• What exactly is capsaicin ?
• Scoville Scale (SHU) - a measure of the amount of capsaicin in the product
• Health-promoting properties of capsaicin
• Can Capsaicin Help Lose Excessive Body Weight?
• Capsaicin and Digestion
• Antibacterial effect of capsaicin
• Can Capsaicin Help Treat Alzheimer's Disease?
• Is capsaicin harmless to health?
• summary

Many well-known and valued cuisines in the world are based on spicy-tasting products and spices. Some exotic dishes are so spicy that eating them can be a real problem. Therefore, the question arises as to what is responsible for their specific taste and smell. The answer is capsaicin. It is this substance found in chili peppers, jalapeno peppers, Indian hot curry, and even pepper spray. In this article we will try to thoroughly describe this interesting substance and reveal its potential positive and negative effects on the human body. We wish you a pleasant reading.

What exactly is capsaicin ?

Capsaicin is a chemical compound classified as an alkaloid, although it is not a typical member of this group. It occurs naturally in plants and its pungent and burning taste is said to discourage herbivores from consuming such a plant, but also protects them from bacteria and fungi. The more of this substance, the stronger it affects our body, and the effects in the form of burning and burning in the mouth are stronger. In its pure form, it takes the form of a white, crystalline powder. Capsaicin was first described in 1816 and was isolated from plants at the time. Interestingly, the feeling of heat after consuming this chemical compound is independent of the temperature of the consumed product. Finally, it acts directly on neurons responsible for the sensation of pain and heat. It is worth noting that each of us has a different tolerance to these stimuli, and besides, it is possible for the body to get used to the effects of this substance. This effect can be compared to caffeine, where if we consume coffee, after a while we need to drink more of it to get the same effect of stimulating the body.

Scoville Scale (SHU) - a measure of the amount of capsaicin in the product

Scoville scale (SHU) is used to determine the amount of capsaicin. It is believed that one gram of this substance is equivalent to 15 to 16 million SHU units. Likewise, the higher the value, the sharper the taste of the product and the stronger the body's reaction. Therefore, we present some examples of the sharpness of individual products:

• Paprika - 0 SHU
• Jalapeno Pepper and Tabasco Sauce - 2500 - 5000 SHU
• Serano- Paprikaschoten - 10.000 - 23.000 SHU
• Chili Cayenne Pepper - 30,000 - 50,000 SHU
• Thai-Chili - 50.000 - 100.000 SHU
• Habanero Peppers - 100,000 - 350,000 SHU
• Habanero Savinas Rote Paprika - 350.000 - 580.000 SHU
• Police Pepper Spray - approx. 2,000,000 SHU
• Caroline Reaper Peppers - 1.500.000 - 2.300.000 SHU
• Pfeffer X - 2.500.000 - 3.000.000 SHU
• Reines Capsaicin – 16,000,000 SHU

It should be added that small amounts of capsaicin can be found in many spices that are popular on our table. These include cinnamon, but also oregano, nutmeg and coriander.

Health-promoting properties of capsaicin

It appears that capsaicin is responsible for the specific, spicy taste of many foods, dishes, and more. Meanwhile, this unassuming chemical can have a major impact on the functioning of the entire body. This may come as a surprise to many. It is worth noting that, across the cross-section of the entire human population, a pungent taste is not tolerated as well as, for example, a sweet taste. But such conditions need not stand in the way of its effective application. In commonly understood medicine we can find products containing capsaicin , but in quantities that do not cause significant discomfort during use. For example, we can mention all kinds of capsules, tablets, ointments, compresses for application on the skin and even heat patches.

Can Capsaicin Help Lose Excessive Body Weight?

The most common symptoms after consuming capsaicin are an accelerated heartbeat and thus an increase in blood pressure. It can also lead to increased sweating, but also to accelerated gas exchange in the lungs. All of these factors can speed up fat burning, but it's worth noting that such effects are usually short-lived. In 2010, scientists at Daegu University in South Korea showed that capsaicin has a significant impact on whole-body thermogenesis. After taking this substance, the concentration of specific proteins, which are mainly responsible for lipid metabolism and the aforementioned thermogenesis, increased. Interestingly, this effect lasted much longer than the symptoms of capsaicin alone. Danish scientists also came to similar conclusions, but used preparations based on a combination of capsaicin, caffeine and tyrosine. The results of both studies are really promising, but so far they have only been carried out on animals. However, that doesn't change the fact that capsaicin could be used extensively in fat burners in the near future. It is worth noting that on the market we already find many preparations containing capsaicin. As a rule, however, it is an addition, not its main component.

