- Hot peppers contain a potent oil know as capsaicin. Nerves react to capsaicin by sending pain signals to the brain, which reacts by releasing endorphins and other pain-relieving chemicals. Capsaicin also stimulates the adrenal glands, which can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and body temperature.
- The short-term effects of capsaicin can be painful, but capsaicin is not a poison and is used by alternative medicine advocates to treat intestinal disorders, joint pain and other maladies.
- In September of 2008 the British newspapers reported that Andrew Lee, a 33-year-old amateur chef, suffered heart failure several hours after eating a dish made with hot chili peppers. Lee was reported to be in perfect health and became itchy before falling asleep. He was found dead in the morning.
- Capsaicin can temporarily increase heart rate, but also promotes circulation. Andrew Lee was a young, healthy man without a history of heart trouble. The ravaging itchiness he experienced before his death suggests he died from shock due to a food allergy, not a capsaicin overdose. The British media failed to follow-up on this sensational story.
- Capsaicin increases blood circulation and reduces inflammation and is actually healthy for the heart. Herbal medicine advocates, including the famous Dr. John R. Christopher, recommended using cayenne pepper to improve cardiovascular health and even treat heart attacks in emergencies.
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