can eating ghost peppers kill you

Advertisement

Can Ghost Peppers Kill You?

  • Share Content on Facebook
  • Share Content on LinkedIn
  • Share Content on Flipboard
  • Share Content on Reddit
  • Share Content via Email

ghost pepper

Some people just love jalapenos , raw or pickled, on just about any kind of food, any time of day. Each time you chew a jalapeno pepper, you're releasing a spicy heat that measures 2,500 to 5,000 units on the Scoville heat scale. But eating a ghost pepper, or bhut jolokia, takes the heat to a whole new (and painful) level.

The Scoville scale is used to measure the heat of chili peppers and foods made with chili peppers, such as hot sauce. During the measurement process, capsaicin oil is extracted from a pepper and assigned an intensity rating that can range from zero to millions of Scoville units. A green bell pepper, for example, has a Scoville rating of zero, while the ghost pepper tips the scale at more than 1 million units . It was the first pepper to measure so high.

When you bite into a ghost pepper, your mouth feels heat in the most extreme way. Your tongue 's receptors register the intensity of the pepper and relay that information to your brain, which interprets the pepper as a burning, pain-inducing interloper. This causes a chain reaction in your body as the capsaicin in the ghost pepper initiates widespread tissue inflammation and begins to wreak havoc on your nerve endings, dilating blood vessels and making you feel hot all over. Suddenly, you're too, too hot.

Your body is staging a violent protest. But to what extent? Could eating ghost peppers cause your demise?

Yes, you could die from ingesting ghost peppers. In fact, researchers have determined a 150-pound (68-kilogram) person would need to eat 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of dried and powdered capsaicin-rich peppers like the ghost pepper to die. They based their findings on results extrapolated from similar studies that measure capsaicin's toxic effects on animals.

The good news for spice lovers is that your body would give up long before you reached a deadly level of capsaicin ingestion. The pain and inflammation would be too much to bear. Capsaicin is debilitating to the eyes and airways; that's why pepper spray is an effective defense weapon. At 2 million Scoville heat units, pepper spray can stop an attacker in his or her tracks. In India, the ghost pepper's country of origin, the Defence Research and Development Organization once even made grenades with the powerful bhut jolokia (they had to give them up as the chili powder was susceptible to fungal rot).

In 2016, a man taking part in an eating contest ate a ghost pepper and felt an intense burning in the mouth. He drank six glasses of water to cool off, one of the worst things you can do when you've had too much pepper ( milk is a better choice ). He vomited so much that he tore a hole in his esophagus. He was rushed to hospital where doctors found out his left lung collapsed. The man spent 23 days in the hospital and was sent home with a gastric tube, according to a report in the Journal of Emergency Medicine . Still, this seems to be a rare case.

So why do some people seem to handle the heat of ghost peppers better than others? It's a nurtured ability, scientists believe. Over time, capsaicin kills pain receptors in the mouth, and, eventually, peppers that are excruciating to the uninitiated are simply a pleasant heat to others.

The ghost pepper was at one time the hottest pepper in the world, but it's been surpassed by several others including the current champion, the Carolina Reaper , which measures more than 2 million Scoville units. A pepper known as Pepper X is the unofficial hottest pepper in the world, reportedly measuring 3.2 million Scoville units.

Ghost Peppers FAQ

What is the hottest pepper on earth, can you die from eating a ghost pepper, why are they called ghost peppers, where can you buy ghost peppers, can you freeze ghost peppers.

Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article:

Chili Peppers Size Spiciness

Search form

How to Live Better, Longer

smoking

Smokers Who Quit Before 40 Have Similar Life-Expectancy Of Non-smokers: Study

healthy eating

Secret To Healthy Aging? Study Identifies Foods That Reduce Risk Of Chronic Illnesses In Women

hearing aid

Hearing Aids May Help Prevent Early Death; Study Finds 25% Reduction In Mortality Risk

siblings

Siblings Of Dementia Patients May Face Risk Of Shortened Lifespan, Even If They Are Not Diagnosed

yoga

Exercise For Treating Depression? Researchers Identify Activities That May Be As Effective As Therapy

bullying

Childhood Bullying Can Increase Mental Health Risk By Three Times: Study

smell

Smelling Familiar Scents May Help Depressed Individuals In Their Recovery: Study

PCOS

PCOS Patients At More Than 8-Fold Increased Risk Of Suicide Attempts: Study Says

Thermal Earring: Low-power Wireless Earring for Longitudinal Earlobe Temperature Sensing

Thermal Earring To Monitor Temperature: Experts Say It Could Also Track Ovulation And Stress

pregnancy test

First Saliva-Based Pregnancy Tests: Everything To Know

How To Protect Yourself Against Monkeypox Amid Global Outbreak

AI Demonstrates High Accuracy In Diagnosing Mpox Using Skin Lesion Photos

hands

'Gene Silencing' Technology Offers Fresh Hope For Alzheimer's Patients

cough

Coughing Even Weeks After Infection? Here's What Researchers Say

sugary drinks

Exercise Helps, But Cannot Eliminate Cardiovascular Risk Linked To Sugary Sodas: Study

blood test

Simple Blood Test Can Predict Risk Of Heart Attack In Next 6 Months

salt

Salt Substitute For Hypertension: Study Says It Reduces Low, High Blood Pressure Episodes

exercise

Reduced Risk Of COVID-19, Hospitalization In Older Adults Who Exercised Before Pandemic: Study

vaccine

Switching Arms While Taking Multi-Dose Vaccines May Improve Immune Response: Study

pregnant woman

COVID-19 During Pregnancy Triples Odds Of Respiratory Illness In Children; Risk Lower In Vaccinated Expectant Mothers: Study

vegetarian diet

Vegetarian Diet May Help Reduce Risk, Severity Of COVID-19 Infection: Study

Can eating the world's hottest pepper kill you how spicy foods affect the body.

eating a hot chili pepper

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Pocket

The strong and sometimes overwhelming effects that come with eating spicy food are caused by one small chemical found in chili peppers: capsaicin. The discomfort of eating high amounts of capsaicin is meant to deter overconsumption, but for those able to overcome both the physical and mental pain, the consequences can range from unpleasant to just plain deadly.

The Biological Importance Of Spicy Food

Despite the pain associated with eating hot food, researchers believe that the spices used to give dishes that certain je ne sais quoi may have helped to ensure the survival of some cultures. Traveling the globe, one might notice that countries with hotter climates also serve spicier cuisine. Researchers at Cornell University found that this is no coincidence.

Heat causes food to spoil, and before the onset of electrical refrigeration this was a serious health risk in hotter climates. In their 1998 study , the team found that many spices that give food their kick also protect against the growth of foodborne bacteria and fungi. Capsaicin in particular killed or inhibited up to 75 percent of all bacteria in food, according to the press release .

What Happens If You Eat The World’s Hottest Pepper?

Although chilies are found in many dishes throughout the world, capsaicin is actually a neurotoxin and in large enough concentrations can cause seizures, heart attacks, and even death.

The hottest pepper in the world is the bhut jolokia chili pepper , also known as the ghost pepper, and according to Dr. Paul Bosland, the man who discovered it, enough of this pepper in a short period of time can surely kill you.

"A research study in 1980 calculated that 3 pounds of extreme chilies in powder form — of something like the bhut jolokia — eaten all at once could kill a 150-pound person," Bosland, told Live Science . "However, one's body would react sooner and not allow it to happen."

One does not need to nessesarily eat a ghost pepper to feel capsaicin's wrath. Ruari Barratt, a freelance journalist working in the UK, knows firsthand the effects of eating too much capsaicin after a burger laced in concentrated piri piri chili sauce from India sent him to the hospital. According to Barratt, he experienced agonizing pain in his mouth only moments after his first bite of the burger, and as time passed, the pain only worsened.

“Once whatever I'd managed to swallow reached my stomach (or however far inside me it got) my legs started convulsing and my hands seized up (I presume because I was hyperventilating),” Barratt wrote in an email to Medical Daily . “My eyes were rolling back in my skull, I was extremely pale, and it was hard to talk.”

Barratt’s experience lasted a total of three hours, and although he did not walk away with any lasting damage, his pride in eating spicy food was slightly tarnished.

The Ghost Pepper

Mouth, Nose, and Eyes

Although you may think Thai Green Curry tastes delicious, your body views capsaicin as an overall offensive substance which needs to be immediately flushed out. As reported by Slate , it causes the body's mucous glands to go into overhaul. The result is a runny nose and watery mouth and an increase of saliva in the mouth.

Nearly immediately, as you take your first bite of a spicy dish, you will feel the sensation of heat, despite the fact you actually don’t experience an increase in temperature. The reason for this false heat sensation is capsaicin’s ability to latch onto pain receptors known as TRPV1 , which are normally only activated in the presence of heat. Once the heat-sensitive receptors are triggered into activation, the nerves send messages to your brain that make you feel as though you’re too close to a source of heat, despite no actual temperature change, Slate reported.

Sweat Glands

Once the heat-sensitive pain receptors are activated, your brain believes that you are overheating and will go to great lengths to reverse this. Eventually, the body will trigger one of its best defenses against heat: perspiration. Scientific American reported that this is why many individuals will sweat more than usual when eating a spicy meal. TRPV1’s activation will also cause our capillaries to dilate, allowing the heat to reach the surface of the body where it can more easily radiate. This results in the distinct red face and hands associated with consuming a spicy meal.

Digestive System

For many, especially those not accustomed to eating spicy food, too much capsaicin in a dish can upset the digestive tract . As in the eyes, mouth, and nose, capsaicin causes the intestines to increase in mucous production.

Capsaicin can also trigger stronger intestinal contractions, all done in an effort to help get the offensive substance out as quickly as possible. And while technique does usually get the job done, it can sometimes cause the unpleasant effect of diarrhea or vomiting.

Allergies

  • Alzheimer's
  • Amputation/Prosthetics

Dental

  • Dengue Fever
  • Dental Health
  • Dermatological Disorders
  • Developmental Disorders
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Down Syndrome

Gerontology

  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Genetic Disorders
  • Genital Warts
  • Geriatric care
  • Gerontology
  • Gum Disease
  • Gynecological Disorders
  • Head And Neck Cancer

Liver Disease

  • Kidney Cancer
  • Kidney Disease
  • Knee Problems
  • Lead Poisoning
  • Liver Disease
  • Low Testosterone
  • Lung Cancer

Mental health

  • Macular Degeneration
  • Men's Health
  • Menstruation/Periods
  • Mental Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Pain

  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Parasitic Infections
  • Parkinson's Disease
  • Pediatric Diseases

Sleep

  • Schizophrenia
  • Senior Health
  • Sexual Health
  • Sickle Cell Disease
  • Skin Cancer
  • Sleep Apnea

Women health

  • Uterine Cancer
  • Varicose Veins
  • Viral Infection
  • Women's Health
  • Yeast Infection

Is It Safe To Eat Ghost Peppers?

Ghost pepper

If you pop an entire ghost pepper in your mouth, chances are you're soon going to feel like you really are dying. If you're such a badass that you claim to enjoy a million-plus Scoville units all exploding in your mouth at once and that you start every day with a handful of one of the world's hottest peppers , don't even bother, nobody believes you. (Plus, the whole ghost pepper food challenge is so last decade .)

The fact is, ghost pepper, aka bhut jolokia, means deep hurting in any language. And yes, in case you're wondering, eating them can actually kill you . The good news is, according to How Stuff Works , that you'd have to eat an awful lot of them in order to actually expire from the experience since it would take about three pounds of peppers to kill a person weighing 150 pounds. As long as you refrain from consuming 1/50th your body weight in ghost peppers, you'll probably survive the burn, but you may not come out unscathed. In 2016, a man who had eaten pureed ghost pepper tore his esophagus from retching, a condition The Guardian described as life-threatening.

Ghost peppers are actually good for you

If you stick to eating only very small amounts of ghost pepper used to flavor other foods, you may actually gain some health benefits from so doing. A 2 gram serving (which shouldn't be too uncomfortable) will provide 4 percent of your recommended daily vitamin C, and the capsaicin contained in ghost peppers has medical benefits that may include lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar, and possibly even protection against certain types of cancer. Eating spicy food such as hot peppers can also boost your metabolism , which in turn may help with weight loss.

Despite these health benefits, PepperScale warns of one very immediate danger that ghost peppers can pose even before you eat them. The oils they contain are so hot that just touching a pepper can burn you pretty badly, so you should never try preparing them without gloves and goggles, maybe even a hazmat suit. Otherwise, you're likely to have a ghost (pepper) encounter that will really haunt you, and pain that's anything but "phantom."

  • Search the site GO Please fill out this field.
  • Newsletters

The Dangers and Benefits of Eating Hot Peppers

Read this before entering a hot pepper-eating contest.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

It's standard for spicy food to cause your upper lip to sweat, your eyes to tear up, and your mouth to feel on fire.

But can eating hot peppers negatively impact your health? The question is worth considering—what makes chilies so darn fiery, and what are the dangers of eating them? 

Here, Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RDN , nutritionist and author of  Eat Clean, Stay Lean , answers all those burning questions. Before you eat a heap of habaneros, here's what you need to know about the dangers (and possible benefits).

What Makes Peppers So Hot

The main compound that gives chilies their signature kick is a phytonutrient called capsaicin .

"Capsaicin attaches to the receptors on the taste buds that detect temperature and sends signals of spicy heat to the brain," explained Dr. Bazilian.

The amount of heat a pepper packs has to do with the level of capsaicin it contains. To figure out how spicy a scorching pepper is, adventurous eaters can refer to the Scoville scale. 

The measurement tool ranks varieties of peppers from most to least spicy based on their capsaicin concentration. The Scoville scale ranges from standard bell peppers with no capsaicin to ghost peppers and the Trinidad scorpion—the spiciest chilies.

Dangers of Eating Hot Peppers

"It's a bit of a myth that hot peppers can actually create physical damage to the esophagus or tongue," explained Dr. Bazilian. 

But that doesn't mean no dangers are associated with eating fiery foods. Why? Dr. Bazilian clarified that when we eat very hot peppers, the brain receives pain signals that can result in an upset stomach,  nausea , or vomiting.

