|
|
Article: The power of capsaicin.(Report)
- Article from:
- Journal of Continuing Education Topics & Issues
- Article date:
- January 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 American Medical Technologists. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
A potentially psychotic man orders wings with ultrahot sauce at a trendy new sports bar. The room quiets and everybody watches as he takes the first bite--he grunts quietly and tears begin to flow down his face. The pungent ingredient that brings this grown man to tears is capsaicin, a chemical that is produced by chili peppers. This scene is not new; the history of the use of chili peppers extends back into prehistoric times. The secret behind the power of capsaicin is its molecular structure and chemical properties.
History
Human use of chili peppers dates back to prehistoric times. Archeologists have shown that humans ...