It's hot in here

July 22, 2005 4:32 PM

On the back of Asparagirl's jalapeño query, why do chilies make you sweat?
posted by russmail to food & drink (5 comments total)

Capsaicin lowers body temperature. Hmm, this is a good question.
posted by Rothko at 4:41 PM on July 22, 2005

(Self-link, sorta) Older AskMe question about capsaicin.

My wild guess is that your brain thinks you're burning, so it tries to cool you down.
posted by Eamon at 6:53 PM on July 22, 2005

Vasodilation- more blood to the surface of your skin, means you feel hot, your body sweats to cool off. I think. IANAScientist.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 7:19 PM on July 22, 2005

Yeah, no surprises here. Free 1c nerve endings are activated by capsaicin, and they conduct information about pain and temperature. Capsaicin makes them inform the brain about pain and heat. The brain then turns on your sweat glands and makes you yell 'yee-owch!'
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:28 PM on July 22, 2005

I heard somewhere that it's because the peppers make you salivate. The same reflex that makes you salivate makes you sweat. They are tied together.
posted by wsg at 9:57 AM on July 23, 2005