Why does the brain find painful flavors such as spicy or sour pleasurable?
In: Biology
Acids taste sour. Some of our most important vitamins are acids most importantly ascorbic acid A.K.A vitamin C. Turns out peppers also have very high levels of vitamin C. So we came to like them since they prevent scurvy.
When one experiences pains, endorphins are released, which is a pleasurable neurotransmitter. This applies to spicy foods, as well as the “runners high”
Spicy foods typically stimulate the immune system, and sour foods typically contain probiotics. There are exceptions, of course, but enough of these foods can be characterized as such that your body can develop a pleasurable response to them. It’s also worth noting that spicy foods — and possibly sour, I’m not sure — are enjoyed more often as a person ages, when their sense of taste is more likely to dull.
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