Is It Dangerous to Eat Really Hot Peppers?

It’s standard for spicy food to cause your upper lip to sweat, your nose to run, and your mouth to feel like it’s on fire. But can eating hot peppers mess with your health post-meal? The question is worth considering, especially as the ALS Pepper Challenge (AKA the Ice Bucket Challenge 2.0) gains popularity.
Stars like Kelly Clarkson and Shaquille O’Neal have been spotted swallowing spicy stuff for the challenge, which aims to raise awareness and funds for the neurodegenerative disease. But while we watched them struggle to chomp on crazy hot peppers, we couldn’t help but wonder: What makes chilies so darn fiery and are they even safe to nosh on in excess? Here, we pepper nutritionist Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, with all our burning questions. Read the below before you eat a heap of habaneros.

What makes peppers so hot?

The main compound that gives chilies their signature kick is a phytonutrient called capsaicin. “Capsaicin attaches to the receptors on the taste buds that detect temperature and sends signals of spicy heat to the brain,” explains Bazilian, who’s also the author of Eat Clean, Stay Lean.
The amount of heat a pepper packs has to do with the level of capsaicin it contains. To figure out how spicy a certain type of hot pepper is, adventurous eaters can refer to the Scoville scale, which ranks varieties from most to least spicy based on their capsaicin concentration. The scale ranges from standard bell peppers that have no capsaicin to ghost peppers and the Trinidad scorpion–the spiciest chilies around.

Dangers of eating hot peppers

“It’s a bit of a myth that hot peppers can actually create physical damage to the esophagus or tongue,” says Bazilian. But that doesn’t mean there are no dangers associated with noshing on fiery foods. Why? When we eat very hot peppers, the brain receives "pain" signals that can result in an upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting, says Bazilian. The stomach reacts as if you've consumed a toxic substance and works to release whatever was just eaten–i.e. spicy peppers–stat.
“If vomiting occurs, the acid that comes up from the stomach can irritate the esophagus,” explains Bazilian. Depending how hot a pepper is, that irritation can cause serious damage. Back in October 2016, one man actually burned a hole in his esophagus after consuming (and subsequently retching) ghost peppers during an eating contest. Other potential reactions to eating super-spicy peppers include numbness and breathing difficulties.

Health benefits of hot peppers

To complicate things, eating hot peppers can also deliver health benefits. Research suggests that certain capsaicin-rich ingredients, like cayenne pepper, can help eaters slim down by curbing appetite and revving the body’s calorie-burning abilities. What’s more, cayenne has also been shown to help clear sinuses, ease pain, and curb the growth of some bacteria.
To reap the benefits of hot peppers, choose varieties that aren’t too high on the Scoville scale and consume them in tasty meals, rather than straight up. “This way the impact on the tongue, esophagus, and stomach is less, too,” says Bazilian.

Health benefits of hot peppers

To complicate things, eating hot peppers can also deliver health benefits. Research suggests that certain capsaicin-rich ingredients, like cayenne pepper, can help eaters slim down by curbing appetite and revving the body’s calorie-burning abilities. What’s more, cayenne has also been shown to help clear sinuses, ease pain, and curb the growth of some bacteria.
To reap the benefits of hot peppers, choose varieties that aren’t too high on the Scoville scale and consume them in tasty meals, rather than straight up. “This way the impact on the tongue, esophagus, and stomach is less, too,” says Bazilian.

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Massage Can Help Treat Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is the leading cause of job disability in the world. About one in ten people have it, and for many who develop back pain, the condition becomes chronic.
Now, a new study finds that massage may provide lasting relief for chronic lower back pain, according to research published in the journal Pain Medicine.

To see how people in the real world respond to massage, researchers looked at 104 people with persistent back pain who were referred by their doctors to licensed massage therapists. They went to 10 sessions over 12 weeks, and the practitioners were free to design massage programs that were individual to the patients, rather than all using the same technique.

At the end of the study, most people completed a questionnaire, and more than 50% reported clinically meaningful improvement in their back pain. Several people improved so much that their scores on a standard screening test dropped below the threshold for disability, says lead author Niki Munk, an assistant professor of heath sciences at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. (Munk, who is also a licensed massage therapist, conducted the research while at the University of Kentucky.)


Many of those improvements lasted. Three months later, with no further massage sessions, 75% of the people who reported initial improvement said they still felt better. “They’d reverted back a little bit, but they were still significantly more improved than they were at the start of the study,” says Munk.
More research is needed to figure out exactly how massage works to reduce pain, but some research suggests that massage directly reduces inflammation in muscles.
Munk points out that the study included a diverse group of patients; some were obese, some had other health conditions that contributed to their back pain and others were taking opioid pain medications. “They reflect real-life,” Munk says. When a patient comes in with chronic lower back pain, it’s rare that they don’t have more, she says.
The researchers saw improvement across the board, but they did notice a few trends based on demographics. Adults ages 49 and older were more likely to meaningfully improve than younger patients. While people with obesity tended to improve, those gains didn’t last over time. And people taking opioids were two times less likely to experience meaningful changes, compared to those not taking them.

However, the researchers note, massage is rarely covered by health insurance. While study participants received their sessions free of charge, people who can afford it will need to weigh the costs with potential benefits.
That’s why more studies are needed, says Munk: to help people decide whether massage is really worth the out-of-pocket cost. Future research should investigate whether massage can help people avoid back surgeries, she says, and how many sessions are really needed to provide lasting improvement.