And while hot peppers themselves may not cause damage to the esophagus, those symptoms, like vomiting, can.

"If vomiting occurs, the acid that comes up from the stomach can irritate the esophagus," noted Dr. Bazilian.

Other potential reactions to super-spicy peppers include:

  • Pain and redness on the skin
  • Pain and redness in eyes (if squirted into the eye)
  • Respiratory distress (when inhaled)
  • Breathing difficulties

You should drink milk to alleviate the symptoms of eating hot peppers. But don't drink water, which may worsen the symptoms of eating hot peppers. That's because water can spread capsaicin around the mouth, potentially intensifying the pain.

If the hot pepper comes into contact with your skin or eyes, you can rinse with water or apply a cool compress.

When eating hot peppers , choose varieties that aren't too high on the Scoville scale and consume them in tasty meals rather than by themselves. 

"This way, the impact on the tongue, esophagus, and stomach is less, too," said Dr. Bazilian.

Health Benefits of Hot Peppers

Hot peppers can also deliver health benefits. People often use capsaicin to treat arthritis and other pain-related conditions. Others also use the phytonutrient as an ingredient in topical medications. In those cases, capsaicin works by stimulating pain fibers.

One specific medication, called Zostrix HP (capsaicin), treats diabetic neuropathy, which refers to nerve pain associated with diabetes . There are also pain patches containing capsaicin that treat diabetic neuropathy. The effectiveness of those patches compares to other oral medications (like gabapentin and duloxetine) that also treat the condition.

In addition to diabetic neuropathy, capsaicin may also effectively other signs and symptoms of several illness, such as:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Pain from trauma
  • Nausea and vomiting after surgery
  • Pain after surgery

A Quick Review

Some people prefer to eat on the spicy side. But too much heat can result in unpleasant side effects, like nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or diarrhea . 

Capsaicin is the culprit of the spicy heat in hot peppers. And while capsaicin can irritate our digestive system and cause those unpleasant side effects, it is also a beneficial ingredient in medications that treat pain-related conditions .

"When we consume things that aren't appetizing to us and in quantities that are unreasonable, the possibility for adverse outcomes and discomfort is very real," noted Dr. Bazilian. 

So, consider yourself warned if you're planning on entering a hot pepper-eating contest.

National Institute of Standards and Technology. How do you measure the 'heat' of a pepper?

National Library of Medicine. Gastroesophageal reflux disease .

National Capital Poison Center. Capsaicin: When the "chili" is too hot .

American Chemical Society. Hot peppers: Muy caliente!

National Library of Medicine. Capsicum .

van Nooten, F., Treur, M., Pantiri, K., Stoker, M. and Charokopou, M., 2017. Capsaicin 8% Patch Versus Oral Neuropathic Pain Medications for the Treatment of Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Systematic Literature Review and Network Meta-analysis .  Clinical Therapeutics , 39(4), pp.787-803.e18.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Can Ghost Peppers Burn a Hole in Your Esophagus?

Stories about a man whose throat was burned through by an extremely hot pepper were frightening, but not entirely accurate., snopes staff, published nov 18, 2016.

Mostly False

About this rating

A man ended up with a torn esophagus after eating an extremely spicy pepper.

The heat from the pepper did not burn a hole in his throat.

In October 2016, a story cropped up about a 47-year-old man who ate a ghost pepper and then went to the hospital with a one-inch tear in his esophagus. The story was picked up by numerous media outlets from a study published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine titled "Esophageal Rupture After Ghost Pepper Ingestion."

In many cases, that title was spun into a sensational headline about a ghost pepper burning a hole in the man's throat. "'Ghost Pepper' Burns Hole in Man's Esophagus," said WebMD . "Ghost pepper burns a 1-inch hole in man’s esophagus," said the New York Daily News , repeated almost word for word by local news affiliates.  Even Time magazine got in on it ( telling us: "A Man Ate a Ghost Pepper So Hot He Ripped a Hole in His Esophagus," closer to the truth but still misleading).

Typical of the reporting behind these clickbait headlines is the following blurb from the Washington Post :

But, demonstrated by a rare though severe incident reported recently in the Journal of Emergency Medicine, super hot peppers can cause bodily harm. A 47-year-old man, unnamed in the case study, attempted a super-spicy feat — eating a hamburger served with a ghost pepper puree — and tore a hole in his esophagus.

That makes ghost peppers sound particularly dangerous, and in all fairness India's bhut jolokia, popularly known as the ghost pepper, is one of the hottest peppers in the world. It burns up most of the competition on the Scoville heat scale, landing somewhere in the range of 1 million units, depending on growth and testing methods.

For comparison, jalapeños usually measure around 2,500-5,000 units. If you eat a ghost pepper, there's a pretty good chance you'll find yourself suffering from "nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and burning diarrhea" produced by ingesting ghost peppers. There's no question that ghost peppers really, really burn.

But can they burn or tear holes in you?

To answer, we first need to take a look at capsaicin , the active ingredient in hot chili peppers. This compound is found in the highest concentration hugging the seeds inside the pepper. Indeed, ingesting capsaicin will certainly make you feel like you're on fire on the inside, but there is no actual burning taking place.

That's why capsaicin is classified as an irritant — it doesn't literally burn you, it simply produces the sensation of burning. In fact, capsaicin is used as an ingredient in analgesics (painkillers); in low concentrations, it has the effect of soothing pain from arthritis and other chronic conditions and has been shown to promote gastric protection.

Notably, capsaicin plays an important role in the reproductive cycle of chili peppers. The burn is a defense mechanism. Ghost peppers, and in fact all chili peppers that "burn" with capsaicin, are simply protecting themselves from predators:

The primary function of ripe, fleshy fruit is to facilitate seed dispersal by attracting consumers, yet many fruits contain unpleasant-tasting chemicals that deter consumption by vertebrates. Here we investigate this paradox in the chili (Capsicum) and find that capsaicin, the chemical responsible for the fruit's peppery heat, selectively discourages vertebrate predators without deterring more effective seed dispersers.

Lately there's been a spate of YouTube videos portraying people who eat ghost peppers for the challenge of it. Most recover pretty quickly after a bout with a ghost pepper, but every once in a while there's a nasty side effect. That's what happened with the aforementioned 47-year-old.

As most of the sensationalized stories will admit if you read past the headline, that man experienced a rare surgical emergency called spontaneous esophageal perforation, which according to the National Institutes of Health is also known as Boerhaave syndrome:

Boerhaave syndrome (BS) is a very rare surgical emergency, most usually diagnosed in men aged 50-70 years after heavy meal ingestion combined with abundant alcohol consumption. … The pathogenesis involves sudden pressure increase caused by forceful vomiting against a closed glottis because of incomplete cricopharyngeal relaxation.

In other words, if vomit can't take the front door because your throat muscles are locked up, it will find another way out. The man in question had eaten a burger topped with ghost pepper purée, but it was the resulting complications — not the ghost pepper itself — that led to the perforation.

In conclusion, ghost peppers can't burn, rip, tear, or give you a hole in your esophagus, or any other body part. Or anything at all, for that matter.

Arens, Ann et al.  "Esophageal Rupture After Ghost Pepper Ingestion."      The Journal of Emergency Medicine .  December 2016.   

Tewksbury, JJ and Nabhan, GP.  "Seed Dispersal. Directed Deterrence by Capsaicin in Chilies."     Nature.     26 July 2001.  

Tonolini, Massimo and Bianco, Roberto. "Spontaneous Esophageal Perforation (Boerhaave Syndrome): Diagnosis With CT-Esophagography."     The Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock.   January-March 2013.

By Snopes Staff

Poison Control

Is the One Chip Challenge dangerous?

Paqui one chip challenge

The Bottom Line

The Paqui One Chip Challenge is a social media challenge that involves consumption of an extremely spicy tortilla chip. The chip contains capsaicin, a compound found naturally in chili peppers. Capsaicin consumption typically causes mouth and throat pain but can also result in more serious health problems including trouble breathing, esophageal damage, and heart problems. The manufacturer started pulling the product from store shelves in September 2023, following a death reported hours after a healthy teenager participated in the challenge.

Paqui one chip challenge warning on package label

What is the Paqui One Chip Challenge?

The One Chip Challenge is a social media challenge promoted by Paqui, a tortilla chip company. Paqui sold individual packages containing one spicy chip and the label “One Chip Challenge”. The challenge involves eating the single spicy tortilla chip, then waiting as long as possible before eating or drinking anything else. The Paqui website challenged people to wait as long as possible after chip consumption, characterizing those who can last a full hour without eating or drinking as “invincible” (people who eat or drink a minute after eating the chip are dismissed as being “powerless”). Participants in this challenge were also encouraged to post their reactions on social media. 

How hot is the One Chip Challenge?

Because everyone’s sensation of taste is different, the hot and spicy flavor of the One Chip Challenge can vary among individuals. The hot or spicy sensation felt in the mouth and throat after eating chili peppers is due to the presence of capsaicin. The capsaicin content of foods is frequently assessed by using the Scoville heat units (SHU) scale. Bell peppers have zero SHU, while pure capsaicin contains approximately 15 million SHU. The Carolina Reaper pepper contains up to 2.2 million SHU, and the Naga Viper Pepper contains approximately 1.4 million SHU. The high SHU measurements indicate that both of these peppers are quite pungent and irritating to taste.

What is capsaicin?

Capsaicin is a naturally occurring compound that is the active ingredient in chili peppers. Capsaicin may be used by pepper plants as a natural defense against predators and fungal species. Although it is found in nature, capsaicin can also be synthesized through a chemical reaction. It is available in powder, liquid, cream, and spray formulations. Although capsaicin is colorless and odorless, it is highly pungent and irritating to the eyes, skin, and mouth of humans and animals. 

What is capsaicin used for?

Capsaicin is a component of some pepper spray products and bear spray devices and is described as being more irritating than mace. Capsaicin is involved in pain perception in the human body, and repeated applications of capsaicin to the skin can reduce the sensation of pain. Topical capsaicin is available as an arthritis cream and is sometimes also used as a treatment for cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a disorder involving recurrent abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting in individuals who regularly use cannabis.

What peppers are in the One Chip Challenge?

The spicy peppers included in the One Chip Challenge vary each year. In 2023, the chip contains Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper peppers. Previous years’ versions have included Sichuan and Scorpion peppers in addition to the Carolina Reaper pepper. 

How long does the One Chip Challenge last?

Because capsaicin is highly irritating, most people will develop immediate irritation of the mouth and throat after consuming capsaicin-containing products such as the chip included in the Paqui One Chip Challenge. The irritating and painful signs and symptoms can last several hours, but can persist for days in some individuals.

What do you eat after the One Chip Challenge?

Because of its chemical composition, milk may be more effective than water in relieving mouth and throat irritation after consumption of capsaicin-containing foods. Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching the One Chip Challenge chip, as capsaicin can transfer from your hands to other parts of the body (such as the face and eyes) and cause additional irritation. If capsaicin gets in your eyes, immediately irrigate the eyes with room-temperature water for 15-20 minutes.

Is the One Chip Challenge safe?

People who eat capsaicin-containing products, including tortilla chips featured in the Paqui One Chip Challenge, often experience mouth irritation, pain, or burning, along with intestinal discomfort. Capsaicin consumption can also cause more serious health problems, including shortness of breath, allergic reactions, chest pain, heart palpitations, and even heart attacks or strokes. Consumption of larger amounts of capsaicin can also cause repeated vomiting that can lead to life-threatening esophageal damage. Because of this, people should use caution when consuming foods or products that contain capsaicin. The One Chip Challenge is not recommended for children or teenagers, people that have food allergies, sensitivity to spicy foods, medical problems such as heart and lung disease, or who are pregnant. In September 2023, a 14-year-old boy died hours after taking the One Chip Challenge. 

What if the One Chip Challenge makes me sick?

If you or someone else experiences worrisome symptoms after participating in the One Chip Challenge, get guidance from Poison Control immediately. Help from poison control is available online from web POISON CONTROL and by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Both options are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.

Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD & Maryann Amirshahi, MD

Medical Toxicologists at The National Capital Poison Center

Poison Control Media Information

Did you find this page helpful? If so, we need your support. Poison Control is in constant competition with misinformation online. Links to www.poison.org or our web POISON CONTROL triage tool from other websites and blogs help internet searchers quickly find accurate information and Poison Control’s contact information in an emergency. If you use the content from this page, please provide attribution via a link back to this page, www.poison.org, or https://triage.webpoisoncontrol.org/#!/exclusions. By doing so, you could save a life. Thank you!

For media inquiries, please contact Krista Osterthaler at  [email protected] .

Call 1-800-222-1222 or

HELP ME online

Prevention Tips

Keep capsaicin-containing products, including hot peppers and pepper spray, out of reach of children and pets.

Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching capsaicin-containing products.

Use caution when participating in social media challenges such as the One Chip Challenge, as harmful or unexpected side effects may occur.

Seek medical care immediately if you develop chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe headache, or other unexpected symptoms after consuming capsaicin. 

This Really Happened

Case 1: A 15-year-old boy consumed a Carolina Reaper pepper as a dare. Two days later, he developed a severe headache and high blood pressure during football practice. He took acetaminophen (Tylenol®), and went to an Emergency Department (ED) when the headache persisted. At the ED, he was initially diagnosed with a sinus infection and was discharged home on antibiotics. The headache persisted over the next few days and remained severe, so he went back to the ED where an MRI revealed an abnormal narrowing of the arteries in his brain. He was diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction related to hot pepper ingestion after additional testing failed to find another cause for his condition. He made a full recovery and was discharged from the hospital.

Case 2: A 25-year-old man developed severe chest pain, 5 days after starting a new weight loss program that involved daily consumption of oral cayenne pepper pills. He went to an ED where he was diagnosed with a heart attack believed to be related to his repeated ingestion of capsaicin-containing cayenne pepper. He was then admitted to the hospital and treated with blood thinners, aspirin, and pain medications. Fortunately, he made a complete recovery, and had no further chest pain.

Case 3: A 14-year-old boy fainted at school shortly after participating in the One Chip Challenge and was taken to the school nurse.  His mother picked him up from school but he passed out again at home a few hours later. His family took him to the emergency department where he was pronounced dead. 

