Northern People Beware: Spicy Food May Harm Eyes
Spiciness has now become an indispensable taste in northern Chinese diets. Look at the numerous Sichuan restaurants and Thai eateries all featuring varying degrees of spiciness. However, experts warn that excessive spicy food consumption may harm the eyes.
Different Body Types, Different Spicy Food Tolerance
Due to climatic differences between north and south China, body constitutions vary. For instance, northerners tend to have stronger digestive systems than southerners. According to Dr. Zhao Zhi Fu, Director of the Psychosomatic Medicine Department at Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine: Northerners have internal heat and external cold, while southerners have internal cold and external heat. For the eyes, the worst scenario is having heat upon heat.
Therefore, uncontrolled consumption of spicy food may directly damage the eyes: first causing a burning sensation, followed by blood vessel congestion in the eyeball, resulting in blurred vision. Long-term stimulation from spicy food may lead to premature onset of conjunctivitis, retinal arteriosclerosis, dry eye syndrome, and vision decline—conditions typically associated with aging.
Who should avoid spicy food?
Dr. Zhao advises: Do not consume spicy food if you experience facial flushing, constipation, dark yellow urine, or eye congestion. Those with irritable temper should also avoid spicy food. Individuals moving from southern to northern regions, whose constitution gradually changes due to climate and environmental shifts, should likewise adjust their spicy food habits.