I knew that stuff was bad for you

I’m safe on this one:

According to the study, older adults over the age of 55 who consumed more than 50 grams of chili per day displayed nearly double the risk of developing poor cognition and a decline in overall memory. Interestingly, slimmer adults indulging in a spicy diet exhibited even more significant memory loss.

It wasn’t until I was well into middle age before I finally figured out that some people interpreted the eating of things like chili and black peppers as having a taste. To me (and both of my brothers) there is no taste associated with many peppers. There is only “hot” and pain. It had long been a source of great perplexion to me, “Why do people deliberately cause themselves pain for no apparently benefit?” I will feel the pain in my mouth and throat from food that has pepper concentrations that no one (other than my brothers and I) can even detect. In fact the concentration can be one tenth below the detection level of “normal” people and I still feel the “heat”.

Hence, for all my life, I have avoided spicy hot foods.

I’ll remember this when people who told me, “It’s not at all spicy!” and called me a “wimp” are drooling idiots. Don’t expect me to have much sympathy. I knew that stuff was bad for you decades ago.

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8 thoughts on “I knew that stuff was bad for you

  1. I agree with you and disagree with you. Cayenne and Tabasco have no flavor, only painful and hot. Jalapeno and Serrano have a sort of citrus-like flavor. I can’t build up any tolerance for Habanero to report either way.
    Some people can get past the initial pain, others can’t. Don’t serve me curry.
    And I forget. Is coffee harmful or protective this week?
    I’ve been getting a lot of spam lately about how bad avocados are for you.
    As Alistair MacLean had a character say in “Ice Station Zebra”, “You name any human activity and I’ll find a doctor who’s against it.

    • There are a number of health benefits to capsaicin, but like most things I think moderation is key.

      I love moderately spicy food… my wife’s idea of moderation is much hotter than mine. I’ve never felt the need to prove I have a high tolerance or need to develop a higher tolerance.
      Most important, if something doesn’t feel right or causes pain, that is the body telling you to stop.

  2. Pingback: SayUncle » I disagree

  3. “The study’s authors say that more research is necessary on the connection between chili pepper and dementia, and admit that other variables, such as education levels, may also play a role in cognitive decline.”

    I figure you already knew this, but as with most correlation studies this one is BS.

    • I posted this because with the correct backstory it made me laugh. The validity of the conclusions is almost irrelevant to me. It doesn’t affect me, with my dietary “restrictions” Barb eats far less spicy hot stuff than most people, only one child of mine (and one step child) has a particular fondness for hot peppers, and in another 20 years when this might be affect them the knowledge base on Alzheimer’s will be much, much better and there will likely be a cure or known ways to prevent it.

      When examined with a critical eye one has to wonder what the mechanism could possibly be and with all the research going into Alzheimer’s why has this not shown up before?

  4. If you’re _that_ sensitive to spicy: it sounds like you might be a ‘Super Taster’.
    Do you think cilantro tastes like soap? (another classic ‘tell’)

    • Cilantro definitely tastes like soap to me. It’s a vile disgusting weed that ruins everything it touches. I’ve never been a fan of food that bites back, but I can tolerate some heat. I enjoy curry despite it making me sweat like I’ve spent an hour on a stairclimber, but I’m fairly certain that I’ve never had the “hot” stuff.

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