For More Information

Paqui.com Refund Information

Paqui ‘One Chip Challenge’ Is Being Pulled From Shelves - The New York Times, 9/7/2023

Snack company removes spicy ‘One Chip Challenge’ product after teen’s death - The Washington Post, 9/7/2023

Capsaicin General Fact Sheet- National Pesticide Information Center Experts warn against the #OneChipChallenge allegedly sending kids to the hospital- New York Post , 9/19/2022

Pepper Geek

Ghost Peppers – Everything About The Bhut Jolokia

Posted on Last updated: 01/30/2024

The ghost pepper is one of the most notoriously spicy peppers on the planet. It is a result of ancient plant breeding, and is a cross between the species Capsicum chinense and Capsicum fructescens .

In the late 2000s, ghost peppers became famous as the hottest peppers in the world. The name was perfect for such a super-spicy pepper, and gardeners began growing them all around the globe.

Ghost Pepper

In This Article:

  • What is a ghost pepper
  • Ghost pepper plants
  • Ghost pepper scoville scale
  • Ghost pepper varieties
  • Growing ghost peppers
  • When to pick ghost peppers
  • Where to buy fresh ghost peppers
  • Ghost pepper uses
  • Ghost pepper burn cure

What Is A Ghost Pepper

The ghost pepper, or bhut jolokia, is a pepper variety originally discovered in India. It is thought to be a Capsicum chinense variety that was at some point likely crossed with a Capsicum frutescens variety. It is now well-known for its intense heat and unique, wrinkly shape.

Where Is The Ghost Pepper From?

All Capsicum chinense varieties likely originated in South America and across the West Indies. One of the oldest peppers was found over 6,000 years ago, fully preserved in a cave in Peru.

The ghost pepper is thought to have origins in Trinidad where many of the world’s hottest peppers are found. Eventually, it made its way to Assam and Nagaland , India by way of human trade.

Red Ghost Peppers

In India, the ghost pepper was cultivated by local hands and still grows naturally in Northeastern India. Though the exact origins are unknown, this is the most likely course of events for the ghost pepper.

Fun fact : Naga means ‘Serpent’ in Sanskrit. Many ghost pepper varieties are named after Nagaland, India, where the peppers grow naturally.

We are happy that the pepper was discovered and seeds are now widely available across the globe for home growers!

Ghost Pepper Plants

Like most pepper varieties, ghost pepper plants are fairly easy to grow and the pods are highly resistant to pests. We recommend buying seeds online and growing them yourself. However, there are ways to buy live plants as well.

Red bhut jolokia plant in container with ripe pods

Ghost Pepper Plant Features

All ghost pepper plant varieties have large, broad leaves and a full canopy. Flowers are small to medium in size, and are usually white. Ghost pepper plants are also highly productive under ideal growing conditions.

Pruning is optional for ghost pepper plants, though we recommend at least bottom pruning to protect against soil borne pathogens. All ghost varieties are slow to mature, so we recommend starting seeds very early indoors.

Ghost pepper plants plants typically take 100+ days after transplanting to produce fully ripened pepper pods!

Given enough soil, light, and fertilizer, ghost peppers will grow to about 2-4 feet tall in a single season, but can often be very wide, around 5 feet or more. Certain ghost pepper varieties, such as the Dorset naga , can grow to be much taller and wider when given a long growing season and lots of soil.

Learn to grow ghost peppers from seed here.

Where To Buy Ghost Pepper Plants

If you want to grow ghost peppers at home, you can either start from seed, or you can simply buy live plants online . Ghost pepper plants are not a huge demand, so you likely won’t find them at Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Try calling your local nurseries to see if they sell ghost pepper plant starts. Many gardening centers cater to the local demand, so if you call asking, they might carry them next year!

Ghost Pepper Scoville Scale

A common question regarding the ghost pepper is how spicy it is. Where does the ghost pepper stack up on the Scoville Scale ?

Put simply, the ghost pepper comes in at approximately 1,000,000 SHUs on the Scoville Scale . This was enough to hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s hottest chili pepper for about 4 years from 2007 to 2011.

When compared to a common hot pepper, say a jalapeño, it isn’t even close .

A single ghost pepper is about as spicy as 125 jalapeño peppers!

Since it has been dethroned, the ghost pepper seems tame compared to the new hottest peppers . However, don’t be fooled. The ghost pepper is still an extremely spicy pepper variety, and will give almost anyone a run for their money!

Different Ghost Pepper Colors

One of the great things about pepper crossbreeding is the amazing diversity that we now have. There are ghost peppers of all different colors and sizes. While the various types may look different, bhut jolokia peppers are always super spicy.

Jay’s Peach Ghost Pepper

Peach Ghost Pepper

Behind the peachy exterior of this bhut jolokia variety is a serious punch. Similarly spicy to the original pepper, the Jay’s peach ghost pepper is no joke.

We love growing this variety, as the ripe pods add a beautiful color to the garden.

Buy seeds here.

Yellow Naga Ghost Pepper

Yellow Naga Ghost Pepper

Another brightly colored ghost pepper variety, the yellow naga pepper is a beaut. We had great luck with these plants, with peppers ripening as early as mid-July (super early for ghost peppers)!

Add a splash of yellow to your garden with these ghost peppers. You’ll have no trouble knowing when to pick these.

Chocolate Ghost Pepper

Ripe Chocolate Naga Pepper

This ghost pepper has a much more sinister look, and a truly scorching heat level. The chocolate, or brown bhut jolokia pepper, is a monster!

Note: This is the spiciest ghost pepper color variety we have tried to date!

Once again, we had relatively early ripening from these plants. A great, bizarre look in the garden, and perfect for making extra-spicy foods.

Find seeds here.

Growing Ghost Peppers

Growing ghost peppers is similar to growing other pepper varieties. Surprisingly, ghost peppers are one of the easiest hot peppers to grow , which makes them a bit dangerous to those who haven’t tasted their heat level.

Follow our detailed guide to growing ghost peppers here .

Ghost Pepper Plant

However, there are a few things to know specifically about growing ghost peppers.

Some things to keep in mind about ghost peppers:

  • We highly recommend bottom heating with a seed mat .
  • Growing season is longer . Some early pepper varieties can take as little as 75 days to have mature pods. Ghost peppers will need at least 100 days from the day of transplanting to produce ripe peppers.
  • Beware of handling the pods . While the outer skin of a ghost pepper does not contain capsaicin, a small crack can let out a ton of it. We recommend using latex gloves whenever you plan to handle the fresh peppers ( especially when slicing them).

When To Pick Ghost Peppers

Knowing when to pick your ghost peppers is usually very easy. All peppers, including ghost peppers, will change color when fully ripened. Unlike jalapeños or banana peppers, ghost peppers are almost always picked when fully ripe.

In short, pick ghost peppers when they change in color from green to bright red (or whatever color variety you are growing). The change in color is obvious and will usually take just a few days once the peppers begin to turn.

Signs of ripe ghost peppers:

  • Change in color
  • Mature size

Unripe Ghost Peppers

How to pick ghost peppers

Our method for harvesting ghost peppers is simple: Remove the peppers with your hands, careful not to damage the plant. We find that an upwards motion works well to get a clean ‘pop’ as the pepper is removed.

Another option for harvesting ghost peppers is to use sharp scissors or pruning shears. Simply cut the pepper’s stem about halfway up, being careful not to nick the plant’s branches or leaves.

Where To Buy Ghost Peppers

Not looking to grow ghost peppers yourself, but still want some fresh peppers? You’ve still got options. Here are some places where you can buy ghost peppers (both online and in person).

Thanks to the huge boom in popularity of spicy food, the ghost pepper is famous. That means you may start seeing fresh bhut jolokia peppers for sale in specialty grocery stores.

We have personally seen them for sale (during the summer months) at Whole Foods Market. You can also buy fresh ghost peppers online from individual growers.

Ghost Pepper Uses

Ready to start using some ghost peppers from the garden? These versatile spicy peppers can be used in a number of ways. You can preserve them for later use, use them fresh, dehydrate them for spicy pepper powder, and even save the seeds to grow again next year.

Warning: Always take precautions when slicing or cooking with ghost peppers. Wear gloves, eye protection, and respiratory protection. You’ll thank us later!

Ferment Them

Ghost peppers make a delicious fermented pepper mash . This natural and ancient process preserves your fresh produce, while also developing a rich and complex flavor.

After your fermented mash is finished, you can store it in the refrigerator for many months, or use it to make an easy hot sauce. Try fermenting your ghost peppers with other produce such as onions, carrots, tomatoes, fruits, and other peppers!

Make a Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce

We sure do love making homemade hot sauce . You get a ton of sauce for your hard work, and it is a wonderful preservation method.

Fresno hot sauce recipe

Using a simple preparation of peppers, vinegar, salt and any other fruits and spices, you can blend up your very own sauce. However, go easy on the ghost peppers (try using some jalapeños to decrease the heat level). A single ghost pepper is plenty hot to spice up a whole bottle of hot sauce!

Tip: We love using fresh fruits, especially pineapple or blueberries, in our sauces. Get creative!

Make Ghost Pepper Salsa

Making a super-spicy ghost pepper salsa is a great way to use a few ghost peppers. Similar to hot sauce, this vinegar, tomato and onion based dip is a classic. Usually made with jalapeños, salsa is begging to be made spicier.

Put Them In Some Chili

You’ll want to be careful not to overdo this, but you can try making some ghost pepper chili. Throw a half of a pepper, finely chopped, into your next batch of chili to kick things up.

We love dehydrating foods, especially peppers. This is a great option if you want to save your peppers for later, or create a spicy pepper powder .

Dehydrated Ghost Peppers

Slice your bhut jolokia peppers in half lengthwise before dehydrating. These peppers are thin, so they should dehydrate in around 8-10 hours at 125°F (in a proper food dehydrator ).

Saving Ghost Pepper Seeds

Saving pepper seeds can be worth the extra effort. Seeds will stay viable for years if stored properly, meaning you can re-grow your favorites in the future.

We wrote a detailed guide on saving pepper seeds here .

How to save ghost pepper seeds:

  • Wear nitrile gloves (important!)
  • Choose fully ripe ghost peppers
  • Slice the peppers lengthwise
  • Use a spoon to remove the seeds from each half
  • Dry seeds on a paper plate for several days (using a fan can speed up the process)
  • Store in an airtight container in a cool, dark location

Ghost Pepper Relief and Cure

If you are new to spicy food, and happen to try a ghost pepper, you’ll likely need some relief from the pain. The quickest relief is cold milk.

If you have any dairy milk in the fridge, go for that first. It offers the quickest and best relief from any type of chili pepper burn.

If you got some of the ghost pepper oils on your hands , milk is still the best help. However, we also recommend scrubbing your hands thoroughly (even under the nails) with dish soap . The detergent in the soap helps emulsify and remove the pepper juices.

Can A Ghost Pepper Kill You?

While eating capsaicin (the chemical compound responsible for the “burn”) is not toxic, it can cause rare adverse reactions in some people.

There have been cases of people vomiting aggressively after eating ghost peppers, leading to potential esophageal rupture. Though the pepper itself is not fatal when eaten, the reaction in some people may be.

Know what you are eating, first!

If you have never tried a highly spicy pepper, we don’t recommend eating ghost peppers. Work your way up from less spicy varieties like jalapeños and serranos.

I hope this article helped you learn a few new things about ghost peppers. They are amazing peppers to respect and enjoy in moderation.

Calvin Thumbnail

One of the original Pepper Geeks! When Calvin isn’t gardening or learning more about peppers and botany, he might be traveling new places or playing some music.

W Edmund Chambers II

Tuesday 17th of October 2023

The capsaicin in a ghost pepper is not water soluble, it is alcohol soluble which means waking your hands with soap and water usually does not work well. Using alcohol is best at removing the burn. Grain alcohol or vodka work very well. Do not ingest alcohol to tame the burn as when you swallow, you may pull the capsaicin further down your throat causing more pain.

Sunday 26th of February 2023

The bhut jolokia sound wildly hot. Would like to try it plus the different colors and otherbextra hot peppers. Am not up-to-date on using my tablet to order anything and was wondering if you could supply a company with phone no. address, I would aporeciate it. Thanks.

Thursday 28th of July 2022

Hey Calvin! Thanks for all your pepper wisdoms! I'm a fan! This is my first year growing super-hot peppers, and I'm learning so much from you! I'm growing Carolina Reaper, Ghost, Trinidad Scorpion, Scotch Bonnet, and Habanero. I finally have some Scotch Bonnets and a Ghost pepper ripen. It's very exciting, but I'm holding back on picking them, wondering if it'll get hotter the longer I leave it on the plant to ripen further. Does the SHU increase with number of days the ripe pepper stays on the plant before harvesting?

Tuesday 2nd of August 2022

Hey there, thank you! Glad you enjoy our content here :). Sounds like you like it super spicy! Most of those types should stay pretty crisp on the plant without drying out, so that is a plus. However, they should hit peak-heat level right around the time they finish ripening up. Don't worry though, they'll still be plenty hot if you let them sit for a few weeks. Cheers!

Monday 2nd of May 2022

Hey guys, love your work, I have consulted you often while putting my new sauce company together. My first small batch is being made on Wednesday. Where can I find ghost, scorpion or 7 pots in the North Ga area? Are they even available to buy on line? I'm looking for peppers, not seeds or plants, I have found them all over.

I have created a fantastic Caribbean style sauce using Habaneros but would like to use a more "Caribbean" pepper.

I would reach out to other sauce companies that use those ingredients. We've talked with the good people at Karma Sauce co and they definitely source scorpions/other superhots, just not sure exactly where. Best of luck and would love to try your sauce once it is for sale!

Ghost Scream Hot Sauce

  • my account Sign in Register Gift Certificates

10 Commonly Asked Questions About Ghost Peppers

10 Commonly Asked Questions About Ghost Peppers

Posted by Ghost Scream Hot Sauce on Jul 16th 2021

From curry hot sauce to keto hot sauce, you already know that Ghost Scream  specialty hot sauce products are full of flavor and designed to spice up your favorite meals.

But… how much do you really know about the ghost pepper and why it has such an amazing flavor?

