Doctor gave strange advice to pregnant women
People are divided into those who are ardent fans of spicy food and those who cannot stand it. A medical expert makes some very controversial recommendations, claiming that you can accustom yourself to spicy food and even get a «dopamine boost» by learning to ignore the «burning pain.»
Scientists say that you can not only train yourself to tolerate spicy food, but perhaps even develop a tendency to eat spicy foods.
Dr Stuart Farrimond believes the brain may initially associate the spice with a «burning pain» caused by a chemical in chillies. But, the Daily Mail reports, as the brain learns the sensation is not harmful, it is replaced by a «dopamine rush». This in turn suggests the brain can be trained to eat spice by gradually increasing its consumption.
When asked on the Unexpected Elements podcast why people have different levels of tolerance to spice, Dr Farrimond said there have been a lot of studies trying to explain the phenomenon. He said it's unclear whether it's something that happens from an early age, or whether it's some kind of genetics that runs in families. He thinks it's more likely to be a bit of both. But he says he thinks most people can train themselves to like hot chillies.
Dr Farrimond says the «burning sensation» that comes with eating hot chillies is due to natural compounds in chillies. That's because the chemicals in chillies, called capsaicinoids, act on certain pain fibres in the nerves. And that literally causes a person to feel a burning pain in their head because the brain can't detect the scorching heat. The scientist says the brain treats the heat as «dangerous»: «And yet many of us enjoy it, and that's because over time we learn that it's not actually harmful.»
And when we experience that discomfort, which gradually goes away, we get a kind of rush of dopamine, which is a feel-good hormone in the brain,» he added.
«It's the kind of rollercoaster high you get,» says Dr. Stuart Farrimond, «after your boss at work says it's an amazing job. It's a feeling of exaltation. We experience it almost as an addiction after… how to taste a spicy dish.»
In addition, according to the expert, eating spicier and richer-tasting foods during pregnancy will mean that children are more likely to like them and will be less picky in food when they grow up.
«This is because,» he explains, «if you eat these foods during pregnancy, as well as during breastfeeding, then flavoring additives — as the child's brain develops, he understands that these substances are not harmful because the mother eats them. So when the baby is born, he will be able to intuitively understand that it is not actually harmful. Thus, you could prepare your baby in advance by consuming a lot during pregnancy. curry and spicy dishes.»