Capsaicin and the Stomach Essay - 832 Words

Almost everyone is told that consuming capsaicin causes stomach problems, but the opposite is true. What is capsaicin? Capsaicin is found in chili peppers which originated in Latin America; due to it pungent flavor was traded by Spanish and Portuguese explorers during the sixteenth century to Europe and Asia and is now one of the essential spices in the world. Chili peppers have been used for centuries in the seasoning of food, but recently, scientists have started using it for medical purposes. Many speculate that capsaicin helps improve and treat various health problems, some as simple as headaches to cancer and that it can promote blood circulation, maintain weight loss, and prevent the deterioration of the lining of the stomach.†¦show more content†¦The real culprits are bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, most commonly known as H. pylori, aspirin, alcohol, stress, excessive acid secretion in the stomach, the reduction in gastric mucous blood flow and anti-inflammat ory medicine. H. pylori are bacteria that significantly contribute to the formation of gastric ulcers as they promote the secretion of acid and deteriorate the mucus in the stomach and when capsaicin is consumed it kills the bacteria. Also in a study conducted by a researcher, two groups of volunteers with normal stomach linings were given aspirin to take daily, the control group was just given the aspirin while the experimental group was given aspirin and water with chili powder, the results were that the control group had the most deterioration of the stomach mucus. It seems that capsaicin slows acid secretion and promotes the production of mucus secretion. Mucus protects the lining of the stomach and when a person suffers from gastric ulcers it is because their mucus production is low and they secret too much acid, which eats away at the stomach’s lining. Although many scientists believe that capsaicin helps the stomach, others opinions differ, like in any scientific study. These opposing scientists believe that capsaicin actually is a carcinogen, which means that when used internally causes cancerous cells to form. In some experiments, rats treated with capsaicin formedShow MoreRelated Chili Peppers Essay1261 Words   |  6 Pagesthe component capsaicin causes the peppers to taste â€Å"hot† (Mason, 2004). This aspect of the chili pepper causes the neurons to be excited and increases the sensitivity, which causes itchiness and burning sensations (Mason, 2004). These sensations are the defense mechanisms by chili peppers to protect it from being eaten by other species. So how could something that creates an instant negative response in the body be good for it? When extracted and used in a unique method, the capsaicin that createsRead MoreEssay on Red Hot Chili Peppers1622 Words   |  7 Pageswell in the hot sun (Robbins 1 992). The substance that produces all of the heat sensation is known as capsaicin. 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