# Why do spicy foods make my eyes water?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spicy-foods-make-my-eyes-water/648201>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 24, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spicy-foods-make-my-eyes-water/648201 "2013-01-24T07:37:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spicy-foods-make-my-eyes-water/648201/1 "2013-01-24T07:37:20Z")

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When I eat spicy Mexican, Indian, or Italian food, I often have to wipe my eyes–and blow my nose–after eating some of it…again and again. Why? (I’ve long since become accustomed to Chinese mustard.) So far as I know I’m not allergic to anything. Why would jalapeños and curry and Italian spices cause such a reaction?

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**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spicy-foods-make-my-eyes-water/648201/2 "2013-01-24T08:20:13Z")

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Spicy foods contain [Capsaicin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capsaicin) which irritates mucus producing membranes and tear glands. They in turn produce mucus and tears to wash away the irritants.