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5 Moves to Prevent Back Pain

Back pain is super common, especially as our lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary. Do not despair! There are ways to prevent and even lessen the effects of back pain. Watch this video to learn five exercises that you can add into your daily routine to strengthen your core and keep the aches and pains at bay.
Don’t have time to watch? Here’s the full transcript:
Back pain is super common, especially if you work at a desk, or if you don’t have a regular fitness routine. The best way to tackle it is by strengthening your core. So, here are five moves to help prevent back pain.
Bird dog: This move is great for working your core. I especially like it because it works your cross-body myofascial chain. You're going to come into your tabletop position. Hands are stacked under your shoulders. Knees are underneath your hips. You're going to find a neutral spine so you're not pressing up or sinking down, right in the middle. I want you to reach your right hand forward, left leg back. Really reach toward opposite sides of the room, then come back through neutral and switch sides.


Forearm plank reach: This move is a moving forearm plank that forces you to activate your core as you move to different positions. You’re going to come onto your elbows and find a nice, solid core. I like to widen my feet so I’m super stable. From here, you’re going to reach one hand forward, and then alternate. Notice that my hips are not moving. That is your goal, to keep your hips nice and still, and parallel to the ground.
World’s greatest stretch: This move is great because it opens up both your hips and your back. Often times, back pain can be the result of tightness in other areas of your body such as your upper back or your hips, so you want to stretch them. Come into a plank, bring your hands underneath your shoulders, you’re going to bring your right foot up to meet your right hand, and then you’re going to twist open. You’re going to make sure that left leg stays straight by squeezing your butt. Then you’re going to switch sides. Left foot to left hand, open up, and repeat.


Spinal twist: This move is a twist designed to open up your T-spine, which is your middle spine. So to prevent back pain, you want to create stability in your lower spine and mobility in your middle spine.
Come down to the ground and bring your knees into your chest. Stack your shoulders and your hands on top of each other, and then you’re going to open up, reaching that top hand towards the back wall and then back. Make sure you do it on both sides.
Hollow hold leg twist: For this move, you will just need a towel—fold it in half and then roll it up. Place it underneath your lower back and then lie down against it.


Engage your core. You can bring your neck off the ground. Then do a hollow hold with alternating legs. The towel is there for you to press into, give you some feedback, and make sure you’re activating your lower core. 

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6 Foods to Eat If You Want to Feel Sexier (And Who Doesn't?!)

You already know that chocolate has a reputation as a potent aphrodisiac, thanks in part to its high caffeine and antioxidant content and melt-in-your-mouth texture. No wonder chocolate in all forms is tempting you in store windows and on your social feed right now, as Valentine's Day is about to arrive.
But chocolate isn't the only food that can prime you physically or mentally for a bedroom session. Plenty of others can also put you in a let's-get-it-on kind of mindset, research suggests. Some amp your libido and energy, others give you a mood boost, and some simply have a silky, sensual deliciousness that makes you feel relaxed and indulgent. If you're hoping for some sexytime this Valentine's Day, put these six expert-recommended aphrodisiacs on your menu.

Olive oil

Ancient Greeks considered olive oil to be a cure for impotence, and they're clearly onto something. Rich in monosaturated fats, this oil can help increase blood flow, says nutritionist Julie Upton, RD. Better blood flow means more energy and circulation, which can make you feel more aroused.

Maca powder

Maca is a South American plant cultivated in the Andes for thousands of years. Newly trendy as a powder you can add to soups, acai bowls, and smoothies, a preliminary study suggests that it can pump libido—perhaps because it's such a nutritional superstar, loaded with energy- and libido-boosting amino acids, zinc, and iron.

Bivalves

Oysters have long been considered an aphrodisiac, but they're not the only seafood that can ignite desire. Upton says that scallops, mussels, and clams all contain two specific amino acids that increase sex hormone production in men and women. There's one catch though: These bivalves "must be eaten raw to score the nutritional benefits," notes Upton. Good thing oysters and scallops can be consumed uncooked, she says.

Almonds

A candle-lit steak dinner may sound super romantic, but plant-based protein is actually the best for your sexual health. The top choices? "Choose nuts," suggests Upton, who adds that the monosaturated fat in tree nuts such as almonds makes them excellent for heart health—as well as the health of your private parts, since they help improve blood flow down below, she says. Consume almonds as a snack, blend them into smoothies, or add them to your main course as a topping or crunchy crust.

Red pepper

Chefs add hot peppers to spice up a dish—and they can spice you up as well. Red chile peppers fire up nerve endings, make you sweat, and give you an adrenaline-boosting energy surge you can put to good use in the bedroom. Like all spices, they also have anti-inflammatory properties and make you feel more healthy overall, says Upton.

Tofu

Soy-based foods like tofu are high in protein, providing a steady energy surge to power sexual stamina. Soy products are also low in saturated fat and can increase blood flow and potentially boost arousal. And though it's controversial, some studies have suggested that the natural estrogen in soy-based foods, phytoestrogens, can supplement your own natural estrogen, possibly affecting arousal.
Just as important as what you eat, however, is who you're enjoying your food with and the atmosphere you're dining in. Those environmental factors can make it so a food that doesn't have any known aphrodisiac powers still leaves you feeling sexy. "The good news is your brain is the largest sex organ," says Donnica Moore, MD, a gynecologist and host of the podcast In the Ladies Room With Dr. Donnica. "If a pleasant memory from your past involved a particular food, the next time you eat it you may associate it with sexual desire."

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Cucumber Mint Tonic

A lot of digestive issues can be caused by inflammation; that area of the body gets very hot,” says Axe. “Cucumber and mint are both very cooling.” Research shows mint may help relieve IBS by soothing pain from inflammation in the GI tract.

Recipe Is:

Meatless

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 English cucumber (about 7 oz.), peeled and chopped

How to Make It
Place all ingredients in a blender with 4 cups cool water; blend until smooth. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into glasses and serve, or refrigerate to serve later.

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