The Science Behind Why We Crave Spicy and Sour Food

Humans are drawn to the perceived danger of extreme foods. Scientists find the experience of eating spicy or sour foods stimulates a fight-or-flight response in the body, causing the brain to release endorphins and dopamine. Those are hormones that make people feel good. Once the brain determines everything is safe, there’s accomplishment in overcoming a dangerous situation.

“These [food] challenges are really drawing people in who have that psychological affinity — sensation-seeking, reward-seeking types of behaviors. So the more dangerous it is, the more thrilling it is,” said Elisa Trucco, director of the Research on Adolescent and Child Health Lab at Florida International University to NBC News.

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Spicy and sour foods activate different nerves in the body. When saliva breaks down spicy food, capsaicin, the chemical compound that gives chili peppers their heat, travels to the throat, nose and esophagus and activates nerves involved with the sense of touch. The pain that comes with it is similar to touching a hot stove.

Sourness activates taste nerves. When people eat sour foods, the body reacts because it detects an acidic substance that could be harmful if ingested. However, the brain can override the initial pain reaction. One expert said this is due to humans’ ability to tell the difference between serious and benign pain. While eating moderate amounts of spice is safe, the body still treats it as a health threat.

“That’s where the pleasure comes, from the fact that you’re overriding your body’s signal not to do this,” said Paul Rozin, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Still, ingesting extreme spice like some people do for social media challenges could lead to a hospital trip. People who film these challenges for social media, can trigger a dopamine release in the brain due to receiving likes and follows for the behavior.

“Consuming some foods that have capsaicin in it may be associated with increasing longevity and decreasing the risk of cancer,” Dr. Edwin McDonald, a gastroenterologist at the University of Chicago Medical Center said. “But these are not the peppers that people are doing in the challenge.”

Extreme eating challenges can also be dangerous for people with underlying medical conditions like asthma. Dr. Chantel Strachan with Columbia University suggests thinking twice before participating and consulting a doctor ahead of time.

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