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I enjoy hot peppers. Why can some people gobble down HOT peppers, while others find even medium peppers too painful?

Answer:

The capsaicin in hot peppers stimulates the pain and heat receptor nerves in your mouth, causing the burning sensation. Capsaicin can also desensitize or damage the nerves. This is not permanent, but can last for days or weeks. Someone that consistently eats hot peppers is reducing their ability to "feel the heat", so a pepper that will reduce a novice to tears will barely break a sweat on a seasoned veteran chili chomper. It is not that one is tougher than the other, just less sensitive.

Interestingly, if that seasoned veteran goes on a bland diet for a couple of months, their nerves regain their sensitivity, and the burn comes back. I found that out after having stomach surgery.

One advantage of the decreased heat is that it lets you taste flavors that most people miss. That is why hot sauce gourmets are so picky about the hot sauces that just taste like acid to folks that don't eat much spicy food.