Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Eat chiles, be happy: IMSS specialist compares effect to that of opioids

It might sound counterintuitive, but the spiciest and hottest chiles will give consumers the greatest sense of well-being.

A gastroenterologist at the IMSS health service says eating chiles can produce a feeling of euphoria very similar to that produced by opioids.

Héctor Gómez Jaramillo explained that eating chiles stimulates the release of endorphins, a group of hormones secreted within the brain and nervous system that inhibit the communication of pain signals.

He said consumption of chiles also protects against cholesterol and is effective against rheumatism due to their capsaicin content.

Capsaicin is one of the substances that make chiles hot and is also an effective analgesic.

Heart disease and strokes worsened by elevated heart pressure can also be prevented by chiles, a low-calorie food that stimulates metabolism.

Gómez did point out the drawbacks of eating a lot of chile peppers, which include damage to organs such as the rectum and the colon and irritation of the mucous membranes, diarrhea, bloating and pain.

So eat chiles and be happy, but only in moderation.

Source: El Financiero (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.

Fed rate cut sends peso to strongest level vs. dollar in more than a year

0
Wednesday's closing rate of 18.32 pesos per dollar represented a 0.2% gain from Monday's session, capping the peso's eighth consecutive day of strengthening against the greenback.
sacks of drugs

US names Mexico among 23 principal drug-producing countries while praising its anti-cartel crackdown

0
Mexico's inclusion was hardly a surprise, but it was noteworthy that the Trump administration praised the Sheinbaum administration for its increasing cooperation.
Guiengola, Oaxaca

Biologists work to turn Oaxaca’s Guiengola archaeological zone into nature reserve

0
Led by 23-year-old biologist Eduardo Michi, a group of scientists has deployed camera traps across more than 300 hectares to document local fauna like coatis, rabbits, squirrels and ocelots.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity