edelweis Posted April 24, 2010 at 05:04 PM Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 at 05:04 PM I got some take-away from a Chinese restaurant today (a new one with recently immigrated Chinese staff from the north of China, and the food is usually quite good, much better than old greasy-style restaurants that abound here) and poured half of each portion in a plate. Two strands of vegetables got caught in the fork tins, one green and one black, from the "cumin lamb" dish. Without thinking I chewed and swallowed. At the same time I got the hiccups and my mouth felt on fire. It turned out the "black thing" was actually a red pepper. Now I'd eaten red peppers before but in tiny tiny morsels with lots of rice in the same mouthful and got no bad results beyond a runny nose and a tingly mouth and feeling suddenly very very awake. This time after I had doused the fire and hiccups with rice, I though I would be fine. Actually I started feeling exhausted and cold after the meal with a slightly disturbed stomach, decided to "have a nap", and slept the afternoon away. There were no intestinal dysfunctions so I think I can rule out lack of hygiene and attribute the exhaustion to the red pepper alone. Anyone have had this kind (or any kind, or lack) of reaction to red peppers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmpalpha Posted April 24, 2010 at 06:12 PM Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 at 06:12 PM I'd say that the exhaustion would have come from the adrenaline rush that took place when you ingested that pepper. When the rush subsides, there is usually a feeling of tiredness as your body recovers from the experience. Hope the food was worth it I'm jealous you have a great Chinese food restaurant near you. There aren't any good ones around here (that I like, anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eatfastnoodle Posted April 24, 2010 at 11:44 PM Report Share Posted April 24, 2010 at 11:44 PM not a bad way to cure insomnia if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcdefg Posted April 25, 2010 at 01:20 AM Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 at 01:20 AM ...attribute the exhaustion to the red pepper alone. Never had that experience or heard of it before. Very strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted April 25, 2010 at 01:17 PM Report Share Posted April 25, 2010 at 01:17 PM Perhaps it was the MSG. Excessive MSG makes me feel exhausted and very sleepy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerri Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:01 AM Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:01 AM Talking about peppers and sleep, although the other way round: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5892371.ece Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xiaocai Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:07 AM Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:07 AM Eat red peppers alone and see if you get any reaction from that or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outofin Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:27 AM Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 at 03:27 AM I sometimes get headache and/or diarrhea after eating hot peppers. It doesn't happen every time, but frequent enough to make me shun too spicy foods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweis Posted April 26, 2010 at 04:35 PM Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 at 04:35 PM Thank you for the replies. It may have been a mix of the adrenaline rush, too much MSG, and a difficult digestion (the hiccups are a sign my stomach did not like the surprise any more than my tongue, plus I was hungry and my stomach was empty when I ate that pepper, so there may have been some kind of chemical reaction in there between the pepper and stomach acid). One previous time I'd had food from that restaurant, I did notice I was not in top form afterwards... I thought I had merely eaten too much, but actually could it be the MSG? (or both eating too much and the MSG). The surprise factor may have played a role... so I think I will pass on the scientific testing for the peppers aspect at least. I think I will get food from that restaurant at least one more time to test the MSG aspect... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abcdefg Posted April 26, 2010 at 11:54 PM Report Share Posted April 26, 2010 at 11:54 PM If you now think it's an MSG issue instead of a pepper issue, why not just tell them to hold the MSG. 不要味精 = bù yào wèi jīng Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giraffe Posted April 27, 2010 at 01:55 AM Report Share Posted April 27, 2010 at 01:55 AM I thought the MSG thing had been debunked http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate#Health_concerns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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