Free Essay

Why Do People Eat Spicy Food

In:

Submitted By aljadam
Words 818
Pages 4
Why Do People Eat Spicy Food
Mohammad Aljada
English 123

Spices; they come in a host of flavors, used in a variety of ways, and can be found in just about everything we eat. Whether it is the hot chili peppers or the ground substance we use to flavor our dishes, their use has become synonymous with the food signature of cultures around the world. Though the words hot and spicy are often used interchangeably, they may not always refer to the same thing. Wherein spice is a general term that pertain to any dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetable substance and is primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food (Wikipedia, 2014). Heat, on the other hand, is a more specific term associated with the pepper variety and other fruits that contain the active ingredient capsaicin, which is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), also known as the Scoville scale (eatmorechiles, 2014).

But why do people eat hot spicy foods? Whether they enjoy a little zing or crave the full burning sensation whenever they indulge in a hot dish; the answer may lie in several cultural and biological reasons. Cultures around the world have long valued food as part of their heritage. They incorporated spices to mark their flavor, resembling the cultural diversity, and even corresponding to the type environment where it has originated to some extent. We also take a look at some of the health benefits associated with eating spicy foods. Some research indicates that eating spicy foods can lower your calorie intake and speed up your metabolism, resulting in more calorie burn and weight loss (Wikipedia, 2014). Studies also show herbs and spices to have substantial vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant properties that helps facilitate nutrient absorption, and act as an anti-inflammatory agent, which in turn help fight diseases such as cancer and tumors (Mercola, 2014).

So is our choices to eat the hot stuff logically driven? Is it something we acquire as a result of our upbringing? Or do we make a conscious attempt to consume spicy foods to reap their health benefits?. There is no real definitive answer as to why we do it. While some suggest that we might just be doing it for a quick stimulation, others seem to think there are a more profound reasons behind it. One research by Drs Sherman and Billing for example, proposes what they call the antibiotic hypothesis. It basically suggests that the use of spices in food is historically linked to the average temperature in a region, whereas hotter climates poses a greater risk of food borne illnesses, spices are used as an antibiotic to inhibit the bacteria that causes such illnesses. It also goes into comparing recipes from different regions of the world, and found that every recipe in 10 hot-weather countries required the use of at least one spice, compared to only 67 percent of Norwegian recipes for example. That meant that more powerful spices are used more frequently in hotter climates (Sherman, 1998). Another study by Dr. Rozin professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that the beneficial effects are too small to explain the great human love of chili-spiced food, and suggests that humans experience pleasure in the pain brought by consuming hot food. He describes it as a thrill similar to the fun of riding a roller coaster (Gorman, 2010).

In conclusion, the degree at which people like the hot stuff, is not necessarily dependent on the geographical location, upbringing, and cultural norms. There is a growing number of aficionados that develop the likeness for spicy food later on in life, and in different parts of the world where the use of hot ingredients is not an essential part of that country's cuisine. This compelled some to claim that there is some genetical reasoning behind it. But whatever the rationale is, one thing is for certain; our choice to eat or not to eat spicy foods and how much of it remains a personal preference, one of the things we elect to do in the same manner we choose our dressing styles or the type music we listen to. | | |

References eatmorechiles. (2014). How Is Pepper Heat Measured? Retrieved from eatmorechiles: http://www.eatmorechiles.com/Scoville_Heat.html
Gorman, J. (2010, September 21). A Perk of Our Evolution: Pleasure in Pain of Chilis. The New York Times, Science, p. D1. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21peppers.html?pagewanted=all
Mercola, D. (2014, September 27). 3 Reasons You Should Eat More Spicy Food. Retrieved from mercola.com: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/09/27/why-eat-spicy-food.aspx
Sherman, J. B. (1998). Antimicrobial Functions of Spices: Why Some Like It Hot. Quarterly Review of Biology, 3-49. Retrieved from whyfiles.
Wikipedia. ( 2014, October 31). Spice. Retrieved from Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Why Do People Eat Spicy Food