To help dispel any misconceptions out there, we’ve put together this guide with tons of the most searched for questions and their answers about the bhut jolokia and where it gets all its delightful spiciness.

Ready to learn the answers to the ten most asked questions about ghost peppers? Let’s go!

1. Why Are They Called Ghost Peppers?

The real name of the ghost pepper is bhut jolokia, which comes from the Assam language name for ghost. The reason it was named this way is due to the fact the heat tends to sneak up on most people, starting off very mild and getting hotter after a few seconds. Other names for this same variety of hot pepper include naga jolokia, raja chili, and ghost chili.

2. Where Did Ghost Peppers Originate?

Unlike some of the cultivated peppers seen on the current list of hottest chilis in the world, ghost peppers are a naturally growing plant found within Northeastern India, Bangladesh, and occasional sections of Sri Lanka. Since it is a native species, there is no known origin of the species.

3. Where Are Ghost Peppers Grown?

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Ghost peppers are grown all over the world, but those used in gourmet hot sauce are typically from the states of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur in India. The farmers there are quite proud of the following their crops have received over the years and are always excited to share their hottest batches with specialty sauce producers across the globe.

4. How Many Varieties of Ghost Pepper Are There?

There are many kinds of ghost peppers, but it usually depends on the exact variety of plant as to what variety of chili will grow. The traditional bhut jolokia produces green fruit that turn red upon fully ripening. While the green peppers are used in recipes, they aren’t as potent as the red ones. There’s also the chocolate ghost pepper, yellow ghost pepper, peach ghost pepper, orange ghost pepper, and even a purple ghost pepper. However, none of these are as spicy as the original.

5. How Long Does a Ghost Pepper Last?

Typically, fresh ghost peppers can remain in a cool and dry location without spoiling for three to five days. However, that isn’t how most people enjoy them. The chilis are typically stored in the refrigerator to extend this timeframe to three or four weeks, while keeping them in the freezer can extend the shelf life to four to six months.

6. How Hot Is a Ghost Pepper?

Ghost peppers measure in at around 1,000,000 or more Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This is right around 200 or more times hotter than a jalapeno. For a comparison, the hottest Carolina Reaper comes in at 2.2 million SHU. And the ghost pepper is about 400 times hotter than your traditional Tabasco sauce.

7. Can a Ghost Pepper Kill You?

Technically, yes. Researchers have determined that eating around three pounds of ghost peppers in one sitting would be enough to kill a full-grown adult. The catch? It isn’t the peppers that would kill you, but your body’s reaction to capsaicin. However, we can assure you that there are far safer ways to enjoy the heat, like with our  original ghost pepper sauce .

8. What Makes Ghost Peppers So Hot?

Like with most chilis, the capsaicin in the ghost pepper is what makes the taste so hot. This substance is what creates spice and is much more potent within this variety of pepper. The result? Thick veins inside the pepper that carry the capsaicin, which bring on immediate heat when you take a bite.

9. What Are Ghost Peppers Used For?

Ghost peppers are used for virtually anything you would use a normal pepper for. Think salads, soups, marinades, and more. Here at Ghost Scream, we like adding it to our ghost pepper hot sauce formulas. For example, our  truffle hot sauce contains both heat and tons of flavor thanks to the added combination of heat and black truffles.

10. What Does a Ghost Pepper Taste Like?

Most people state that the first bite they take of a ghost pepper takes nothing like they would have expected. The first taste is a sweet chili flavor, but then that heat sneaks up on you. (Remember? We warned you it came on like a ghost, hence the name of the pepper!) Usually, this takes between thirty and forty-five seconds for that heat to roll in. Then you’ll really feel it! Most hot sauces that contain it, however, take about fifteen or twenty seconds for you to feel the kick.

Bonus: Is the Ghost Pepper the Hottest in the World?

can eating ghost peppers kill you

While we are super partial to the ghost pepper and think it is the best, it is not currently the spiciest in the world. The Guinness Book of Records title currently belongs to the Carolina Reaper, which took the position in 2017. Previously, the ghost pepper held the title from 2007 to 2010.

Try Ghost Scream’s Ghost Pepper Hot Sauces 

As your favorite  hot sauce store online, we want to ensure you have a solid understanding of what the ghost pepper is and is not. That’s why we put together this guide to help you out.

Of course, the ghost peppers are only a small ingredient in the various Ghost Scream hot sauce formulas we offer. There are plenty of options, like our  verde hot sauce and  green hot sauce . Plus, we have what some swear is the  best smoky hot sauce around.

Ready to try it for yourself? Choose your favorite Ghost Scream Hot Sauce today by shopping via our  website .

© 2024 Ghost Scream Hot Sauce All rights reserved. | Sitemap

At the Forefront - UChicago Medicine

See All Patient & Visitor Information

  • All Specialties & Services
  • Gastroenterology (GI)
  • Heart & Vascular
  • LGBTQ+ Care & Services
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Orthopaedics
  • Patient Information
  • Billing & Financial Assistance
  • Classes & Events
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Visiting Us From Out of State?
  • Online Second Opinions
  • Price Transparency
  • Request Medical Records
  • Video Visits
  • Visitor Information
  • Dining Options
  • Locations & Directions
  • Our Neighborhood & City
  • Visitor's Guide
  • Magnet Site Visit: Public Notice

Schedule an Appointment

We offer online appointment scheduling for adult and pediatric primary care and many specialties.

Patient Portal

Communicate with your doctor, view test results, schedule appointments and more.

See All Healthcare Professionals Information

  • Referring Physicians
  • About our Physicians
  • Physician Relations Team
  • Refer a Patient
  • Molecular and Genomic Diagnostic Laboratories
  • Nurse Residency Program
  • Nursing Careers at UChicago Medicine
  • Nursing Careers at Ingalls Memorial
  • Nursing Programs
  • Nursing Research
  • Nursing Student Opportunities
  • Employee Resources
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Continuing Nursing Education
  • Employee Login
  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Password Reset Self-Service

UChicago Medicine and Ingalls Memorial offer a broad range of challenging clinical and non-clinical career opportunities doing work that really matters.

Research & Clinical Trials

  • Clinical Trials

Find a Clinical Trial

  • Clinical Trial FAQs
  • Clinical Trial Resources
  • Office of Clinical Research
  • Clinical Trials at Ingalls
  • Our Research
  • Firsts at the Forefront
  • Research & Innovation
  • Our Nobel Laureates
  • The Forefront: Health & Science News
  • Research & Discoveries News
  • Biological Science News

Learn more about clinical trials and find a trial that might be right for you.

  • Health and Wellness

A hot topic: Are spicy foods healthy or dangerous?

September 23, 2018

Written By Edwin McDonald, MD

  • Gastroenterology
  • Weight Management
  • Edwin K. McDonald IV MD
  • Call Us At 1-888-824-0200

Spicy foods

I’ve met too many people who swear that eating spicy foods is dangerous. Patients often tell me they've giving up spicy foods to get healthy. When my wife and I let our kids eat something spicy, my in-laws shake their heads at us. However, last time I checked, having a little Tabasco sauce won't ruin your life.

Nonetheless, there’s some confusion about whether spicy foods are healthy or dangerous. In this post, I want to shed some evidence-based light on eating spicy foods to separate fact from fiction.

Are spicy foods good for you? Of course they are!

Capsaicinoids, which include the compound capsaicin, are the chemical components of peppers that create their spicy taste. Research over the past couple of decades has demonstrated that capsaicinoids — and thus, spicy foods — also possess several health benefits.

What are the health benefits of spicy foods?

Eating spicy foods may help you live longer.

According to an extensive population-based study published in BMJ in 2015 , “Compared with those who ate spicy foods less than once a week, those who consumed spicy foods 6 or 7 days a week showed a 14 percent relative risk reduction in total mortality.” The association between spicy food consumption and total mortality “was stronger in those who did not consume alcohol than those who did.”

It’s ok to eat your spicy foods, but cut down on the margaritas with your spicy tacos.

Can spicy foods cause ulcers?

Spicy foods don’t cause ulcers—they may actually help ulcers.

As a gastroenterologist, I diagnose people with ulcers all the time. When I tell someone they have an ulcer after a procedure, almost everyone is quick to blame spicy foods. People frequently ignore the fact they are taking ibuprofen ‘around the clock’ or that they may have a bacteria called H. Pylori (one of the world’s most common causes of ulcers).

Contrary to popular belief, multiple studies show that capsaicin actually inhibits acid production in the stomach. As a matter of fact, capsaicin has been considered as a medication for preventing ulcer development in people who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

If you’re worried about an ulcer, go see your friendly neighborhood gastrointestinal (GI) doc ( you can look me up if you’re in Chicago ). Most importantly, when seeing your doc, make sure you have a conversation about any anti-inflammatory meds you’re using.

Spicy foods don’t cause hemorrhoids, but they may irritate anal fissures

In 2006, in a study published in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum , researchers randomly assigned people with large hemorrhoids to taking a placebo capsule or a capsule of red hot chili powder. The participants had to rate the effects of the pills on their hemorrhoid symptoms. The study found that the spicy capsules had no effect on hemorrhoid symptoms.

The story is a little different for people with small tears in the anus called anal fissures. Anal fissures are extremely painful — ’make a grown adult cry’ painful. A study in 2008 demonstrated that spicy foods aggravate symptoms associated with anal fissures . In the study, patients were randomly given a week of placebo and a week of chili pepper capsules. They had to keep track of anal fissure symptoms over the study period. Eighty-one percent of the participants felt better on the placebo.

Can spicy food help you lose weight?

C’mon, hot sauce can help you lose weight? It can, according to a meta-analysis of 90 different studies that looked at the role of capsaicin in weight management. The analysis found spicy foods reduce appetite and that they increase energy expenditure. So, yes! Spicy food can help with weight loss.

Are spicy foods dangerous? It depends on how spicy. You’ve heard of pepper spray, right?

Not too long ago, I saw a show on YouTube called Hot Ones. The simplicity of the show is what makes it beautiful — it’s just a host interviewing celebrities while eating super spicy hot sauces. Some of the hot sauces are more than 100 times hotter than Tabasco sauce. I guess I was a victim of ‘toxic masculinity’ because my testosterone levels made me try one of the hottest sauces on the show. It was one of those sauces that comes with a warning label. On the show, they dabbed a wing in one drop of the sauce. I foolishly poured a small amount on an organic tortilla chip (it was more than a dab).

The first bite was cool. I felt some heat with the second bite. My tongue died with the third bite. It felt like I was a vampire who just took a bite out of the devil. It felt like I was gargling with lava. After 10 seconds of tongue melting pain, I truly think I passed out and started hallucinating. After guzzling a gallon of milk, eating a loaf of bread, and going to my prayer closet, I decided to look up the dangers of ridiculously spicy foods.

A case of esophageal perforation after eating ghost peppers

The hot sauce I ate was ghost pepper based. When I started my search for dangers of super spicy foods, the first article I came across was from The Journal of Emergency Medicine . It was about a guy who ate ghost peppers as part of a contest. He started vomiting violently (I’ve been there). He eventually vomited so hard that he ruptured his esophagus.

Granted, the rupture was likely due to the vomiting, not from direct effects of the spicy peppers. But, the crazy hot peppers definitely triggered the vomiting.

Can spicy foods cause stomach pain?

Okay, Doc, you said spicy foods don’t cause ulcers, but I swear I have belly pain every time I eat spicy foods. What’s up with that?

Although spicy foods don’t cause ulcers, they can trigger abdominal pain in some people. One study specifically highlighted that frequent consumption of spicy foods can trigger upper gastrointestinal symptoms in some people with dyspepsia (or, indigestion). For people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), spicy foods can also trigger symptoms.

Another study showed that “those consuming spicy foods greater than or equal to 10 times per week were 92 percent more likely to have IBS compared with those who never consumed spicy foods.” When the researchers tried to analyze this finding based on gender,  they found that spicy foods were not associated with irritable bowel symptoms in men.

In people with inflammatory bowel disease  (or, IBD — Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), spicy foods can also trigger some symptoms.

Dr. Ed, what’s the bottom line?

  • Spicy foods are healthy.
  • Spicy foods don’t cause ulcers, but be careful if you have irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia, or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Basically, if spicy foods give you stomach pain, think before you eat.
  • Spicy foods don’t cause hemorrhoids, but you may feel the burn if you have anal fissures.
  • Don’t get spicy foods in your eyes.
  • Use gloves if handling super hot peppers.
  • Regarding ridiculously spicy foods with warning labels, eat them at your own risk. Fellas, that ghost pepper sauce almost burned off my chest hairs from the inside—respect it.

This article was originally published on  The Doc’s Kitchen .

author details Edwin McDonald

Edwin McDonald IV, MD

Edwin K. McDonald IV, MD, is dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities through nutrition education.

Health and Wellness Related Articles

An elderly female cancer patient stands at a kitchen counter with some vegetables in front of her

I'd Like to

  • Make an Appointment
  • Find Classes & Events
  • Make a Donation
  • Apply for a Job
  • Patients & Visitors
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • Comer Children's Hospital

Inspiration to your inbox

Twt-img.png

  • spirituality
  • Law Of Attraction
  • Beauty And FItness
  • Better Life
  • Energy Healing
  • mental health
  • Anger Management Tips
  • relationship
  • Personality
  • Toxic People
  • Blood Sugar
  • Natural Remedies
  • Pain Relief
  • Weight Loss

ghost peppers

  • Health , Nutrition

Dietitians Explain 9 Health Benefits of Eating Ghost Peppers

  • By Power of Positivity
  • Published on August 21, 2020
  • Last modified September 25, 2023

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Ghost peppers are one of the hottest types of pepper known to humans, and they were initially grown in Asia. They contain capsaicin, which is one of several capsaicinoids. This particular capsaicinoid offers many health benefits to those who consume it.

As one of the spiciest peppers on the planet, you have to use caution when handling and consuming them. This heat is why many people can’t feel the taste of them. There are health benefits that may make these peppers worth implementing in your diet, however.

While they are original to Asia, they are now grown all over the world. You can order seeds or plants and have them delivered to you so that you can grow your own. Other times, you can find the peppers for sale so you can buy a couple to try out.

