Can hot peppers/flavoring be dangerous?

[Nikia]

I know this is a silly question:
I am eating some extra hot salsa made with habeneros wondering this as my mouth burns. Is my mouth burning the worst thing that is happening to me?
People alway blame hot pepper for digestive problems. I have digestive problems but hot pepper flavored foods don't really seem to bother me that way. If I'm not really feeling that well, I'd eat medium hot chili before 90% of other foods.
Actually the worst hot pepper experience came while eating some hot pepper cheese that was enhanced beyond the usual peppers. My heart rate increased and I began sweating after taking a bite. I had to deep breath to avoid having a panic attack.
Is eating hot pepper products safe for everyone?

[CatBoreal]

1. Well, there is the....

ring of fire syndrome and I know you have to be very careful when you cut habeneros to make sure you do not get any of the oil in your eyes because that can really hurt.

If your mouth is really burning, drink milk because that will nullify the oil, water will only wash it around.

[Baja Margie]

2. Actually

hot chiles are really good to help keep bad cholestral down, and also they are very cleansing. Habaneros are REALLY FRICKEN HOT, wowie, you won't hurt anything, just take a glass of cold milk and sip it slowly, hold some of it in your mouth and swallow, that should take the burning feeling away. Sounds like you just cleaned out the tubes there.


Ah....when you take your constitutional, you might have some burning.

[Maple]

3. If it's painful

it's stupid.

Why do people need to be told about obvious elementary things?

[Nikia]

4. I bought it in the store

So I assumed that it was safe. Maybe, I should be a little more cautious though.

[Maple]

6. You can buy

rat poison in a store as well.

[JanMichael]

13. Lousy example. Not all hot sauses are THAT HOT!

Christ there is more than one brand, unlike rat poison, ok, maybe there are three brands of that but they're ALL poison. You know what you're getting.

But the multitutes of hot sauce bottles have varying degrees of heat. I'm a hot food nut and I've never had one that I couldn't handle but that doesn't mean that it can't happen eventually.

[n2mark]

9. because not everyone is as smart as you.

[crimson333]

5. Love habenero peppers eat them any chance I get

:9

[chookie]

7. Habeneros are pretty darned hot, but not harmful

They can burn your skin, eyes, delicate membranes, including those in your mouth if the volatile oils come into *direct contact* with them. When mixed with other foods, like salsa, they will not harm you. Chewing one whole on the other hand might be something you'd regret for a few days....And for heaven sake -- never use them to clean your contact lens.

When using them, be sure to get the seeds and innards out (and use rubber gloves when you cut them), because those are the hottest bits.

Cut them into really small pieces.

As others have pointed out, as they pass out of your digestive system tomorrow, you may experience some uncomfortable burning, but there will be no harm done to your body. Really -- it's up to you to decide if the after effects are too intense for you.

I LOVE hot food. I have never experienced even the teensiest digestive upset from it. Like you, when I have cold symptoms, especially sore throat, I make myself a volcanic Tom Yom or Sambar soup -- and find that it shortens the length of symptoms. I even carry around a small bottle of habenero sauce with me at all times to add to food cooked by others, and for a quick nip when the mood strikes. And I never have the slightest digestive or intestinal upset, despite the large quantities I consume.

[Jean Louise Finch]

8. i eat a lot of spicy food

living in Bangkok, I eat a lot lot lot of food that is WAY too spicy for me to handle, but thus far have only suffered the ill digestive effects.

Though it can make you light-headed and dizzy, mostly because you tend towards hyperventilation as you try and suck some cooling air over your scalded, tortured tongue. Sweats and tearing eyes is normal.

Bread and rice are the best antidotes if you're really suffering.

[soothsayer]

10. At worst, they'll just burn you...twice

[Frogtutor]

11. Peppers have a LOT of vitamin C...

even more than oranges, I think. Also, spicy foods are supposed to help speed the metabolism. Personally, I don't care for really hot stuff. But, as far as I know, they're actually good for you!

:)

[Megahurtz]

12. I love all kinds of hot peppers

just use them in moderation.

[LifeDuringWartime]

14. dunno, but

i love cholula!

http://www.cholula.com/

very easy to measure out dosage...if you want lotsa spice, pour alot on! it has a very nice balance of flavor vs. spicyness


generally, i avoid hot sauces that make me feel sick, although it can be fun to see who can eat the most.

[-..__...]

15. Courtesy of the GunDungeon.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=118&topic_id=96142#96149

This isn't something to play around with :scared:.


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