...of flavors, used in a variety of ways, and can be found in just about everything we eat. Whether it is the hot chili peppers or the ground substance we use to flavor our dishes, their use has become synonymous with the food signature of cultures around the world. Though the words hot and spicy are often used interchangeably, they may not always refer to the same thing. Wherein spice is a general term that pertain to any dried seed, fruit, root, bark, or vegetable substance and is primarily used for flavoring, coloring or preserving food (Wikipedia, 2014). Heat, on the other hand, is a more specific term associated with the pepper variety and other fruits that contain the active ingredient capsaicin, which is measured in Scoville Heat Units (SHU), also known as the Scoville scale (eatmorechiles, 2014). But why do people eat hot spicy foods? Whether they enjoy a little zing or crave the full burning sensation whenever they indulge in a hot dish; the answer may lie in several cultural and biological reasons. Cultures around the world have long valued food as part of their heritage. They incorporated spices to mark their flavor, resembling the cultural diversity, and even corresponding to the type environment where it has originated to some extent. We also take a look at some of the health benefits associated with eating spicy foods. Some research indicates that eating spicy foods can lower your calorie intake and speed up your metabolism, resulting in more calorie...

Words: 322 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Human Realation Hournal

...to be good effectiveness on the result of our activity. During this week’s activity, I preferred to use win/win strategy to cooperate with my group members. However, it is really difficult to satisfy everyone’s need, so sometimes I had to use win/lose style to achieve our goals. For example, when answering some questions, I gave others my answers and explained that why they were reasonable, but sometimes in this activity, my win/lose strategy did not work so well, because I fail to convince them to use my answers. When people interact with each other, it’s quite hard to avoid conflict, so I also have conflict with my friends sometimes. For example, my friend and I hang out in the city three weeks ago, we had a conflict on what kind of food to eat. My friend wanted to eat Malaysian food, but I want to eat Sichuan spicy food. After telling him that I do not like Malaysian food and it was my last choice, he said that he would eat Sichuan food this time and next time I should have Malaysian food with him. So we went to China Red to eat spicy food, however he sweat a lot and could not stand that kind of spicy food. Finally, he did not satisfy with this. I think what we acted in...

Words: 472 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

My Family Cultural Analysis

...I come from a family that likes to do everything together. For example our trapition holidays or just family hang out. In my culture we have some treiditionds we like and enjoy doing it. My culture is mexican and im happy to be mexican and we dont celebrate many holidays but the ones we do celebrate we enjoy them. The holiday we enjoy and celebrate the most is chrismas. Elements of culture that define me and why. Food I eat in my culture is most of the mexican food. We also like to eat something like my grandmas spicy pozale in september for the mexican indepentes day. Another element of culture that define me and why sport is soccer also sometimes we like watching soccer games together. We like watching games of mexico team and when mexico team comes to play to las vegas or LA we go to see them games.And we like watching real madrid but most of the time only the guys watch it....

Words: 452 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Fast Food Globalization

...internationally have been the fast food industry. No other industry has had the perfect combination of staying true to its business roots but at the same time adapting themselves to the different countries they operate in better than the fast food industry. No matter where you go in the world you can get a Big Mac and it will taste exactly the same as it does here, but there are also many different options that customers in the United States would have no familiarity with. As will be obvious throughout this paper McDonalds is really the king of adapting its business to the various cultures of the countries they operate in. The top ten fast food chains with revenue made outside the United States from ten thru one are Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts, Wendy’s, Starbucks, Domino’s Pizza, Subway, Pizza Hut, Burger King, KFC, and McDonalds at number one with revenue total of 44 billion (Huffington Post Mar 12 2013). Some say that fast food chains that adapt themselves too much to other cultures are losing what made their businesses successful in the first place the idea that people in these for foreign countries eat at these restaurants to get a taste of American life not to eat the same thing they eat every day. That is really not the point of this to find out if that is true; this is simply about seeing how businesses adapt themselves to different cultures and be successful at it. I chose five regions of the world that will show how different fast food chains adapt to the tastes of different...