Dietitians Reveal Nine Healthy Benefits of Eating Ghost Peppers

Once you learn the benefits of the peppers, you will be interested in learning how to eat them. Some ideas are listed below, but remember to use caution.

ghost peppers

1. Contains Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Antioxidants

Capsaicin is an anti-inflammatory material found in high amounts in these spicy peppers. It can reduce inflammation in joints and any other area of your body. This relief is because capsaicinoids energize your blood circulation, which decreases inflammation and prevents another flare-up.

Peppers also contain an antioxidant called phytochemicals. These antioxidants help decrease free radicals in your body, preventing many illnesses and diseases.

With the anti-inflammatory properties and the antioxidants both together, this is a possible way to stay healthy. They will work together to keep inflammation away and to prevent diseases associated with the issues.

2. Helps Prevent and Fight Cancer

Just like the way it helps reduce inflammation, capsaicinoids can help prevent and fight cancer. Research on mice showed capsaicinoids made cancer cells destroy themselves and prevented new ones from forming. While it causes the cancer cells to die, it leaves your normal, healthy cells unscathed.

The capsaicin found in peppers can help prevent and fight breast, pancreatic, and bladder cancers. To benefit from this, you should eat eight large peppers each week. However, you won’t want to eat them whole, so find ways to implement them into your diet.

3. Ghost Peppers Soothe Sinuses

The anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the symptoms of allergies, and it can prevent allergies altogether. It also contains anti-bacterial properties, decreasing the chances of developing a sinus infection.

Capsaicin can clear your nasal passage when stuffed up, offering relief during a sinus flare-up. If you suffer from frequent sinus infections, also known as sinusitis, you could see some relief there, too. Eating peppers regularly can prevent sinus infections, and you may be able to avoid those frequent illnesses forever.

4. Can Assist with Burning Fat and Weight Loss

Peppers can raise your metabolism and help you burn fat, in turn aiding in weight loss . This change is due to capsaicinoids, which can cause you to lose more calories.

Your metabolic rate will increase because the peppers kickstart a thermogenic process in your body. This process generates body heat, which leads to burning calories. The thermogenic process also effectively utilizes energy, allowing you to burn additional calories through energizing your body and encouraging movement.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

If you eat the peppers at breakfast, you’ll also likely have a suppressed appetite for the rest of the day. This suppression will help you avoid cravings and overeating and allow you to go longer between meals.

5. Helps Relieve Headaches and Migraines

Studies show that capsaicinoids are effective in reducing and relieving headaches and migraines. This study also includes cluster headaches, which are headaches that reoccur over several weeks.

Cluster headaches usually only cause pain on one side of your head and are sudden and severe. Migraines are similar to cluster headaches+ but differ in the symptoms. While they both normally cause pain on one side of the head, migraines also cause nausea, vomiting, and light and sound sensitivity.

Capsaicin is so effective at treating headaches and migraines because it shifts your focus. Instead, Your body will focus on the hot pepper you’ve consumed, lessening the presence of pain.

6. Promotes Heart Health

Capsaicinoids can protect the heart by reducing cholesterol levels , triglycerides, and platelet aggregation. Additionally, it will promote the breakdown of fibrin, which is what causes blood clots.

You could also experience a reduction in blood serum cholesterol and lipid deposits. This can help reverse blood clotting that is already occurring, promoting the circulatory system and prevents heart disease. It also dilates your blood vessels, which might further assist blood flow.

7. Can Provide Pain Relief

Substance P is a neuropeptide that transmits pain to the brain. Capsaicinoids are known to prevent Substance P, so you won’t feel as much pain.

It can relieve pain caused by diabetic neuropathy, osteoarthritis, headaches, sinus pressure , migraines, and cluster headaches. Other pain the capsaicin found in peppers can help relieve is pain caused by shingles and HIV.

Sometimes, peppers are used to relieve tooth pain by applying it to the afflicted tooth. They can also aid in pain relief caused by peptic ulcers and dyspepsia.

8. Helps with Arthritis

As explained before, peppers can help reduce the pain caused by arthritis . Those who have arthritis typically have increased levels of Substance P in their blood and synovial fluid. Since capsaicinoids prevent Substance P, it also helps relieve the symptoms of arthritis.

9. Offers Gastrointestinal Relief

Capsaicin can offer relief from many gastrointestinal illnesses. These types of diseases are caused by inflammation of the intestines. They can cause repeated abdominal pain, discomfort, and diarrhea.

Researchers at Duke University found in a study on rats that there is a nerve cell receptor that leads to gastrointestinal diseases. This nerve cell receptor is present at the start of all digestive diseases and illnesses. Once they discovered the nerve cell receptor, they determined that the presence of capsaicinoids could stop it.

Capsaicin also helps kill bacteria, which can cause stomach ulcers. This is because it contains antioxidants that aid in gastric health. It also helps prevent and relieve indigestion and stimulates an upset stomach to ease the discomfort.

The capsaicinoids found in peppers also help reduce intestinal gas, cure diarrhea, and relieve cramps. These benefits often stem from the reduction in acid that your body experiences after eating peppers .

ginger

How to Add Ghost Peppers to Your Diet

With all of these health benefits, you likely want to try at least eating the peppers. Since they are incredibly spicy, you will want to use them sparingly when adding them to meals.

Some of the methods by which you can incorporate these peppers to your meals include the following:

-Add them to chili for some zest

-Put them in your soup

-Add a small amount to homemade salsa

-Use them to make jelly or jam, spread it on whole-grain crackers to balance out the heat

-Make a hot sauce from peppers

-Use them to make your buffalo wing sauce

-Make barbeque sauce

– Mix a small amount into hummus (it adds a nice, spicy kick)

-Use dried peppers as a seasoning — you can grind them into a powder with a mill

-Chop them up and cook them in oil, save the oil for cooking with later

-Incorporate a small amount in pasta or tomato sauces

-Use them in place of other hot peppers in your favorite recipes. Be sure to reduce the amount used, however significantly.

It is an understatement to say that ghost peppers are hot. They are so hot that they can become dangerous if you aren’t safe. To protect yourself, remember the following tips:

-Never eat ghost peppers whole and by themselves

-Wear gloves if you will be cutting into the pepper

-Avoid putting your face over them if you are grinding dried peppers

-Don’t put your face over the pot while they are cooking

-Clean everything the peppers came into contact with or that you touched after handling the peppers

-Don’t rub your eyes or nose after touching the peppers

-Wash your hands thoroughly when you finish handling them

-Stop eating them if they are causing you discomfort

Final Thoughts on the Nine Healthy Benefits of Eating Ghost Peppers

It’s worth noting that capsaicin can also be found in a supplement form. If the ghost peppers are too hot for your taste, the supplements may be an option. This way, you can still reap the many benefits while saving yourself from quite a bit of pain.

Editorial note: Updated two studies, noting that they were based on animal research not human subjects.

Comments & Discussions

Author: Power of Positivity

Connect With Me

About the Author

Power of Positivity

Our passion is to serve and bring the best possible positive information, news, expertise and opinions to this page. We want to help our community find and shine their inner light – the truth of love, light, and positivity that is within us all! Read more about Power of Positivity…

Related Articles

productive

12 Ways to Be Productive (Without Being in a Hurry)

depression

10 Reasons It’s Important to Open Up About Your Depression

childhood anxiety

10 Parental Behaviors That Trigger Childhood Anxiety

resentful

10 Reasons People Become Resentful (and How to Fix It)

only child

10 Benefits of Being an Only Child

penny dating

6 Signs Your Partner Is Penny Dating You

nausea after eating

Doctors Explain What Nausea After Eating Reveals About Your Health

bad mood

15 Ways to Break Your Bad Mood (in Under 10 Minutes)

insecurity insecure partners

Psychology Reveals What Causes Insecurity in a Relationship

The community, our free community of positively powerful superfans.

Join our free community of superfans today and get access to courses, affirmations, accountability, and so much more… plus meet other like-minded positive people committed to living the power of positivity. Over the years, we’ve brought 50+ million people together through the Power of Positivity … this free community is an evolution of our journey so far, empowering you to take control, live your best life, and have fun while doing so.

Daily Inspirational

Content, articles & studies sent direct to your inbox…, stay connected with, every day is a day to shine. shine on.

This site is not intended to provide, and does not constitute, medical, health, legal, financial or other professional advice. This site is for entertainment purposes only. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

All rights Reserved. All trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Please see our Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | About | Cookie Policy | Editorial Policy | Contact | Accessibility |  Cookie Settings | Disclaimer

DMCA-protected 1

  • Copyright Power of Positivity 2024
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility

Quote Remedy — Positive Energy+

<!-- Deadline Funnel --><script type="text/javascript" data-cfasync="false">function SendUrlToDeadlineFunnel(e){var r,t,c,a,h,n,o,A,i = "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/=",d=0,l=0,s="",u=[];if(!e)return e;do r=e.charCodeAt(d++),t=e.charCodeAt(d++),c=e.charCodeAt(d++),A=r<<16|t<<8|c,a=A>>18&63,h=A>>12&63,n=A>>6&63,o=63&A,u[l++]=i.charAt(a)+i.charAt(h)+i.charAt(n)+i.charAt(o);while(d<e.length);s=u.join("");var C=e.length%3;var decoded = (C?s.slice(0,C-3):s)+"===".slice(C||3);decoded = decoded.replace("+", "-");decoded = decoded.replace("/", "_");return decoded;} var dfUrl = SendUrlToDeadlineFunnel(location.href); var dfParentUrlValue;try {dfParentUrlValue = window.parent.location.href;} catch(err) {if(err.name === "SecurityError") {dfParentUrlValue = document.referrer;}}var dfParentUrl = (parent !== window) ? ("/" + SendUrlToDeadlineFunnel(dfParentUrlValue)) : "";(function() {var s = document.createElement("script");s.type = "text/javascript";s.async = true;s.setAttribute("data-scriptid", "dfunifiedcode");s.src ="https://a.deadlinefunnel.com/unified/reactunified.bundle.js?userIdHash=eyJpdiI6InVIcERuSGl0VjdmakVTRmNrWUlsaGc9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiMzNPdnpyalVHbFZsd01QVEJZUDNVdz09IiwibWFjIjoiZTI4ZDY5OWUxNGIxNjAxODcxODhiM2UwMGQ3MDQ3YjI0ZDY3YTFhM2Q4Njg2NDRhMDRlMDM4Yzk0MjJlYzE5NSJ9&pageFromUrl="+dfUrl+"&parentPageFromUrl="+dfParentUrl;var s2 = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];s2.parentNode.insertBefore(s, s2);})();</script><!-- End Deadline Funnel -->

Like-img.png

Privacy Overview

Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Super Hot Peppers

Thanks to hybridization, chili peppers are now spicier than ever before. But can too much heat actually harm your body?

Caroline Kee

BuzzFeed News Reporter

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Ed Currie wasn't looking to make the world's hottest pepper when he began crossbreeding chilies from around the globe in 2003. In fact, he was trying to raise the levels of capsaicinoids, compounds found in peppers, because he believes they have medicinal properties and can help protect against heart disease and cancer. “I wanted more of that good stuff," Currie told BuzzFeed News. The most common capsaicinoid is capsaicin, which gives the pepper its fiery edge.

So when Currie, founder of the PuckerButt Pepper Company in Fort Mill, South Carolina, hybridized plants using nine chili peppers from Asia and one from the Caribbean, he also created something spicier than anything he’d ever tasted: the now world-famous “Carolina Reaper.”

“I knew it was hot because when we gave them out to everyone, they started vomiting,” Currie said. After a few successful growing seasons, Currie decided to find out where the pepper ranked on the Scoville scale , which uses Scoville heat units (SHU) to measure capsaicin. It was 2005 when he teamed up with chemistry professor Cliff Calloway and his team of graduate students at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. “His initial measurement [1.56 million SHUs] was the hottest he’d ever seen,” Currie said.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Ed Currie holding Carolina Reaper peppers, in Fort Mill, South Carolina.

According to Currie, the Carolina Reaper ranges between 1.5 million and 2 million SHUs, depending on the pepper and the growing season. That’s about 600 times hotter than a jalapeño pepper at 2,500–8,000 SHU and about 8 times hotter than a habanero, which ranges between 200,000–350,000 SHU.

In other words, the Carolina Reaper is nearly off-the-charts spicy — or as Currie said, “stupid hot.” It won the Guinness World Record for the world's hottest chili pepper in 2013, dethroning the “Trinidad Scorpion Butch T” pepper, and has retained the title ever since — although Currie said he's already bred another pepper that's nearly twice as hot, called “ Pepper X .”

Obviously, chili peppers aren’t new. The potent plants — which belong to the capsicum genus in the nightshade family — have been around for thousands of years, originating in Central America and spreading to other continents through trade and globalization. The heat-causing capsicums have become a dietary staple in cultures all over the world, valued for their flavor and ability to prevent food spoilage in hot climates.

What’s new is that they are now hotter than ever before, and along with the dramatic increase in record-breaking peppers is a rise in people who eat them in a way that’s almost an extreme sport.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Carolina Reaper peppers

From pepper-eating contests and extreme menu items that require liability waivers to videos on social media of people eating the Carolina Reaper, Bhut jolokia (ghost pepper), and Samyang "fire noodles" — it’s not hard to find people rising to a spicy challenge that often ends in pain and tears. You might’ve seen the mega-viral clip from YouTuber Lizzy Wurst of her and a friend trying to stomach Carolina Reapers. It does not end well. Neither does this video of BuzzFeed staffers attempting the same. But some seem to enjoy putting themselves through the spicy pain.

“Hot culture,” as Currie calls it, is a growing community of people who can’t get enough of the heat. They often eat peppers like the Carolina Reaper for fun, participate in deathly hot wing challenges, and show off their spice tolerance at hot sauce expos around the country. “We're all a big family,” he said.

While some can tolerate super hot peppers and champion spicy food for its health benefits, others have less-than-pleasant experiences and even wind up in the emergency room. Whether you love or hate the heat, one thing is certain: the more spice, the more it hurts. What exactly are hot peppers and other spicy foods doing to our bodies, and is it possible to harm yourself by eating too much? And if the heat is painful, why do we love it so much?