Capsaicin and Digestion

Followers of spicy dishes, which sometimes contain large amounts of capsaicin , claim that it perfectly improves digestion. So far, however, there are no studies that can clearly confirm this. Contrary to popular belief, capsaicin does not increase the secretion of hydrochloric acid or bile. On the contrary, because it has been shown to block the secretion of this acid in the stomach, but it also does not affect the production of gastrin and somatostatin , hormones that are largely responsible for digestive processes. However, it is worth debunking a myth about this substance. For a long time, the public opinion has been circulating that capsaicin or spicy foods undeniably lead to the development of stomach ulcers. So we have good news for all fans of spicy food. A number of different studies on the subject have not found that the consumption of capsaicin is in any way linked to the occurrence of this condition. On the contrary, by inhibiting the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, it reduces the risk of ulcers. In addition, in such a situation, capsaicin will certainly significantly speed up their healing.

Antibacterial effect of capsaicin

Capsaicin, which is primarily found in hot peppers, is there for a reason. Plants have evolved such a defense mechanism to avoid consumption by all herbivores, for example. It is therefore not surprising that this substance not only protects against it. It has a strong bactericidal effect and thus protects the plant from infections. We can also use these properties. It's worth noting that capsaicin inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylori , the bacterium responsible for causing stomach ulcers. A close connection has also been demonstrated with the consumption of capsaicin and the occurrence of colds, flu and other bacterial diseases. But even with colibacillosis, a high concentration of capsaciin is required to combat it effectively. However, it is worth noting that despite all these health-promoting properties of this substance, it is not worth overdoing its consumption. This is because in high concentrations it can have the opposite effect, thus accelerating the formation of stomach ulcers, but it can also affect the mucous membranes of the entire digestive system.

Can Capsaicin Help Treat Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease affects more and more people around the world every year. It is therefore not surprising that scientists are constantly looking for newer chemical substances that can delay the onset and even alleviate the course of the disease. Scientists from China conducted an experiment to check how capsaicin affects the development of this disease. Experimental animals were used for this. They were fed a high-fat diet, which further induces the development of type II diabetes, thereby artificially producing Alzheimer's disease. One group of rats received a traditional diet, while the other group received a dry diet with the addition of capsaicin. After a long time, they began to analyze parameters such as blood sugar levels, but also insulin levels and the insulin resistance index themselves. The results were quite surprising as the rats fed capsacin had these parameters at a much better level. In addition, it was found that capsaciin has a significant effect on the phosphorylation of tau protein, i. H. of a specific macro element that is almost exclusively found in neurons. Such a discovery clearly showed that capsaicin can counteract the degenerative changes in the brain that occur during the course of the disease. However, these are only preliminary studies and it is not entirely clear whether such an effect also occurs in humans. Still, these are really promising results and who knows, maybe one day capsaciin will be an important ingredient in drugs for all neurodegenerative diseases.

Is capsaicin harmless to health?

Capsaicin is a relatively safe substance. The dose of the substance taken is of the utmost importance. There are also known cases of capsaicin allergy. Pregnant women and young children should also be careful. Both groups should limit the consumption of spicy foods as much as possible, but do not have to do without them entirely. However, excessive consumption can cause short-term side effects such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However, sometimes there is a cough, severe irritation of the throat and mucous membranes, and even dizziness. However, it is worth remembering that the above symptoms only appear when a really large dose of capsaicin is consumed at once.

summary

Capsacin is a substance that is most commonly found in hot peppers, but not only. In addition to the pungent taste and smell, it can be an important health-promoting part of any diet. The amount in such a tea depends primarily on personal taste preferences and a certain tolerance for spiciness. It's worth noting that despite numerous health-promoting properties, it is not a drug in itself and should rather be treated as a dietary supplement. However, with more and more research and scientific reports, it turns out that we still don't know much about it.