The whole ghost pepper food challenge has been going on for a decade. Ghost pepper, also known as bhut jolokia, means deep hurting in any language. In case you were wondering, eating them can kill you.
Ghost pepper is a member of the nightshade family, a group of plants that includes tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, leeks, onions, garlic, chilies, and many more. It’s also known as the “pepper of death” because of its ability to cause severe pain and even death.
In fact, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), it’s the most common cause of food poisoning in the U.S. and is responsible for more than half of all foodborne illness deaths each year. Well, yes and no. Ghost peppers are actually pretty safe to eat, but they’re not as safe as you might think.
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What does eating a ghost pepper feel like?
Pepper has a latent intensity which is initially deceiving. When you first eat it, the pepper tastes sweet. About 10-15 seconds later, you feel a raging burn. Your mouth feels like it’s on fire, and then your tongue starts to burn as well, because the burning sensation spreads and continues to intensify.
As the burn intensifies, your taste buds start to feel numb and you can’t taste anything at all. After about 15-20 seconds of burning, it becomes very bitter and bitter tasting. This is the point at which you should stop eating it. If you want to try it again, just wait a few more seconds and the burning will subside.
The best way to store ghost peppers is to keep them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. They should be kept in an airtight container with a tight fitting lid. Do not store in the refrigerator or freezer.
Why can’t you touch a ghost pepper?
The oils alone of the ghost pepper can cause extreme chili burn from one simple touch. Being near them can cause irritation to the eye. Even with gloves, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Should you chew a ghost pepper?
The flesh of the pepper is supposed to trap the chemical capsaicin, which is found in the juices, seeds, and flesh of the pepper. Without chewing the pepper, you do not expel this chemical out of the pepper, and it stays in your body for a very long time.
When you eat a spicy food, your stomach secretes a chemical called gastric acid, which causes the stomach lining to swell. This swelling makes it difficult for the food to pass through your digestive system, so you end up with a burning sensation in the mouth, throat, or esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your small intestine).
This burning is caused by the release of stomach acid into your bloodstream. The burning can last for several hours or even a few days, depending on how much you’ve eaten. If you have a lot of spicy foods, this burning may be so intense that you can’t eat anything else for at least a couple of days.
What helps after eating a ghost pepper?
Balancing it with an acid can help neutralize the molecule’s activity. It is possible to cool your mouth down by drinking lemonade, limeade, orange juice or a tomato-based food item. By the way, milk is acidic. It’s a good idea to down some calories.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to cut back on the amount of carbs you eat. A low-carb diet is a good way to do this, but it’s not the only way. You can also eat more protein and fat, which will help keep your blood sugar in check.
Can ghost peppers damage your stomach?
Ghost chili pepper isn’t going to cause any damage to your stomach. The capsaicin found in chili peppers does not cause any irritation or burning to the stomach lining. The pain of a stomach ache can be reduced with the help of capsaicin.
However, if you are sensitive to spicy foods, then you may want to avoid eating this spicy pepper. If you do decide to eat it, make sure that you don’t eat too much of it at one time, or you could end up with a burning sensation in your mouth.
