Proof That Chili Peppers Aren't Actually Hot

Rory Sutherland tells why hot chili peppers are not actually hot.

Chili peppers aren't truly "hot" in terms of temperature. The burning sensation we feel comes from a compound called capsaicin. This compound binds to receptors in our mouth (TRPV1), which normally sense physical heat.

Capsaicin tricks these receptors into sending signals to the brain that mimic the feeling of actual heat, even though the temperature in your mouth hasn't changed. This is why eating chili peppers can make you feel like your mouth is on fire, causing reactions like sweating and tearing up.

The "heat" is simply an illusion created by how our nervous system interprets capsaicin.

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[Towner]

The nerve gas isn’t actually painful, it’s just the perception of pain.

[ControlAllDa]

how come my ass hurt on the way out then

[ccharlot]

Yeah, a more accurate way to say this is that chilis are hot without actually causing burn damage. But they are ARE activating receptors causing real sensations including pain.

[DJRaffa]

Peppers: lets invent chemical warfare so that we only get eaten by the right animal
Humans: damn that shit's fire, lets eat more of it 😂

[DLux]

Pepper spray isn't hot, its just you're perception that your eyes are melting in your skull.

[thomascook]

Capsaicin binds to the A1 receptors on the tongue and in the digestive system.
The chemical specifically evolved as an anti fungal agent ONLY. it was just a coincidence that the same binding protien also affects mammals.
Humans started consuming peppers specifically because of its anti fungal and anti bacterial properties. That is is.

[applesauce]

They aren't just hot in your mouth though.... always make sure to THOROUGHLY wash your hands after cutting peppers, especially if you're on your way to the bathroom

[nickh]

Who is this guy? He's taking over my algorithm

[bryanjones]

Capsaicin is actually a oxidizer and can cause acute respiratory failure at high levels. Also it is capable of acute toxicity, oral dermal and inhalation. Basically it will corrode your lungs skin and internal digestive tract if vaporized in a high concentration. Or in vaporized form over long periods of time depending on the concentration.

It’s hydrophobic as hell, which makes it actually a very dangerous chemical to mammals when super concentrated. Water can not dissolve it but it can be dissolved in alcohol. Only a few water based things can help with the dissolving factor and one is cold milk as it contains caseins.

[rajbhattacharya]

And weed doesn't actually get you high. It just hacks your perception chemically by binding to receptors that make you "think" you're high 😂😂

[SamNo]

Perception is the only reality any of us will ever know

[gabriellebraga]

Hot is used by english speakers. In portuguese we don't say that it's hot. We say it's spicy (picante). This word, "picante", in portuguese also means to sting. We feel like our tongue is being stung repeatedly. We don't associate it with the word hot, and I always had that understanding that the reaction we have is due to a certain substance that gives that sensation to us. I just didn't know the name of the substance, and now I know, so thank you for that😊

[mr]

This is why frostbite hurts. It's not actually biting you, but it hacks your perception to make it feel like you're being bitten.

[Civ]

He is saying chilis don't feel hot because of a thermal reaction, but because of a chemical reaction. Anyone who knows what capsaicin(the component of the chili that gives you the perception of heat) is knows this. This is an important distinction because it means that you won't burn your mouth eating a chili the same way you would burn your mouth drinking scalding hot water. you won't ever get 2nd or 3rd degree burns eating a chili. It is also important for understanding how to neutralize the effects of eating a chili pepper

[BeforeThisNovember]

I’d argue that changing perception DOES change reality.

[kingtut]

Same way that water doesn't quench your thirst, it just tricks you into not wanting more.

[jpenneymrcoin]

the feeling "burn" isn't what does damage. the feeling "burn" says "hey! something is burning you!" so as to make you remove your finger from the fire before damage is done by the burning plasma.
this is obvious to anyone who has had a biology class

[frequentrage]

Food that's hot bc of temperature feels completely different than eating a "hot" pepper. We just use the term hot to describe spiciness. They love to let anyone give presentations

[sahilsatishpandit]

It totally backfired on chillies though. People eat Chillies because its HOT