It is believed that spicy foods harm the gastrointestinal tract and can even lead to gastritis and ulcers, but this is not the case. Spicy spices are not dangerous and do not affect the stomach in any way, and discomfort and cramps in the abdomen from such products are caused only by a reflex action. Andrey Yakushev, a gastroenterologist at the branch of the Israeli Hadassah clinic in Skolkovo, told socialbites.ca about this.
According to the expert, spicy foods normally do not affect the stomach as they contain hydrochloric acid.
“Hydrochloric acid is very strong, so no spicy food or other seasonings, including lemon juice, can come close to hydrochloric acid in terms of pH range. So it seems like a difficult task to acidify the stomach environment by external factors,” the doctor said.
Additionally, she added that spicy foods tend to contain capsaicin, a substance that interacts with nerve endings and receptors. Therefore – due to the reflex action – there is a feeling of pain, for example, a blood flow is stimulated to the organ that comes into contact with the pepper. It is acute due to the same reflex effect and can cause stomach upset and spasms.
“Spicy foods cannot threaten any gastritis and stomach ulcers. The fact is that the normal hydrochloric acid contained in the stomach does not come into contact with its wall. Between them is a layer of mucus, covered with a gel-like substance that protects the stomach from acid. If this covering substance is violated, defects appear in it, the acid will penetrate further into the walls of the stomach, causing inflammation, ulcers. But spicy, fried, smoked foods, seasonings do not affect the composition of this layer. For example, it is affected by Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but certainly not acutely,” Yakushev said.
According to the gastroenterologist, the spices themselves are not dangerous either. The danger of misusing spices may be due to the risk of developing an allergic reaction, as some people have allergies, severe allergies up to anaphylaxis. With them, new spices, especially from distant lands, can cause an acute allergic reaction that leads to a life-threatening condition.
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