Why Onions Make Us Cry...and Other Food Mysteries Solved

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What makes food spicy?

Spice-lovers seem to find an unusual pleasure in the sweating and mouth-numbing physical response triggered by fiery foods. Others can't handle even the faintest hint of spice. But whether you belong to one group or the other, spicy foods can cause your mouth to burn, make your nose run and your eyes water, and of course, make you sweat as if you just went for a light jog. The cause of these bodily reactions comes from the capsaicin compound contained in chili peppers. This compound sends a signal to your brain of overheating. So the body responds by sweating to help cool itself down. On the other hand, this pain response can also trigger the release of endorphins, which partly explains why some people absolutely love the rush that comes with eating spicy foods.

Remember: the more capsaicin a chili contains, the spicier it will taste, and its heat level is measured on a scale in Scoville Heat Units. So before you go hunting for ghost peppers, make sure you build up your spice tolerance first!