why people seem addicted to hot sauce

 

The capsaicin high is a euphoric sensation caused by the consumption of large quantities of capsaicin from foods prepared with chili peppers. It is theorized that the pain induced by capsaicin causes the human body to release endorphins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endorphin. Eventually, enough are released to create a sensation that is frequently compared to the runner's high http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner%27s_high. The term endorphin rush has been adopted in popular speech to refer to feelings of exhilaration brought on by pain, danger, or other forms of stress, supposedly due to the influence of endorphins. Capsaicin produces pain by selectively activating polymodal nociceptive (sensory receptors responding to stimuli of a chemical nature) neurons. This involves a membrane depolarization and the opening of a unique, cation-selective, ion channel, which can be blocked by ruthenium red.

 

Yeah, yeah, its hot, it burns, it makes me feel great!