Words: 2790 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Eating Habit

...EATING HABITS Why do people eat? People eat to survive. Food people eat gives their bodies the energy they need to function. Eating, as a daily activity, is done so many times that could form some eating habits. People say that the current eating habits of a person reflect all of his childhood’s comestible way. Eating habits are a part of a person’s characteristics and an unchanged process over the time. However, I think this concept is not applicable in my case. In my childhood, I always took away any green leaves in my bowl and recognized them as the horrible ingredients. I also ignored the spicy meals which burned my tongue and the tasteless frozen food as all kids did. However, over the time I definitely changed my edible pattern from a child with appreciating vegetables, enjoying spicy taste, and adapting frozen meals. First, my eating habits have been changed from a leafless eater to a green vegetable fan. When I was young, my mom always cooked Pho for me and my father in two separated way. For my dad, my mom made him a large bowl of Vietnamese style beef noodle with all the herb ingredients and fresh vegetable. For me and my little brother, my mom made others bowls without any vegetable element. I recalled she served me the unique Pho with only thick noodle, sliced chicken meat and hot brown soup. My grandma always kept complaining to her about my unhealthy carnivorous diet, but my mom couldn’t tolerate her children eat food they disliked. For such a long time until...

Words: 1067 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Marketing Research

...growing markets in global business is the snacks and food market. This study attempts to evaluate market opportunity for a new Indian snack bar in Milwaukee downtown. Most of the restaurants in Milwaukee offer various food varieties (for Breakfast, lunch, dinner) and snacks. Few fast food centers sell snacks as their primary business in Milwaukee. This paper discusses the design and approach in conducting the marketing research for a new business opportunity in Milwaukee downtown. The report starts with the problem background, environmental context, representing a Management Decision problem, Management research problem followed by research questions and hypothesis. The primary data collection method is through depth interviews and expert surveys. The secondary source of information is collected from the internet database, references from the report from US department of Agriculture and articles published in the internet. To save time and money exploratory research design technique is used. Finally, the research report elaborates on the scope of the report. The marketing management team can take advantage from the output of the research (or with further research) for the planning and further can provide input to the strategic management team to set the strategy for the Snack Bar business. Introduction and Background to the problem The united states Department of Agriculture (2003) reports that as societies modernize, people are forced to adopt hectic lifestyle that make them...

Words: 2441 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Speech

... Information about what kind veggie food I eat, hoe I get nutrition and why I am vegetarian? My name is Tejaskumar Patel. I am from India and I am vegetarian. Most people in USA ask me about what kind food I eat and make comment salad and juices. I thing so they think that I am Tarzan and leave in forest area and survive with tree leaves. Common men do am I look like Tarzan and survive with tree leaves? I always laugh at team because they didn’t have knowledge what am I eat. Let me give little bit knowledge of what kind of delicious and test food I eat and also correct that I am not Tarzan and at end I will tell you reason why I am vegetarian. There are more than hundred (100) items in Gujarati-Food. Khaman, Dhokla, Fafda-Jalebi, Thepla, khakara, Roti, Unthiyu, Khand-Pakora, Lashaniaya-Batata, Aam ka chunda, Gujarati-dal, Tadka-Dal, Sev-tameta nu shak, Batata nu shak Khandvi, Bhajiya, Pakora, Chevdo etc. This is just only spicy food. If I talk about sweet items there are also long list for that. Kopra-Pak, Halvo, Magaz, Sutarfani, Shikhand, Matho, Lapsi, Sheero, Sukhadi, Puran-Poli, Mohanthal, Malie peda, Basundi, Aam ras and one of the my favorite one is Laadu. Which one really testy and delicious. This are just only Gujarati-food. If I am talk about Rajasthani, Panjabi, Maharashtrian, South Indian, Bagnoli, Assami and Chennai’ food I can write down whole book for that. In India there...

Words: 486 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Filipino Street Food

...FILIPINO FOOD STREET October 25, 2011 // By Caryl Estrosas Posted in: Asia // Food / Drinks // Philippines When in Rome, do as the Romans do—an advice fitting for any travelers visiting a foreign land. So, when you are in the Philippines, testing your palate with the Filipino street foods, while not necessary, is commendable. Not only would it be fun to try the unique local dishes, but it is a great way to immerse and understand the Filipino culture. It is easy to spot street food vendors; where there are churches, schools, recreational parks, or jeepney terminals, you will also see kiosks, makeshift stalls, or food carts. In suburbs, you will see vendors or hawkers with their bicycles or push carts almost everywhere. Street food is a way of life for many people in this part of the globe. It is a source of income for many Filipino families—some vendors testified that their street food businesses enable them to send their children to school. For students and working adults looking for inexpensive meal, street food satisfy them for just half-the price of a meal in any popular fast-food restaurant. Instead of dining in a restaurant for an authentic Filipino dish, why not go out in the street and have a quick bite. There is nothing more authentic than those food in the streets—untouched with the modern culinary flair. You will not only get to enjoy the food, but you get to join the locals who are eating with much gusto. Let you save couple of...

