# Are these Jalapenos killing my insides?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-jalapenos-killing-my-insides/201862>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 16, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-jalapenos-killing-my-insides/201862 "2003-09-16T01:34:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-jalapenos-killing-my-insides/201862/1 "2003-09-16T01:34:24Z")

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I like to eat jalapenos slices right out of the jar. I love the hot flavor. I even enjoy the crazy nightmares they give me when I eat them too close to bed time.  
What I don’t like is when they, uh, um,:rolleyes: come out after digestion.:eek:

If they burn so bad coming out, what are they doing to my insides? Am I burning up my guts with these things? I’m not getting any stomach aches or heartburn. But are they burning the lining of my stomach without me knowing it?

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-jalapenos-killing-my-insides/201862/2 "2003-09-16T02:35:46Z")

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No, they’re not burning the lining of your stomach. No pepper alone has capsaicin in a high enough concentration to injure the GI tract. However, _some_ hot sauces that have “concentrated pepper extract” would pose a theoretical risk. So enjoy!

But for that serious case of wolf-ass you develop, you may want to inquire of your physician as to the availability of some viscous lidocaine 2%, a prescription med applied to mucous tissues which are seriously irritated by such things as cold sores or capsaicin. Nothing soothes that burning ring of fire like a handful of lidocaine jelly!

QtM, MD

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**Author:** ![Dogface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@Dogface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogface)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2003, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-these-jalapenos-killing-my-insides/201862/3 "2003-09-16T03:37:38Z")

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Obligate link: [http://www.exit109.com/~mstevens/rngofire.html](http://www.exit109.com/~mstevens/rngofire.html)