A reflection on "The science of spiciness"

My love of all things spicy combined with the need to find a TED talk video led me to "The science of spiciness" by Rose Eveleth. In her video Rose explains how the body responds to spicy foods, the distinguishes between one another and the different historical explanations for how and why humans first started consuming spicy foods.

I learned that you do not actually taste spicy, it is a bodily response to heat. When you eat spicy foods your Polymodal Nociceptors on your tongue are activated causing your brain to think your mouth is on fire.

I found it interesting that your body reacts differently to spicy foods depending on the molecules that make up the food. Peppers contain Capsaicin, a heavier molecule that adheres to the tongue. Foods such as Wasabi and Mustard are made up of smaller molecules that float up to the sinuses, causing a runny nose and watery eyes.

I liked that the video went into great detail and used scientific names while still keeping the information simple and easy to understand with the use of animations.

I would highly recommend watching this TED talk video because it highlights areas in food, science and history. It only takes 3 minutes of your time, but contains a lot of educational material.