On Sunday 03 Feb 2008 3:52 am, Eugen Leitl wrote: > http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120191360681137059.html > > Q1) did you try it? > Q2) did you die? > Q3) did you went to heaven?
Long ago I had heard a traditional Indian explanation of how hot chilli laden meals help to cool you in hot climates. The sweating it induces cools you, I was told. Quote: "Food scientists speculate that hot chilies have an unexpected side effect that boosts their popularity. A publication of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden in New York described it this way: "When capsaicin comes into contact with the nerve endings in the tongue and mouth, pain messengers, called neurotransmitters, are sent to the brain in a panic. The brain, mistakenly perceiving that the body is in big trouble, responds by turning on the waterworks to douse the flames. The mouth salivates, the nose runs and the upper body breaks into a sweat. The heart beats faster and the natural painkiller endorphin is secreted. In other words, you get a buzz."" Eating raw chilli was a common pastime of (relatively) impoverished booze-up partners of mine when I was in college. We could afford only the cheapest (Hercules XXX) Rum and used to order a few raw green chillies (provided free) to go with it. But I haven't even seen this jholokia stuff. Quote: "Locals here in Assam and the neighboring states of Manipur and Nagaland add fresh chopped chilies to the pot when cooking curries." shiv
