicy food can stem from unexpected factors such as hormonal changes, stress or environmental influences.

Food cravings can sometimes be a signal from your body. If you often crave spicy food, consider the following possible reasons.

Stress

Many people tend to crave food when they are stressed. Some studies show that on days when people are stressed or anxious, they tend to eat more sweets and fast food than usual, according to Verywell Health (USA).

Studies also show that spicy foods can stimulate the body to produce endorphins and dopamine - chemicals that bring about feelings of euphoria.

Photo: AI

Although there are not many studies directly proving the link between stress and cravings for spicy food, according to nutritionist Guevara (USA), this can still happen.

“Some people turn to ‘comfort foods’ when they’re stressed to help themselves calm down. If spicy food is something you eat often and is associated with happy memories, it may be part of your comfort food category,” says Guevara.

In addition, studies have shown that spicy food can cause mild pain, stimulating the body to produce endorphins and dopamine - chemicals that bring about a feeling of excitement. That is why many people feel happy, even satisfied, when eating spicy food.

Hormonal changes

Many people experience cravings when hormones in their bodies change, such as during menstruation, pregnancy or menopause.

A 2016 study found that of the 39% of pregnant women who reported cravings, 3.3% craved spicy foods like chili, curry, or strong spices.

“During pregnancy or as they age, some women may experience a decrease in their sense of taste, causing them to crave foods with stronger flavors,” adds Guevara.

Because of the hot weather

It may sound counterintuitive, but hot weather can sometimes make you crave spicy foods, because they can make you sweat while you eat them.

To explain this, nutritionist Diana Guevara (USA), said that capsaicin - a compound that creates the spicy taste in chili peppers - binds to the same heat-sensing receptor in the body. Accordingly, "it can slightly increase the body's internal temperature, then stimulate sweating, helping us feel like we are being cooled", Ms. Diana Guevara explained.

Hot weather sometimes makes you crave spicy food.

Photo: AI

Stimulated by sights and smells

In some people, advertisements, smells, or environmental cues can trigger sudden cravings for a particular food.

“Sometimes you’re watching TV and you see an ad for something you used to love, and you crave it again,” says nutritionist Shailja Mathur of Rutgers University. This phenomenon is often associated with “super-appealing” foods like french fries or ice cream — foods that can trigger the brain’s “pleasure center,” creating a pleasant feeling that makes people want to eat it again.

A recent study also found that people who like spicy food have clear physiological responses such as increased salivation and faster heart rate when they see spicy food. They also tend to eat more chili oil after being stimulated by images of spicy food.

Is spicy food good for your health?

Many spicy foods contain compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; they have also been linked to supporting longevity and slowing down eating speed – helping to curb overeating during meals.

However, you should not always indulge your cravings for spicy food. According to nutritionist Judy D. Simon, Washington University Medical Center (USA), spicy food can cause discomfort for people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritating the mouth, lips, esophagus or anus.

“Spicy foods can cause inflammation of the taste buds and lead to indigestion, affecting sleep,” expert Simon shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/4-ly-do-bat-ngo-co-the-khien-ban-them-an-cay-185250805001133828.htm