I love to eat things extremely spicy hot. I always have really hot (to the point that my lips swell up) salsa in the house (homemade) to put on food. And I put a lot on food. Is this healthy? I'm not setting myself up for an ulcer, am I?
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MamaBeeMinnie
ANSWERS: 4
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Spicy foods don't cause ulcers. Ulcers are caused by a bacteria called H. Pylori. ------ From: http://ibdcrohns.about.com/library/fallacies/blulcers.htm "Spicy food and stress cause stomach ulcers. False. The truth is, almost all stomach ulcers are caused either by infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or by use of pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, the so-called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Most H. pylori-related ulcers can be cured with antibiotics. NSAID-induced ulcers can be cured with time, stomach-protective medications, antacids, and avoidance of NSAIDs. Spicy food and stress may aggravate ulcer symptoms in some people, but they do not cause ulcers."
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Anything to excess isn't healthy, and your palate will probably not recognise/enjoy subtle flavours eventually.
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Certain spicy foods in moderation can aid in digestion, especially things like hot peppers which contain vinegars.
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Probably not -- the biggest thing is that you will likely lose ability to taste and smell more subtle food flavors. My husband has a similar palate, and even the most spicy food that anyone else can tolerate, he eats and admits that it has "some spiciness." He can't tell when milk has soured (can't smell it), but he's never had any problems with gastritis or ulcers. But as for ulcers (and gastritis, a precursor and treated similarly): though they say most of these are caused by h. pylori or aspirin, it is also possible to at least get gastritis where neither of these were the cause -- I did. Apparently some people have more sensitive stomachs, produce more acid or bile that refluxes into the stomach, yet no apparent cause such as bacteria or use of aspirin. But eating excessively spicy food will not set you up for an ulcer. Some Asians, especially Indians, eat extremely spicy foods also (at least by American standards), yet that diet apparently doesn't cause ulcers.
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