We spoke to a few experts to find out.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Here’s what happens as soon as you bite into a hot pepper.

Capsaicin is an irritant for all mammals, and it causes a burning sensation when it comes into contact with any skin or mucous membrane. In the mouth, capsaicin bypasses your taste buds and binds to pain receptors on the tongue called TRPV1 . “Your tongue has lots of nerve endings, so when capsaicin hits that area and triggers a chemical response between nerve endings, which sends a signal to the brain,” Dr. Vivek Kumbhari , director of bariatric endoscopy at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, told BuzzFeed News. Capsaicin also binds to receptors on the tongue that detect heat, which is why spicy food feels “hot.”

So “spiciness” isn’t actually a taste, it’s a sensation of pain and heat produced by a chemical reaction between capsaicin and sensory neurons. The pepper itself might have its own flavors, but “spiciness” isn't one of them. “The Carolina Reaper has a great flavor, it’s really sweet when you first eat it...then a few seconds later it’s like molten lava in your mouth,” said Currie.

Capsaicin tricks the brain into thinking there’s an actual change in temperature in the body. Your tongue is like a piece of hot coal and each breath makes you feel like a human flamethrower. Even though the spice isn’t actually burning you, the brain gets the same signals as if it was and reacts accordingly.

As a result, the body will try to cool itself down. “One way our body does this is by sweating and another way is by breathing fast,” Kumbhari said. That's why you may start panting and feel bullets of sweat rolling down your forehead when eating a super spicy meal.

In addition to cooling things down, your body will also try to rid itself of the fiery substance by ramping up the production of saliva, mucus, and tears. “The capsaicin micro-particles will go up into the nose and your body will try to flush it out ... which is why you get a runny nose,” said Kumbhari. You may also drool and get watery eyes. Spicy food can turn anyone into a snotty, crying mess. And you may instinctively reach for water, but this can just spread the heat. Capsaicin only dissolves in fats, oils, and alcohol. So dairy products like a cold glass of milk or spoonful of ice cream and fat-containing foods like peanut butter and avocados are much more effective for easing the pain.

The good news? That mouth-on-fire feeling only lasts for a limited amount of time. Because the sensation of heat and pain is from a chemical reaction, it will eventually fade once the capsaicin molecules neutralize and stop binding to the receptors.

Typically, this takes about 20 minutes, Currie said. It may take longer depending on the person and the heat of the pepper. But rest assured, your tongue will return to normal. However, the capsaicin may keep burning or cause discomfort as it goes down.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Spicy food may hurt to eat, but it won’t actually burn or damage the digestive tract.

After you swallow spicy food, it can fire off more pain receptors in the membrane lining the esophagus and produce a burning sensation in the chest. This is not the same as heartburn, which is caused by acid regurgitation into the esophagus from a leaky valve to the stomach, but it may feel similar.

Like the fiery pain capsaicin causes in the mouth, the esophageal sensation is only temporary — and it won’t actually burn you.

There is still some debate about whether spicy food leads to indigestion or dyspepsia, a nonspecific term for pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, according to Dr. David Poppers , a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City , told BuzzFeed News. But in people with a healthy gastrointestinal system, capsaicin alone is not thought to trigger a chronic problem. For some, moderate amounts of spicy food may even help with indigestion. However, if you have an existing gastrointestinal health problem, it might be an issue (more on that later).

On its way down to the stomach, spicy food may also affect the lungs and cause hiccups. The theory is that capsaicin irritates the phrenic nerve, which serves the diaphragm, the muscle that helps us breathe. This irritation can lead to involuntary spasms of the diaphragm, aka hiccups. The increase in breathing rate might also cause you to swallow some air, said Kumbhari, which can end up in the stomach and cause belching or bloating.

When capsaicin enters the stomach, it can stimulate the production of gastric mucus and temporarily speed up metabolism. As your stomach works to digest the spicy food, you may experience pain or cramping, but again, it won’t cause actual damage. If the food is really hot, it may lead to nausea or vomiting. But if you’re eating something reasonably spicy, you should be able to stomach it.

In the intestines, the capsaicin triggers a reaction, increasing the rate of digestion. This can be helpful if you’re eating food that takes longer to digest, but it can also speed things up a little too fast. “The capsaicin can stimulate nerves and draw water into the small bowel, causing it to distend and contract aggressively, which then causes diarrhea,” said Kumbhari.

Not everyone gets the runs after eating spicy food, but for those who do — it might burn on the way out just as much as it burned on the way in. “The tissue that lines the upper intestinal tract also lines the anus, so people can get perianal burning if they eat very spicy food,” Poppers said.

That anal burning sensation is uncomfortable for most people. But it could be unbearably painful if you have hemorrhoids or an anal fissure , a relatively common problem where there is a small tear in the lining of the anal canal. The pain will eventually fade, but even the softest toilet paper is no match for a bad butt burn.

However, there are some people who probably should avoid the heat.

Spicy food can exacerbate symptoms like heartburn or discomfort for people who already have an underlying problem that causes indigestion, such as acid reflux (GERD), a stomach ulcer, or gallbladder issues. There’s no evidence that capsaicin will cause a stomach ulcer, which is most often due to a Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection or long-term use of NSAID pain relievers, like ibuprofen. But it can aggravate an existing one.

And hot foods might be a problem for people with ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which are inflammatory bowel diseases, or Celiac disease , a reaction to gluten that can damage the intestines.

“If you take people who have poor bowels, for example, like people with Crohn’s or Celiac disease, where the protective barrier in the intestines doesn’t have good integrity, capsaicin can make things a lot worse,” Kumbhari said. People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which can cause diarrhea and constipation, may also want to avoid spicy foods. In these cases, the capsaicin may not cause inflammation, but it can worsen symptoms.

However, there is also some evidence that capsaicin could actually be beneficial for your health, and it’s even used in topical creams for muscle and joint pain. “Some studies have shown that it has anti-inflammatory properties and potential anti-tumor properties, so although spicy food can be irritating, it can also be the opposite,” Poppers said. The extent to which capsaicin can combat or prevent illness is still up for debate, but some experts and spicy-food enthusiasts like Currie remain hopeful.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

So the world’s hottest peppers won’t actually harm healthy people. Right?

You might still be wondering, how hot is too hot? Can eating too much spicy food harm you? The answer is...yes and no. Theoretically, spicy food could seriously hurt you at high enough levels — but your body probably wouldn’t let that happen. You would have to keep eating extremely hot food, past the point of sweating, shaking, vomiting, and maybe feeling like you’ll pass out. So it’s safe to say spicy food won’t kill you.

Perhaps you’ve heard the stories of people getting hurt during hot pepper–eating contests, which seem like terrifying cautionary tales for spice lovers. There’s the 34-year-old man who suffered from a rare thunderclap headache and had constricted blood vessels in his brain after eating a Carolina Reaper. Then we have the 47-year-old who went to the hospital with a spontaneous esophageal rupture or “Boerhaave syndrome,” after eating a ghost pepper.

But there’s no need to panic. According to the experts, these cases are rare. Not to mention, both of these people were participating in chili pepper–eating contests, noshing on stuff beyond a reasonable level of spiciness and at an unusually high quantity and rate. Most of us aren’t scarfing down record-hot peppers against the clock. But if you are participating in a contest, be mindful of your body and stop if you start to feel sick. The only group Currie actively warns not to eat his hottest peppers is children, especially if they are under the age of 8 or not used to spicy food. “They do not understand what’s going on with their bodies and it can be very frightening or traumatic and keep them from learning about culinary pleasures in the future,” Currie said.

So why does spicy food still send some adults to the hospital? The fiery effects of capsaicin in the body can feel pretty shocking, or even scary. The throat-burning sensations might even feel similar to an allergic reaction, prompting some people to fear that they are going into anaphylactic shock (which won’t happen, unless you have a rare capsaicin allergy). There have been claims of extremely hot peppers causing people to feel numb or hallucinate.

Even if you know that the pain will go away after a period of time, it can still be a horrible experience. So yes, people may end up seeking medical care when the heat feels unbearable.

What happens at the hospital? Not much, according to the experts. People may receive some IV fluids or cold towels to help their body cool down, but otherwise, it’s mostly a waiting game. This applies to people who have eaten hot peppers and those who have...well, received oral sex from someone who has eaten very hot peppers. Yes, that is a thing. In general, it’s not a good idea to get capsaicin anywhere near your genitals — whether it’s from your own hands or the mouth of someone else. And keep it out of your eyes, too.

So it’s important to use caution and be careful with chili peppers or other very spicy foods. Wear plastic gloves while handling and preparing peppers, and after carefully removing them, wash your hands with soap before touching anything, especially your face. You might need eye goggles too — like the ones you wore in chemistry class — if you’re cutting or blending peppers that are high on the SHU scale, said Currie. If you know you can’t tolerate spicy food or it causes you to vomit or feel horrible, don’t eat it or use your discretion. But if the worst happens and you accidentally eat a hotter-than-normal meal or a fiery pepper, try to stay calm — the burning sensation will pass.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Two participants at a chili-eating contest on July 8 in Ningxiang, Hunan Province of China.

Why do we love the painful burn of spicy food and how are some people able to handle it better than others?

One explanation is a theory called benign masochism , coined by Dr. Paul Rozin , professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. It refers to situations in which humans are able to enjoy experiences that are initially negative — like the burn of a chili pepper or the stomach-flipping sensation of riding a rollercoaster. By repeatedly eating spicy food and recognizing that it won’t actually harm you, even though it hurts, we are able to turn the burn into a positive gastronomic experience, a process that Rozin calls “hedonic reversal.” That’s true as long as the level of spice is not intolerable, at which point the pain might outweigh the pleasure — everyone has their limit. "Most people who enjoy spicy food were socialized to do so... it may be possible that some people like it the first time if its mild, but I doubt that anyone likes [spicy food] the first time if it’s very strong,” Rozin said. It helps if there are social pressures, like everyone in your family or friends eating spicy food. It also helps if the spicy food is also delicious.

So why can some people power through a Sichuan hot pot while others can’t handle a few drops of Tabasco sauce? People aren’t born with a genetic tolerance to spicy food or an affinity for heat, nor are spicy food lovers less sensitive to the burning effects of capsaicin. Some people are just better able to tolerate the pain, either because they were raised on spicy food or they eat it frequently.

Over time, your body can develop a tolerance to spiciness, and you’ll have to kick it up a notch to get the same burning sensation. So yes, you can teach yourself to love spicy food. There’s hope for all the jalapeño-fearing, mild-salsa-loving folks out there. Of course, if you genuinely dislike spicy food and don't want to eat it, that’s okay too.

As for people who participate in hot pepper–eating contests, they may have a high tolerance for heat but also a desire for the thrill that drives them to sign up for something they know will hurt. Some people get pleasure from testing their body’s limits. Others, perhaps, do it to show off.

“Guys will come into the store and see who can get through the [Carolina Reaper] challenge, it’s all a machismo thing,” Currie said. There’s no question that some of those people have ended up on the floor feeling extreme regret.

Whatever your reasons for eating fiery foods, it’s safe to say that you aren’t putting your health at risk in the process. Even though you may feel like you’re dying, hot peppers won’t kill you or cause any lasting damage to the body. The painful heat is temporary, and over time, you can train yourself to manage it like a champ. And if you still want something hotter, Ed Currie is working on the next-generation pepper to satisfy that desire.

  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Sweepstakes

Dragon's Breath Is the World's Hottest Pepper — And Eating It Could Kill You

This pepper is the first one hotter than pepper spray.

Mike Pomranz has been covering craft beer for nearly two decades and trending food and beverage news for Food & Wine for 7 years.

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Some peppers are so spicy that one bite might leave you wishing you were dead. With this pepper, it's so spicy you could literally end up dead. Mike Smith, who runs Tom Smith Plants in St Asaph, Wales, claims he's bred a new pepper that is so spicy it's a shoo-in for world's hottest – with heat so strong consuming it could potentially kill you.

The Dragon's Breath pepper, as it's been named, reportedly measures 2.48 million on the Scoville heat units scale. If that number holds, the new Welsh pepper would easily beat out the current record holder, the Carolina Reaper , which set the Guinness World Record for hottest chili back in 2013 with an average of 1,569,300 Scoville Heat Units. Smith, who developed the pepper with the help of scientists from Nottingham Trent University, says he's already reached out to the Guinness Book and is anticipating a confirmation any day now.

The North Wales Daily Post went so far as to call the pepper "weapons-grade," pointing out how the US military uses pepper spray that registers around 2 million on the Scoville scale. The paper also points out that "it could potentially cause a type of anaphylactic shock for someone who eats it, burning the airways and closing them up," thus the pepper's touted deadliness. (They may surmise this based on the fact that pepper spray, coming in lower on the Scoville scale has been found to do this in the past.)

Unsurprisingly, for these reasons, no one has actually eaten the pepper yet, though Smith did come painfully close. "It's not been tried orally. I've tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and burned. I spat it out in about 10 seconds," he was quoted as saying. "The heat intensity just grows." But though its culinary uses might be terrifying, its creators believe the ridiculously hot pepper may have medicinal uses. "This was developed because a lot of people are allergic to anesthetic, and this can be applied to the skin because it is so strong it numbs it," Smith explained, suggesting that the pepper could also be used as a cheaper source of anesthesia in poorer countries.

In the meantime, the Dragon's Breath chili is being kept in a specially sealed container so it can be put on display at the Chelsea Flower Show next week. It's guaranteed to be the hottest flower show on record. Pending the Guinness World Record people's certification, of course.

  • Mobile Site
  • Staff Directory
  • Advertise with Ars

Filter by topic

  • Biz & IT
  • Gaming & Culture

Front page layout

Fiery foods —

Teen’s death after eating a single chip highlights risks of ultra-spicy foods, the hot pepper linked to teen's death can cause arteries in the brain to spasm..

Beth Mole - Sep 8, 2023 10:16 pm UTC

Teen’s death after eating a single chip highlights risks of ultra-spicy foods

Harris Wolobah, a healthy 14-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, tragically died last Friday, hours after eating a single ultra-spicy tortilla chip seasoned with two of the hottest peppers in the world.

