Manly Minute: Why A Little Kick Is Good For Your Health
To people who can't tolerate spicy foods, the burning sensation chili peppers cause is definitely "pain," while for others who love some heat in their food, this sensation is a delicate balance between pain and pleasure. The chemical in hot chili peppers that causes the burning, painful sensation is called capsaicin. Capsaicin, indeed, is an irritant that deters animals from eating the fruits; obviously it doesn't deter us humans from devouring them.