# Why don’t spicy foods burn when you urinate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652 "2002-10-31T04:51:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BZ00000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@BZ00000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BZ00000)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/1 "2002-10-31T04:51:45Z")
They burn when you shit. ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/2 "2002-10-31T05:08:24Z")
Different systems. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/3 "2002-10-31T05:15:26Z")
Wow.That answer sure was informative. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/4 "2002-10-31T05:23:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BZ00000 \* > \*\*They burn when you shit. \*\* :rolleyes: [sup]Did he really say that? Am I really going to say this?[/sup] [ul] **CITE** [/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Urban\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Urban\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urban_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/5 "2002-10-31T06:03:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qwisp \* > Wow.That answer sure was informative. And succinct to boot. ---
**Author:** ![Rubicon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@Rubicon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubicon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/6 "2002-10-31T12:21:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Did he really say that? Am I really going to say this? CITE I offer my testimony as a citation. Spicy foods do indeed singe the O-ring on the way out. A big night of jalapenos and wings can ruin an otherwise satisfying morning evacuation. I have often wondered if I should self-medicate the same way I do when eating the fiery foods in the first place (perhaps by dipping my posterior in bleu cheese dressing, or cramming some bread in for example). As for the OP, the conspiracy theorist in me believes there must be a connection to the asparagus pee issue. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/7 "2002-10-31T12:29:18Z")
To add to what **Urban ranger** said; we could conclude from the available experiential evidence that one (or possibly more than one) of three things is happening: 1 - The urethra is not equipped with the kind of nerve endings that are stimulated by capsaicin. 2 - Capsaicin does not enter the bloodstream and does not therefore exit via the kidneys. 3 - Capsaicin does enter the bloodstram but is broken down into non-active components before exiting via the kidneys. Given that number 2’s can indeed be fiery the morning after, I suggest that theory number 2 be considered. ---
**Author:** ![G.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@G.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/8 "2002-10-31T12:31:15Z")
Excuse me for not offering a cite, but I would think that the answer was fairly obvious. Urine is produced by the body and everything that is in urine has been ingested, digested, processed and passed though the kidneys. I imagine that, simply, the chemicals that give a hot sensation are either not get passed into the blood stream at all or do not survive body’s processes. However, I once drank several, very tasty, pints of home-made ginger beer. It was strong stuf. Next day, there was a distinct stinging sensation. I guess it must have been the ginger - I have always wondered. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/9 "2002-10-31T12:31:24Z")
Oh and yes, I was assuming we’re talking about chillies, while remaining fully aware that there are other ‘hot’ spices. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/10 "2002-10-31T12:41:56Z")
I once made the mistake of eating a very spicy chilli for dinner one night, followed by a large bowl of raisin bran the next morning, followed by leftover chilli for lunch. This was a big mistake. The high fiber content in the cereal moved the first wave through the system with a vengence, leaving me that much more raw and sensitized for when the lunch leftovers made it down there. Thank God they make creams to soothe this sort of irritation. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/11 "2002-10-31T13:03:20Z")
Capsaicin isn’t water soluble. You can see its structure [here.](http://people.cornell.edu/pages/bjm10/capsaicin/capsaicin.html) Since it’s not water soluble, it doesn’t make it from the digestive tract to the bladder. Capsaicin is used to treat overactive bladders, but when it’s used thay way it’s inserted into the bladder (as an alcoholic solution) through a catheter. From what I’ve read, this procedure causes intense burning initially, but it goes away pretty fast and it seems to be mostly in the bladder as opposed to the urethra. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/12 "2002-10-31T13:12:06Z")
By the way, capsaicin does make it into the blood to at least some extent, because it has systemic effects when taken orally, but the kidneys tend not to concentrate hydrophobic substances in the urine. ---
**Author:** ![G.Cornelius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@G.Cornelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.Cornelius)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/13 "2002-10-31T13:21:55Z")
…I meant to say that after drinking ginger beer I had a stinging sensation when urinating. Could the ginger have been the cause? ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2002, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/14 "2002-10-31T13:29:17Z")
I can’t say if the ginger is to blame or not, but for your sake, I truely hope so, given that many unplesant diseases can have “stinging sensation while urinating” as a major symptom. ---
**Author:** ![blueadpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@blueadpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueadpet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/15 "2010-09-18T19:08:10Z")
If you eat a very large amount of chili, which is becoming easier with the use of extremely hot chili peppers like the Bhut Jolokia and other Naga types, as well as hot sauces which have a very much higher concentration of capsaicin than “traditional” ingredients… I can personally confirm that it is quite possible to get enough capsaicin in urine to be very noticeable… however, it does not manifest as a burning sensation while urinating and I imagine that it would only be noticeable if you are un-circumcised since the foreskin traps a little urine against the glans which are more sensitive when not exposed by circumcision… The urethra is not very sensitive to capsaicin, but the glans are. The warming can be quite strong and lasts anything up to 5 minutes or more, but is not unpleasant IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/16 "2010-09-18T19:12:02Z")
If it doesn’t burn on the way out, it wasn’t spicy enough when you ate it. ---
**Author:** ![blueadpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc79bd/32.png) [@blueadpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blueadpet)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/17 "2010-09-18T19:24:54Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > If it doesn’t burn on the way out, it wasn’t spicy enough when you ate it. Get one of the 1 million+ SHU hot sauces like Blair’s “Ultra Death” and add a tablespoon’s worth to a meal, and you can be sure it will be hot enough when you eat it.. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/18 "2010-09-18T19:34:06Z")
I’ve had lots of spicy food of varying…spiciness (my family is South Asian) and I’ve NEVER had it burn when I took a crap. Ever. And I’ve never experienced the whole, “Spicy food gives you diarrhea/GI distress” thing. I always assumed it was just a UL. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/19 "2010-09-18T19:45:08Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I’ve had lots of spicy food of varying…spiciness (my family is South Asian) and I’ve NEVER had it burn when I took a crap. Ever. And I’ve never experienced the whole, “Spicy food gives you diarrhea/GI distress” thing. I always assumed it was just a UL. Me neither - though strangely, I’ve only ever heard these “ring of fire” complaints from men. Maybe they just talk about their bowel movements more than women. (The question is, do zombiefied threads burn?) ---
**Author:** ![Waffle\_Decider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/77aa72/32.png) [@Waffle\_Decider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waffle_Decider)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652/20 "2010-09-18T20:13:09Z")
> [@Bob\_Scene](#): > > Capsaicin is used to treat overactive bladders, but when it’s used thay way it’s inserted into the bladder (as an alcoholic solution) through a catheter. From what I’ve read, this procedure causes intense burning initially, but it goes away pretty fast and it seems to be mostly in the bladder as opposed to the urethra. OMFG :eek: > [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > I’ve had lots of spicy food of varying…spiciness (my family is South Asian) and I’ve NEVER had it burn when I took a crap. Ever. And I’ve never experienced the whole, “Spicy food gives you diarrhea/GI distress” thing. I always assumed it was just a UL. FWIW, I’ve never experienced the “ring of fire” with spicy South and South East Asian food (My family is SE Asian). It does burn pretty badly with spicy Mexican food, however. I wonder if there are some differences in the food that affect how the body breaks it down. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-don-t-spicy-foods-burn-when-you-urinate/134652.md?page=2)