Eating spicy food causes sweating because the compound capsaicin tricks your body into thinking it is overheating.
Capsaicin activates heat and pain receptors in your mouth, sending a false “hot” signal to your brain. In response, your brain triggers your body’s cooling mechanisms, primarily by releasing sweat, to try and lower your “internal temperature”.
Chemical trick: Capsaicin, a chemical found in chili peppers, activates the same sensory receptors in your tongue that are sensitive to heat.
False alarm: This creates the sensation of burning, leading your brain to believe your body is overheating, even though the food itself isn’t physically hot.
Cooling response: Your brain then triggers your body’s natural cooling system—sweating—to lower your temperature. This can also cause flushing of the skin and sometimes a runny nose.
Beyond capsaicin: Other compounds, like allyl Isothiocyanate in horseradish and mustard, can also trigger similar heating sensations
Read also: Dried Figs: A natural superfood for youthful skin and strong immunity