Words: 1530 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Description Worksheet

...very many people there. This was not good for us at all. There was three families in the dining area, three gorgeous women sitting at a table in the bar, and probably ten guys sitting around the bar one of whom was very drunk and annoying; needless to say we sat down next to the three gorgeous women. The reason we were not happy that there was not a lot of people is that we like to play impractical jokers between ourselves. We took the rules from the show and put them into our show. The name of the game is to have somebody to tell you to do something embarrassing, if you don't do it, you take a strike. Once you have three strikes you definitely have to do what the next person tells you to do. The rules are you can't tell somebody to do something that could get them arrested. After we had had a few drinks and were getting bored just watching the game we decided it was time to begin our jokes on each other. I am not a very outgoing person and definitely do not like to be embarrassed as my friends know. My first dare to begin the play was to go up to these beautiful women sitting next to us and ask them if they cared to join our table. Their table was a circle and ours was a rectangle. I also had to ask them to bring their circular table to our rectangular table so we could make it look like a giant dick with small bags. This was very embarrassing for me and my face did turn a little red, but I went ahead with it. Thinking they would decline my invitation they said why not and we...

Words: 690 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Asian Culture

...One of the most diverse things about the culture and one thing that many people can agree with, is the food. As for me, that's one of my favorite things about being Haitian-Dominican decent as I get to eat the amazing food. But another culture who's food is a big part of their being, are Asians and their style of cooking and what they eat and what they make, and etc. So I thought, why not visit or get in depth with another culture whose food is a huge part of their being. And for this paper, I've decided to get into Asian food and how it differs from my culture as well as the importance it plays in their culture. To continue, as I began to think of where I can go to try real Asian food to really speak on for this essay, I remembered about my neighbor. My neighbor whom is of Chinese descent owns restaurant called 'Asia Town'. When I approached him about wanting to learn about different Asian foods and taste them, he invited me for a free meal at his restaurant to try some of his popular dishes. He even explained to me that a lot of his food is cooked by himself and though he gets help from his mother, he makes sure to keep the 'Asian style' in his food. A lot of popular buffets make their food 'mainstream' according to him and he mentioned to me, his restaurant was the best place to try real Asian food. Furthermore, as I entered his restaurant on September 12th and there wasn’t too many people in the restaurant and therefore he wanted to give me a ‘taste’ of his culture’s...

Words: 1813 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

The Holy Trinity In Magnalite Pots And The People Who Love It

...“The Holy Trinity in Magnalite Pots and the People Who Love It” “Mais Cher!” Creoles are people of Louisiana and who speak Creole French and eat its various delicacies. The food is a hybridization of French, Spanish, African, and English cuisine, and it’s “c’est bon!” Onions, celery, and bell peppers are a staple in their cuisine, and for this reason these ingredients are called the “Holy Trinity”. This nickname is an allusion to their Roman Catholic religion. Rice is the foundation of every Creole recipe; it’s ambiguous in South Louisiana. Shrimp Stew, Catfish Courtbouillon, Shrimp & Sausage Creole, Crawfish Etouffee, Boulets, Jambalaya, and Chicken Fricassee all served over steaming hot rice. All of these dishes contain cayenne pepper, as it serves at the foundation of how spicy Creole food is. Creoles enjoy sharing their food with their family as it warrants them to come together. y Food and family is cherished in the Creole culture....

Words: 868 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Table Manner

...will present to you about the difference of manners among 3 parts of Vietnam. If you had any questions, please ask us after the presentation. Thank you. First of all, I will present to you general table manners in VN. This part is very long, so I will divided it into 2 parts: Part 1 I will present to you Vietnamese cuisine generally, part 2 I will show you some information about some manners you should learn when you eat in Vn, not the other country. Vietnamese cuisine includes the foods and beverages of Vietnam, and features a combination of five fundamental taste elements:n(Vietnamesegũ vị) in the overall meal. Each Vietnamese dish has a distinctive flavor which reflects one or more of these elements. Common ingredients includefish sauce, shrimp paste, soy sauce, rice, fresh herbs, and fruits and vegetables. Traditional Vietnamese cooking is greatly admired for its fresh ingredients, minimal use of oil, and reliance on herbs and vegetables. Known for its balance of five elements, many Vietnamese dishes include five fundamental taste senses (ngũ vị): spicy (metal), sour (wood), bitter (fire), salty (water) and sweet (Earth). Fish sauce is the most commonly used and symbolic condiment in Vietnamese cooking. It is made from fermented raw fish, and is served with most of the Vietnamese dishes. Vietnamese cuisine is reflective...

