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• Chilli

Chilli Peppers

Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens

Scientists have long been studying why chillies are hot, and what effect they have on your body.

It is thought that the heat could be the result of natural selection where wild plants evolved fiery fruits as a defence against their seeds being eaten by certain animals.

The heat comes from five different forms of an alkaloid, known as capsaicin, found in the tissue which lines the inside of the fruit. Each creates a burning sensation in different parts of your mouth. It is believed people like eating chillies because they trigger endorphins to be released in the> brain, giving a sense of well-being.

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