Walk down almost any grocery store aisle and you’ll find shelves stocked with all kinds of spicy snacks, sauces and chips. Trying spicy foods has even become a trend for kids.
As such, we spoke with Gabrielle Miladore, nurse practitioner in Akron Children’s Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, about why kids like or don’t like spicy foods as well as the medical problems it can cause for some.
Fitting in
The “One Chip Challenge” (which involves eating an extremely spicy chip), has become a viral phenomenon and a way for kids to show off their toughness and be part of a group activity. Even if kids don’t love the spice, the peer pressure and desire to fit in can make them push through the discomfort. Additionally, the One Chip Challenge helped fuel the popularity of brands like Takis and Flamin’ Hot everything.
“Sometimes, I think they will say they like spicy foods or eat them simply to fit in with their peers, especially pre-teens and adolescents,” says Miladore.
Cultural influence
In cultures where spicy food is a staple, kids often grow up with it as a regular part of their meal.
“If parents or family members use a lot of spice in their foods, the kids will like it because that’s what they are used to and what they eat on a regular basis,” Miladore says.
Spice introduction
Miladore says you can start adding small amounts of spices when introducing foods early.
She says, in general, it is good to expose your child to a variety of foods, spices and textures, and they say the best way to do this is to start in infancy. Not all people can tolerate such foods due to factors out of their control. But if introduced slowly and safely, your child will have a better outcome to be able to tolerate spicy foods in the future.
She notes the recommendation for starting solids is around 6 months. Once you advance into stage 2-3 foods with texture and multiple foods together, you can start adding milder spices — cumin, oregano, into foods, so usually 7-9 months. After 1, you can try kicking it up a notch with paprika and cayenne pepper, small amounts initially and monitor for tolerance. And follow your child’s lead to see what they can handle.
“This should be done slowly, and I would start with milder spices and see how the child does and increase over time,” says Miladore, who notes that moderation is key.”
She adds that if kids experience adverse effects, you can offer milk or yogurt and take a break from spice introduction.
Some kids simply cannot tolerate spicy foods
Spicy foods get their heat from capsaicin, a chemical compound found in chili peppers.
“We all have receptors in our body that the capsaicin will bind to when eating it. If you have less receptors, you will be able to tolerate spicy foods easier.”
For people who are not accustomed to eating spicy foods and eat more than their body can tolerate, they will likely experience mouth burning, nausea, heartburn, abdominal pain and sweating.
“If you have a history of gastroesophageal reflux, you are more likely to experience an increase in reflux symptoms as spicy foods can exacerbate this,” Miladore says. “Even a small amount of extremely spicy foods can cause significant GI distress such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If the vomiting is persistent, it can cause damage to the esophagus.”