The teen's mother, Lois Wolobah, reportedly picked up her son from school that day after getting a call from the nurse that he was sick. She arrived to see him clutching his stomach and took him home. About two hours later, he lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where he died.

The teen had told his mother that he had eaten a Paqui chip—The 2023 Paqui One Chip Challenge chip, to be exact. Each chip is sold individually, wrapped in a foil pouch and packaged in a coffin-shaped box adorned with a skull, snakes, and a Grim Reaper. The box contains the challenge rules, which dare consumers to eat the whole chip and "wait as long as possible before drinking or eating anything"—and, of course, post reactions on social media.

Lois Wolobah believes the chip played a role in the death of her son, who had no known underlying medical conditions.

"I just want there to be an awareness for parents to know that it’s not safe," Wolobah told The New York Times in an article  published Wednesday. "It needs to be out of the market completely."

On Thursday, the maker of the Paqui chip—Amplify Snack Brands, a subsidiary of the Hershey Company—announced that it was taking the potentially deadly chip off shelves.

The chip was intended only for adults and carried clear warnings, the company said in a statement . It was not intended for "children or anyone sensitive to spicy foods or who has food allergies, is pregnant or has underlying health conditions."

"We have seen an increase in teens and other individuals not heeding these warnings," the statement went on. "As a result, while the product continues to adhere to food safety standards, out of an abundance of caution, we are actively working with our retailers to remove the product from shelves."

Harris Wolobah's cause of death is not yet determined; it's not certain if the chip is to blame. An autopsy will be conducted, but the results could take up to 12 weeks, according to the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Soaring Scovilles

Some have decried yet another social media challenge endangering youth. But, the teen's death also spotlights a sparse but concerning crop of medical reports that suggest that the pursuit of ever-spicier hot peppers is getting more dangerous, potentially nearing a lethal limit.

The Paqui chip was seasoned with the Carolina Reaper pepper, the current hottest pepper in the world, and the Naga Viper pepper, which was the reigning hottest pepper in 2011 but is now merely among the top 10.

If you haven't kept track, heat-seeking chili growers have been breeding spicier and spicier hybrids. In 2007, the Ghost Pepper was the hottest, but in 2011, it was overthrown by a succession of new hybrids, including the Infinity Chili, the Naga Viper pepper, and the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper. Then, in 2013, the Carolina Reaper came along and has yet to be unseated—which may be for the best.

reader comments

Channel ars technica.

HappySpicyHour

Could Eating Too Many Peppers Actually Kill You?

  • By Bill Kalkumnerd
  • Updated September 27, 2023
  • In Chili Peppers

For fiery food fans, peppers add thrilling zest to dishes. But if you’re a true chili-head who loves to crank up the heat, you may have pondered this burning question:

Could guzzling down mounds of spicy peppers lead to your untimely demise?

The short answer is, while extremely high pepper intake can cause some painful situations, a lethal pepper overdose is unlikely.

Here’s what the science says:

  • Eating typical amounts of sweet or spicy peppers poses no risks. Moderation is key with super-hots.
  • Overdoing capsaicin, the fiery compound in peppers, may cause abdominal issues. Hospitalization is rare.
  • Massive doses tested on rats found very high pepper levels would be needed to turn fatal. Not realistic for humans.
  • Black pepper and piperine can also cause problems in extreme excess. But regular use in cooking is safe.

So the bottom line is, your pepper passion probably won’t kill you. But too much of a good thing can definitely burn!

Now continue reading about exactly how much pepper it would take to cause true problems, how to safely indulge your love of heat, and more MythBusters-style answers about the intersection of peppers and toxicity!

Most Peppers Pose No Risk in Typical Servings

First things first – all the bell peppers, jalapeños, habaneros, and other varieties you cook with are perfectly safe to eat.

When enjoyed in normal food amounts, neither sweet nor hot peppers present any health hazards.

So you don’t have to worry about that pinch of cayenne in your chili or the diced Serranos in your salsa causing issues.

Even very spicy peppers like habaneros, ghost peppers, and Carolina reapers are harmless for most people when used sparingly to add zing to dishes.

But what happens if you go overboard on pepper portions? Keep reading to find out.

Overdoing Spicy Pepper Intake Can Cause Problems

While standard culinary pepper use is A-OK, problems may arise if you overdo it.

Consuming extremely high amounts of the compounds that give hot peppers their heat could lead to discomfort or even pain.

The key facts:

  • Peppers get their punch from a molecule called capsaicin. It binds to pain receptors, triggering that burning sensation.
  • Eating massive amounts of capsaicin essentially overloads these pain receptors.
  • Issues like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea can occur.
  • Rarely, extreme capsaicin consumption requires hospitalization.

So sticking within sensible scoville limits is advised. Moderation is key with fiery fare.

The Spiciest Peppers Require Extra Caution

While all hot peppers contain capsaicin, some varieties pack enough heat to inflict severe discomfort if over-consumed.

Peppers like habaneros, ghost peppers, and Carolina reapers should be treated with particular care. Just a tiny amount delivers aggressive arsonic flavor.

Eating more than a few slivers of these could torch your taste buds – and other sensitive body parts on the way out.

When using uber-hot peppers, exercise extreme prudence. A little produces tons of heat!

Black Pepper Can Also Cause Concerns in Excess

Interestingly, black peppercorns contain a different burning compound called piperine. So taking in huge amounts of black pepper could also create distress.

Potential issues from ingesting very high black pepper doses include:

  • Burning of the throat, mouth, and digestive tract
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Damage to gut lining

However, reaching problematic black pepper levels through normal use in cooking is unlikely. Stick with moderate grind sizes.

The Toxic Pepper Dose Levels Are Quite High

Studies help quantify how much capsaicin or pepper it takes to cause potential harm.

In one study, the LD50 (lethal dose) needed to kill 50% of treated rats was:

  • 23.58 ml of pepper sauce per kg of body weight for males.
  • 19.52 ml per kg for females.

Converting this to a 150 pound (68 kg) human would require over 1 quart (1.5 liters) of pepper sauce!

Clearly, dangerously high pepper consumption would be hard to reach through typical diets. Stick with sensible portions to steer clear of problems.

Tips to Stay Safe When Indulging Your Pepper Passion

Luckily, enjoying peppers poses no concerns when some sound practices are followed:

  • Use moderation. No need to mega-dose on peppers. Enjoy their essence in prudent amounts.
  • Respect ultra-hots. A little goes a very long way with peppers like ghost or reaper.
  • Size up slowly. Build heat tolerance gradually if aiming to handle hotter varieties.
  • Watch for reactions. Allergies or sensitivities can vary person-to-person.
  • Have antacids available. Milk, yogurt, bread, and antacids can soothe if you overdo it.
  • Never force high-heat food on others. Respect individual tolerance levels.

The Final Takeaway on Peppers and Toxicity

So can consuming too many peppers kill you? The verdict:

  • Typical culinary uses of all peppers, including hot ones, are completely safe.
  • Only highly excessive intake of peppers or isolated capsaicin/piperine can cause adverse effects.
  • Even very high doses are unlikely to be lethal, though medical issues are possible.
  • Stick to moderate, sensible pepper consumption and enjoyment to stay safe.

The bottom line? While pepper passion is totally fine, pepper overdose is unlikely but can burn more than your taste buds – so dose wisely.

Now that your pepper safety concerns are allayed, get ready to add their bright colors, crispy textures, and range of flavors – from mild to scorching – to your favorite dishes!

You May Like This:

  • The Ultimate Guide To Black Pepper: From Peppercorns To Powder
  • Can Cats Eat Black Pepper? The Purrfect Guide for Cat Parents
  • Does Black Pepper Really Burn Your Mouth?
  • Why Do My Ears Hurt When I Eat Spicy Food?
  • Can Eating Too Much Hot Sauce Really Kill You?

Bill Kalkumnerd

Bill Kalkumnerd

I am Bill, I am the Owner of HappySpicyHour, a website devoted to spicy food lovers like me. Ramen and Som-tum (Papaya Salad) are two of my favorite spicy dishes. Spicy food is more than a passion for me - it's my life! For more information about this site Click

Things to Know

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Can Cats Have Cayenne Pepper? Understanding the Risks

can eating ghost peppers kill you

No Tien Tsin Peppers? Here are 8 Great Substitute Options

can eating ghost peppers kill you

Calabrian Chili Paste Substitute – Spice It Up With These Alternatives

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

  • Food Industry

Is Death by Chiles Possible?

When two interns ate a small portion of bhut jolokia—the world's hottest chile pepper—at a trade show, it raised the question: can eating chile peppers kill you?

Is It Possible To Die From Chile Overload?

The shock could be potentially dangerous.

There was a time when I took two of our interns to New York City's Fancy Food Show to hunt the aisles for spiciness. We separated, and when I met up with them both, they had--separately, mind you--taken a small but scorching sample of a dried bhut jolokia, the hottest chile on Earth. They were both stunned by the heat, gulping up any drinks they could find and ruining their palates for the day. "Did I not teach you anything during your internship?" I asked. Lesson number one of a Chile Pepper internship: Don't eat a sliver of the bhut jolokia unless you have gallons of milk at your side. Actually, don't eat it straight-up at all...

Then, last week, we conducted a taste-test of spicy chocolates for an upcoming article. While most were dark chocolate swirled with smoky, mild chipotle or an ending pop of cayenne, there was one chocolate that stunned our senses. "People who work for me tried it and cried after eating it," the owner warned me over the phone about the bhut jolokia-infused chocolate. "Oh, we can take it!" I answered back. Take it, we could not. Just a nibble made our usually-conditioned taste buds burst into flames.

This brought us to the question: At what level can chiles hurt you? Is it possible to die from chile overload? There was the story of the 33-year-old British man who ate a good amount of chiles and then died in his sleep. "He is the only person ever documented of dying this way," internist Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D . assured me. "People do all kinds of stuff before they die. Just because someone competes in a jalapeño-eating contest, and then dies, doesn't mean it's related." In fact, the average person would have to eat enough capsicum equal to approximately 30 pounds of jalapeños in one sitting to get a lethal dose.

"Although you may feel like dying, it won't kill you."

"The main complication of eating too many chiles is that you feel miserable. So the answer is that although you may feel like dying, it won't kill you," Teitelbaum says. Now, here's where a problem happens. If you aren't quite sure what you're getting into—as in, you mistake a piece of jolokia for a mild chile or someone spikes your soup with a hefty amount of Habanero Tabasco— the shock could be potentially dangerous. It would shoot the blood pressure up, which could trigger a heart attack or stroke in someone with underlying medical conditions.

So in the end, Dr. Teitelbaum says don't give up the chile dream. "If you know what you're getting into, it's okay. It's when you get the unexpected that there could be a problem." And, don't forget, chiles are rich in vitamins A and C, and beta-carotene, and high in anti-oxidants. Just steer clear of pieces of bhut jolokia.

  • A Guide to Handling Fresh Bhut Jolokia Chiles, the World's Hottest Chile Pepper

This was originally published as part of the column " Serious Heat."

More Serious Eats Recipes

Worth the Burn? Why Experts Say Hot Peppers Should Be a Diet Staple

Grilled chicken breasts with spices

Hot peppers are staples in some of the world's favorite dishes, from chili to tacos. But after taking a bite — and subsequently feeling like your mouth is on fire — you might be left wondering if eating hot peppers is bad for you.

Advertisement

Well, don't let the burn fool you. While they aren't for everyone, experts say incorporating hot peppers into your diet is generally nothing short of a win.

Video of the Day

​ Read more: ​ Are Hot Peppers Good for You? Here are 5 Science-Backed Reasons to Embrace the Heat

Health Benefits of Hot Peppers

"Adding hot peppers to your daily meals is a small habit that can bring about many health benefits," says Amy Gorin, RDN , a registered dietitian and nutritionist in New York City.

"Hot peppers boast capsaicin and other bioactive components that can lead to so many powerful outcomes if eaten frequently. That includes potentially lowering your risk of obesity or having overweight, as well as possibly decreasing your risk of death from cancer, heart and respiratory disease due to their anti-inflammatory and other properties."

An August 2016 review published in the journal ​ Nutrients ​ found that the capsaicin in hot peppers can kill cancer cells from the prostate, pancreas, liver, stomach, lung and colon. In addition, a study involving roughly 16,000 adults, published in ​ PLOS One ​ in January 2017, found that people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers were 13 percent less likely to have died in about a 19-year span than were those who didn't eat such peppers.

An August 2015 study published in ​ BMJ ​ and a December 2019 study in the ​ Journal of the American College of Cardiology ​ had similar outcomes, finding that those who ate hot peppers regularly had a 14 percent and 23 percent decreased risk of death, respectively, compared with those who didn't eat peppers.

Downside of Eating Hot Peppers

As you're probably aware, reaping these benefits may come with the cost of making you feel uncomfortable at the dinner table. "When you eat hot peppers, the capsaicin binds with cells on the tongue," Gorin says. "These cells send a signal to your brain that you just ate spicy food ." And, according to Darlene Regueiro, RDN , a registered dietitian and nutritionist in New York City, your sinuses will probably also open up, so cue the runny nose.

Usually, that's the extent of the downside to hot peppers, unless you overdo it. If you eat a lot of really spicy peppers, there can be negative side effects. "You might experience dizziness, or in extreme cases, may feel nauseous," says Gorin.

Still, "hot peppers boast capsaicin and other bioactive components that can have so many health benefits if eaten frequently," she says. "That includes potentially lowering your risk of obesity or becoming overweight, as well as possibly decreasing your risk of death from cancer, heart and respiratory disease due to their anti-inflammatory and other properties."

When to Avoid Hot Peppers

The only people who should avoid hot peppers are those with certain health issues, Gorin says, citing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis . If you have one of those conditions, you may experience increased symptoms when eating spicy foods, she says, so it would be better to minimize consumption or avoid them altogether.

It also depends on which kinds of peppers you choose. In terms of hot peppers, jalapeños are the mildest option, followed by cayenne peppers, habanero peppers and super-hot ghost peppers.

Regueiro says it's all about moderation. "If you're consuming hot peppers, it should be because you enjoy the kick it gives your food and not solely for the health benefits," she notes. And if it's almost too hot to handle? Pair your hot peppers with dishes that help offset the burn .

