Posted by FireBreather on October 24, 2005, at 20:38:07
In reply to My Hot Pepper Trial-Update on effects and more!, posted by FireBreather on October 24, 2005, at 18:11:55
One thing I wanted to mention about researching Capsaicin and hot peppers is that many scientific articles and studies involve the effects of injecting capsaicin into neurons or applying capsaicin to brain areas, etc. I am focusing only on what is known about the effects of eating hot peppers and the benefits.
There a other effects from the peppers that are a result of their effects on the gastrointestinal system. When I use the hot sauce, I use tiny amounts applied to the tongue and as such the capsaicin does not reach the stomach. However, eating the peppers and cayenne capsules brings capsaicin to the stomach so you would need to eat a whole pepper or take a form of Hot pepper capsule for these.Firstly,were you aware that there are as many neurons in the gastrointestinal system as there are in the spinal cord, wow! Capsaicin stimulates the production and activity of "digestive juices" such as enhanced intestinal lipase activity, increased acid secretion by gastric mucosa, and also the disaccharidases sucrase and maltase.
Secondly, Capsaicin increases blood flow to gastric mucosa and also stimulates perfusion of gastric mucosa. What does this mean you ask? Well, it can mean a couple things. Basically it improves the ability of oxygen and nutrients to be transported to organs. Secondly, it has a beneficial effect on the gut-wall function. If gut-wall permeability is not properly maintained then you can have all kinds of bacteria and other disgusting gases and microbes escaping and wreaking havoc.
All of the positive effects that capsaicin has on the digestive system means that the food you eat will be properly digested, nutrients can be absorbed and delivered more efficiently and any vitamins or supplements you may take have a better chance of being absorbed instead of clogging up the intestines. I believe the effects on the digestive system can improve energy levels and have nothing but positive effects on mental health as well.
I want to conclude this post by at least mentioning some the benefits hot peppers have been mentioned to have but are not mentioned in some sources. Ill list them instead of summarizing them individually.
-Capsicum may interfere with the activity of monoamine oxidase inhibitors by increasing catecholamine secretion.
-Reduces liver and serum cholesterol and triglycerides
-Capsaicin incites catecholamine (epinephrine) production from the adrenal medulla
-capsaicin increases DNA synthesis and the production of collagenase and prostaglandin, which can reduce both pain and inflammation
-Hot pepper eaters are less likely to develop chronic bronchitis and emphysema, even if they smoke. (This I believe definitely)
For my last post Im going discuss Substance P and how its affected by Capsaicin and also in depression and anxiety. Also, which brain regions are involved with acute and chronic consumption of hot peppers. If you think that eating hot peppers goes no deeper than your tongue burning, you are saddly mistaken.Check this out, Substance P is present in the amygdala and hypothalamus. Scientists are able to induce defensive RAGE in cats by stimulating their amygdala with electrodes. The amygdala then signals the hypothalamus and the rage is produced. Capsaicin stimulates Vanilloid receptors VR1 on the tongue.
The signal is transmitted to brain via spinal cord. Well guess what, there are Vanilloid receptors in the amygdala. And believe me, when the heat from capsaicin is in full effect, my anger and rage goes through the roof. So this may be a way how Substance P is being used up so when I encounter stree during the day Im not reacting as severely cuz substance p is decreased.
Its not all good in the hood though, I have come across some negative findings which are harder to validate at this point in my research than positive ones.I would like to stress something: I am not some spammer pepper farmer or Hot pepper capsule seller. If people want to respond to posts and include links for sites selling something thats fine; but I have nothing to do with it. Im just a 27 year old male that has a bit of a mad scientist streak and think up some crazy ideas. Alot of my info I gathered and continue to gather is from the National Library of Medicine, also known as "PubMed" I want good info in order to make a rational, informed hypothesis. I also get some good facts from google, but I use discretion what info I feel is from a reputable site.
poster:FireBreather
thread:570218
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20050924/msgs/571540.html