[1:13 AM EST - I got this tingle at the back of my throat.]
Oh, as an epilogue to my jerk rice fiasco, I ended up getting a mild heartburn feeling both nights that I had that meal. Why do people eat spicy food anyway?
Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 14:14:57 (UTC)
Actually, there's a very interesting biological reason for certain vegetables being spicy. It turns out that only certain animals (i.e. squirrels, rodents) can taste the spice while others do not (i.e. birds). Apparently, it has to do with the digestive tracts of these animals and whether the seeds can survive intact after being consumed. The seeds will survive being eaten by a bird but not by a smaller rodent. Thus, the spicy flavour evolved as a defence mechanism to protect the seeds.
Uhh, as for why humans like spicy....maybe it's because we're masochists?
Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 14:14:57 (UTC)
Actually, there's a very interesting biological reason for certain vegetables being spicy. It turns out that only certain animals (i.e. squirrels, rodents) can taste the spice while others do not (i.e. birds). Apparently, it has to do with the digestive tracts of these animals and whether the seeds can survive intact after being consumed. The seeds will survive being eaten by a bird but not by a smaller rodent. Thus, the spicy flavour evolved as a defence mechanism to protect the seeds.
Uhh, as for why humans like spicy....maybe it's because we're masochists?
--- HKL
Grinning Reaper