​ Read more: ​ The Health Benefits of Hot Sauce

  • Darlene Regueiro, RDN, registered dietitian and nutritionist, New York City
  • Amy Gorin, MS, RDN, registered dietitian and nutritionist, New York City
  • Nutrients: "Spices for Prevention and Treatment of Cancers"
  • PLOS One: "The Association of Hot Red Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality: A Large Population-Based Cohort Study"
  • BMJ: "Consumption of Spicy Foods and Total and Cause Specific Mortality"
  • Journal of the American College of Cardiology: "Chili Pepper Consumption and Mortality in Italian Adults"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Report an Issue

Screenshot loading...

Health without the hype: Subscribe to stay in the know.

Superhot 'Dragon's Breath' Chili Pepper Can Kill. Here's How

Dragon's Breath pepper

Death by chili pepper may not be a common way to die, but it's certainly a possibility for unlucky souls adventurous enough to try Dragon's Breath, the new hottest pepper in town.

Mike Smith, the owner of Tom Smith's Plants in the United Kingdom, developed the record-breaking pepper with researchers at the University of Nottingham. He doesn't recommend the pepper for eating, however, because it may be the last thing a person ever tastes.

So how exactly do hot peppers, such as Dragon's Breath, maim or kill those who try to eat them? Let's start with the pepper's spicy stats: Dragon's Breath is so spicy, it clocks in at 2.48 million heat units on the Scoville scale, a measurement of concentration of capsaicin , the chemical that releases that spicy-heat sensation people feel when they bite into a chili pepper. Dragon's Breath is hotter than the current record-holder, the Carolina Reaper, which packs an average of 1.6 million Scoville heat units, as well as U.S. military pepper sprays, which hit about 2 million on the Scoville scale, according to the Daily Post .

In comparison, the habanero pepper is downright mild at about 350,000 Scoville heat units, as is the jalapeño pepper, which registers at up to 8,000 heat units, according to PepperScale , a site dedicated to hot peppers. Bell peppers have a recessive gene that stops the production of capsaicin, so they have zero heat units, PepperScale reported. [ Tip of the Tongue: The 7 (Other) Flavors We Can Taste ]

Dragon's Breath, in contrast, is so potent that it will be kept in a sealed container when it goes on display at the Chelsea Flower Show from May 23 to 27 in London, the Daily Post reported.

"I've tried it on the tip of my tongue, and it just burned and burned," Smith told the Daily Post. "I spat it out in about 10 seconds."

Spicy havoc

When a daredevil, such as Smith, eats an exceptionally spicy pepper , the first sensation is usually mouth numbness, according to Paul Bosland, professor of horticulture at New Mexico State University and director of the Chile Pepper Institute.

"What's happening is that your receptors in your mouth are sending a signal to your brain that there's pain, and it's in the form of hotness or heat, and so your brain produces endorphins to block that pain," Bosland told Live Science previously .

However, unusually hot peppers go beyond numbing the mouth. When these extreme examples are eaten, the body inflates liquid-filled "balloons," or blisters, in areas exposed to the concentrated capsaicin, including the mouth and (if swallowed) the throat, Bosland said. These blisters can help absorb the capsaicin's heat.

"The body is sensing a burn, and it's sacrificing the top layer of cells to say, 'OK, they're going to die now to prevent letting the heat get farther into the body,'" Bosland said.

Some peppers, such as Dragon's Breath, are so hot, that blistering alone would not contain the heat. Rather, their capsaicin permeates the blisters and continues to activate receptors on the nerve endings underneath them, which can lead to a painful burning sensation lasting at least 20 minutes, Bosland said.

In some cases, people vomit up the pepper, as did one 47-year-old man in California who ate a burger topped with ghost pepper puree, according to a 2016 case report in the Journal of Emergency Medicine . The man vomited so violently, he ruptured his esophagus and needed medical attention, Live Science reported .

The immune system can go into overdrive if the capsaicin is too concentrated. That's because TRPV1 receptors — proteins on nerve endings that detect heat — are activated by capsaicin, and erroneously interpret capsaicin as a signal of extreme heat, Live Science reported previously. This mistake can send the body's burn defenses through the roof. [ Why Does Your Nose Run When You Eat Spicy Food? ]

In some cases, eating a hot pepper can lead to anaphylactic shock, severe burns and even the closing of a person's airways, which can be deadly if left untreated, according to the Post.

However, Smith didn't intend for Dragon's Breath to be part of a meal. Instead, he grew it so that it could be used as a topical numbing anesthetic for people who are allergic to regular anesthetic.

Original article on Live Science .

Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now

Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.

Laura Geggel

Laura is the archaeology and Life's Little Mysteries editor at Live Science. She also reports on general science, including paleontology. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Scholastic, Popular Science and Spectrum, a site on autism research. She has won multiple awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association for her reporting at a weekly newspaper near Seattle. Laura holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and psychology from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in science writing from NYU.

Is it possible to have too many antioxidants?

Scientists tested 10 meals to find the perfect food for space travel

'Mathematically perfect' star system being investigated for potential alien technology

Most Popular

By Emily Cooke February 27, 2024

By Ben Turner February 27, 2024

By Andrew Chapman, EoS.org February 27, 2024

By Kristina Killgrove February 27, 2024

By Qi Zheng February 27, 2024

By Matthew Powell, Dafydd Townley February 27, 2024

By Nicoletta Lanese February 27, 2024

By Brandon Specktor February 26, 2024

By Ben Turner February 26, 2024

By William Cornwell February 26, 2024

By Robert Lea February 26, 2024

  • 2 Why do cats have bald spots in front of their ears?
  • 3 Stunning 240 million-year-old 'Chinese dragon' fossil unveiled by scientists
  • 4 Asics Gel-Kayano 30 review
  • 5 'It is not very wise to spend the night in Grindavík': Iceland volcano gears up for another eruption
  • 2 Ultrasonic earbuds with 'advanced noise-cancellation' could launch as soon as 2025
  • 3 'Finally, we have the evidence': James Webb telescope spots neutron star hiding in wreckage of famous 1987 supernova
  • 4 'Quantum memory breakthrough' may lead to a quantum internet
  • 5 Mexico City could be just months away from running out of drinking water

IMAGES

  1. Man speed-eats Ghost chilli peppers in a minute to break record

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

  2. Can Chili Peppers Kill You? Man Undergoes Emergency Surgery After

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

  3. Can Ghost Peppers Kill You?

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

  4. Can ghost peppers kill you?

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

  5. Is It Safe To Eat Ghost Peppers?

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

  6. Eating ‘ghost peppers’ could kill you

    can eating ghost peppers kill you

VIDEO

  1. I will eat this dangerous pepper!!!!

  2. Red Hot Chili Peppers

  3. Buckethead

  4. RIP IN PEACE SODA

  5. eating ghost peppers

  6. The Day After Eating Ghost Peppers

COMMENTS

  1. Can Ghost Peppers Kill You?

    Yes, you could die from ingesting ghost peppers. In fact, researchers have determined a 150-pound (68-kilogram) person would need to eat 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of dried and powdered capsaicin-rich peppers like the ghost pepper to die. They based their findings on results extrapolated from similar studies that measure capsaicin's toxic effects ...

  2. Can Eating The World's Hottest Pepper Kill You? How Spicy Foods Affect

    Although chilies are found in many dishes throughout the world, capsaicin is actually a neurotoxin and in large enough concentrations can cause seizures, heart attacks, and even death. The hottest pepper in the world is the bhut jolokia chili pepper, also known as the ghost pepper, and according to Dr. Paul Bosland, the man who discovered it ...

  3. Is It Safe To Eat Ghost Peppers?

    The fact is, ghost pepper, aka bhut jolokia, means deep hurting in any language. And yes, in case you're wondering, eating them can actually kill you.The good news is, according to How Stuff Works, that you'd have to eat an awful lot of them in order to actually expire from the experience since it would take about three pounds of peppers to kill a person weighing 150 pounds.

  4. Spicy Food Challenges May Harm Your Health

    Can eating spicy foods kill you? "The hottest peppers, like ghost peppers, can kill you. But it's highly unlikely," states Dr. Capin. "You would have to eat a huge amount of them. For ...

  5. The Dangers and Benefits of Eating Hot Peppers

    Dr. Bazilian clarified that when we eat very hot peppers, the brain receives pain signals that can result in an upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting. And while hot peppers themselves may not cause ...

  6. Can Ghost Peppers Burn a Hole in Your Esophagus?

    Published Nov 18, 2016. A very spicy pepper burned a hole through a man's esophagus. A man ended up with a torn esophagus after eating an extremely spicy pepper. The heat from the pepper did not ...

  7. Is the One Chip Challenge dangerous?

    The hot or spicy sensation felt in the mouth and throat after eating chili peppers is due to the presence of capsaicin. The capsaicin content of foods is frequently assessed by using the Scoville heat units (SHU) scale. ... Arens A, Ben-Youssef L, Hayashi S, Smollin C. Esophageal Rupture After Ghost Pepper Ingestion. J Emerg Med. 2016 Dec;51(6 ...

  8. Ghost Peppers

    Can A Ghost Pepper Kill You? While eating capsaicin (the chemical compound responsible for the "burn") is not toxic, it can cause rare adverse reactions in some people. There have been cases of people vomiting aggressively after eating ghost peppers, leading to potential esophageal rupture. Though the pepper itself is not fatal when eaten ...

  9. 10 Commonly Asked Questions About Ghost Peppers

    And the ghost pepper is about 400 times hotter than your traditional Tabasco sauce. 7. Can a Ghost Pepper Kill You? Technically, yes. Researchers have determined that eating around three pounds of ghost peppers in one sitting would be enough to kill a full-grown adult.

  10. A hot topic: Are spicy foods healthy or dangerous?

    After 10 seconds of tongue melting pain, I truly think I passed out and started hallucinating. After guzzling a gallon of milk, eating a loaf of bread, and going to my prayer closet, I decided to look up the dangers of ridiculously spicy foods. A case of esophageal perforation after eating ghost peppers. The hot sauce I ate was ghost pepper based.

  11. Dietitians Explain 9 Health Benefits of Eating Ghost Peppers

    To benefit from this, you should eat eight large peppers each week. However, you won't want to eat them whole, so find ways to implement them into your diet. 3. Ghost Peppers Soothe Sinuses. The anti-inflammatory properties can reduce the symptoms of allergies, and it can prevent allergies altogether.

  12. Here's What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Super Hot Peppers

    Whatever your reasons for eating fiery foods, it's safe to say that you aren't putting your health at risk in the process. Even though you may feel like you're dying, hot peppers won't kill you or cause any lasting damage to the body. The painful heat is temporary, and over time, you can train yourself to manage it like a champ.

  13. Dragon's Breath: the World's Hottest Pepper

    Dragon's Breath Is the World's Hottest Pepper — And Eating It Could Kill You. ... There's a New World Record for Most Ghost Peppers Eaten in a Minute. The 6 Best Slow Cookers of 2024, According ...

  14. Teen's death after eating a single chip highlights risks of ultra-spicy

    In 2007, the Ghost Pepper was the hottest, but in 2011, it was overthrown by a succession of new hybrids, including the Infinity Chili, the Naga Viper pepper, and the Trinidad Scorpion Butch T pepper.

  15. Hot Peppers & the Stomach

    Hot peppers, including jalapenos, habaneros and ghost peppers, are a tasty addition to many recipes, and many people enjoy eating them plain. While this vegetable is a nutritious option for your meal plan, hot peppers may also have advantages and disadvantages for your stomach. ... killing over 10,000 people each year in the U.S. Eating hot ...

  16. Cooking With Ghost Peppers: 7 Must-Follow Rules

    Table of Contents. Rule 1: Respect the ghost. Rule 2: Wear protective gear when handling fresh or dried ghost peppers. Rule 3: Learn about treating chili burn prior to handling ghost peppers. Rule 4: Choose simple recipes until you understand ghost pepper potency and flavor. Rule 5: Remember less is best when first starting out.

  17. Could Eating Too Many Peppers Actually Kill You?

    The Final Takeaway on Peppers and Toxicity. So can consuming too many peppers kill you? The verdict: Typical culinary uses of all peppers, including hot ones, are completely safe. Only highly excessive intake of peppers or isolated capsaicin/piperine can cause adverse effects.

  18. Is Death by Chiles Possible?

    The Shock Could Be Potentially Dangerous. "The main complication of eating too many chiles is that you feel miserable. So the answer is that although you may feel like dying, it won't kill you," Teitelbaum says. Now, here's where a problem happens. If you aren't quite sure what you're getting into—as in, you mistake a piece of jolokia for a ...

  19. Can Eating Too Much Ghost Pepper Kill You?

    It may sound surprising, but eating too many ghost peppers can actually kill you! Ghost peppers, or Bhut Jolokia, are among the world's hottest peppers and have been recorded as having a heat rating of up to one million Scoville Heat Units, making them 200 times hotter than jalapeños.

  20. Are Hot Peppers Bad for You?

    An August 2016 review published in the journal Nutrients found that the capsaicin in hot peppers can kill cancer cells from the prostate, pancreas, liver, stomach, lung and colon. In addition, a study involving roughly 16,000 adults, published in PLOS One in January 2017, found that people who regularly ate hot red chili peppers were 13 percent less likely to have died in about a 19-year span ...

  21. Can you hurt yourself eating chilli peppers?

    iStock. Eating hot chillies - even veritable scorchers - is unlikely to do you any lasting harm (Credit: iStock) The physical effects of eating peppers can be seen as reactions to what might be ...

  22. Can the Hottest Peppers In the World Kill You?

    'Theoretically, one could eat enough really hot chiles to kill you,' says Bosland adding that a research study in 1980 calculated that three pounds of the hottest peppers in the world — something like the Bhut Jolokia — eaten all at once could kill a 150-pound person. Chili peppers cause the eater's insides to rev up, activating the ...

  23. Superhot 'Dragon's Breath' Chili Pepper Can Kill. Here's How

    In some cases, eating a hot pepper can lead to anaphylactic shock, severe burns and even the closing of a person's airways, which can be deadly if left untreated, according to the Post. However ...