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Title: Why is spicy food addictive?

Target audience: Young adults & adults

Attention gather: Have you ever wondered why is spicy food addictive? Your body gets sweaty and you can feel the burn in your mouth yet you still want to eat more. Personally, I once was addicted too and would have no appetite unless I eat something spicy.

Specific purpose: At the end of my speech, my audience will know why spicy food is addictive and the solutions to reduce the pain while still enjoying eating spicy food.

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PROBLEM : WHAT MAKES SPICY FOOD ADDICTIVE?

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PROBLEM : WHAT MAKES SPICY FOOD ADDICTIVE?

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-Spicy food is addictive because of component called Capsaicin which is commonly found in chilli peppers.

- Capsaicin will bind with our pain receptors in the mouth.

-This will trigger the release of endorphin.

-Endorphin is a type of hormone.

-‌(Davidson, 2021) stated that Endorphins are the body's natural painkillers and can also improve your mood.

-The body produces these chemicals naturally during pleasure and painful activities.

-So, you will crave more spicy food as the release of Endorphin will make your mood better.

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-Consume dairy products such as; milk, yoghurt, cheese and ice cream

-According to (Nolden, Lenart, & Hayes, 2019), milk contains a protein that will help to break down the capsaicin.

-Thus, spiciness will be reduced.

-All low fat or whole fat milk works the same.

-Amount of fat doesn't affect the breakdown of capsaicin.

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- Drink something acidic such as; lemonade, orange juice or tomato juice

(McCallum, K., 2020) stated that Capsaicin is an alkaline molecule thus drinking acidic drinks can help to neutralise it.

-Neutralisation is a chemical reaction of acid and alkali.

-This process can help with reducing the spiciness or numbness.

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-Avoid drinking water such as mineral or drinking water

- Based on (McCallum, K., 2020), Capsaicin is oil-based thus water will only make the burning spread worse in the mouth.

-Capsaicin is a non-polar molecule meanwhile water is a polar molecule.

-Uses term 'like dissolves like' so only non-polar molecules can dissolve non-polar molecules.

-Thus, water cannot dissolve the capsaicin.

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-Spicy food is addictive because Capsaicin will trigger the release of endorphin.

-Endorphin will relieve pain & make you feel good.

-You can still enjoy eating spicy food by doing three things;
1. Consuming dairy products.
2. Drinking acidic drinks.
3. Avoid drinking water.

Now, you can eat spicy food like a professional eater :)

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Davidson, K. (2021). Why Do We Need Endorphins? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/endorphins

McCallum, K. (2020). How to Cool Your Mouth Down After Eating Spicy Food. Retrieved from https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/sep/how-to-cool-your-mouth-down-after-eating-spicy-food/#:~:text=DO%20drink%20something%20acidic.&text=Remember%20how%20we%20said%20capsaicin,help%20cool%20your%20mouth%20down.

Mulyawan, E. (2017). Capsaicin. [Image]. Retrieved from https://scienceandfooducla.wordpress.com/2017/01/17/capsaicin/

Nolden, A. A., Lenart, G., & Hayes, J. E. (2019). Putting out the fire - Efficacy of common beverages in reducing oral burn from capsaicin. Physiology & behavior, 208, 112557. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.05.018

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