Words: 1196 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Unity

...unity of citizens is an important objective for a multi-racial country as it forms an important security for strengthens of the country and its administration. Without unity, a country will be exposed to various weaknesses. These weaknesses are capable to cause its sovereignty to be affected as it cannot afford to resist trespasser from inside and outside. Therefore, citizen unity is an issue that needs to be taken seriously in strategizing the country’s development and administration so that it could retain and defend its freedom as a country which is sovereign. To practice unity, Malaysians first practice “RUKUN NEGARA”, then form political unity, studies unity, social and culture unity such as culture program, festival celebration and foods. First and foremost, Malaysians’ acceptance of multi-racial to Malaysia’s ideology that is “RUKUN NEGARA”. Country’s Rules are life rules or life norms that are very important to each and every citizen in this country. In “RUKUN NEGARA” all Malaysians are united to practicing five principles; Believing in God, Being Loyal to the King and country, Purity of the constitution, Sovereignty of the laws, and Politeness and manners. The first principle is regarding believing in God. It brings the meaning that Islam is the official region of this country. However, other religious other than Islam can be practiced freely by all races in Malaysian. Second, being loyal to the king and country. This brings the meaning of Malaysian despite...

Words: 5943 - Pages: 24

Free Essay

South Korea Traditional Food

...China to the south. Like most ethnic group throughout the world, South Koreans have their own food culture to suit their unique history and climate. Not only has the geographical boundaries which separate it from its neighbors impacted on the food culture of the nation, but the four distinct seasons have also influenced what South Koreans eat. There are various type of traditional food in South Korea such as Ttok Kuk, Ogokbap and Kimchi. Ttok kuk or rice cake soup is a typical Korea traditional food they eat on New Year. Ttok kuk contain several meanings. First of all, it means when you have a dish of ttok kuk you are one year older. They do not count the age on the basis of their birthday but on the basis of every New Year’s Day. Nowadays they eat ttok kuk any day of the year they like other than New Year’s day but in the past it was only on New Year’s Day. Older people would ask, how many dishes of ttok kuk you had, “2 dishes” definitely will not be the answer. Because one soup is equals to one year of life, the more you eat, the more you age. Second, another name for ttok kuk is “byung tang”, which means broth made of ttok. Ttok kuk also a dish that wish for a year you won’t get ill after ate this dish. They wish to live with strength as the ttok, round and long. There is a profound meaning in this dish. Third, the round shape of ttok like a coin symbolizes the rising sun. That’s why when they cutting the ttok, it must be cut in a round shape and in no other way. Ttok is...

Words: 1042 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

English

...Nikita has many different meanings in many different languages. Nikita is also pronounced differently in every different language. But my mom told me it was a Russian name. In Russian Nikita means victorious and unconquerable. My mom also told me that there was a Russian queen named Nikita. In Indian culture my parents have to do this tradition where they have to go to a temple to a priest and find out what should my name start with. So then the priest looks at the day, the date and the time. Then tells my parents it should start with a letter “N”. My parents were having a hard time finding a name for me. So my parents decide to take a look at the book full of names that started with the letter “N” finally they decided to name me Nikita. They also saw that Nikita was a very uncommon name. So that’s how my name came to be Nikita. Indian culture is really hard to follow when you live in America. I think it’s hard to be an Indian and American at the same time. I have to be both because if I forget my Indian culture my parents get really mad and if I don’t be American I wouldn’t fit in like other people. But I think I like being Indian knowing more or different languages than other Americans it makes me feel special. My dad doesn’t allow me and my little brother to speak English at home because he doesn’t want us to forget our language and I think that’s the right thing because I forgot how to write Hindi and if I wouldn’t speak Hindi I might forget how to speak it too....

Words: 2313 - Pages: 10