14 DAY TRIAL // Unless you're part of some weird cult whose members are required to swear off spices forever and for always, we're gonna go out on a limb here and assume you are all too familiar with pepper and the sneezing fits it can cause when inside the nostrils.
Well, in case you were wondering why it is that having pepper migrate up your nose will invariably make you sneeze, here's a video explaining the mechanisms that are at play.
For starters, you might want to know that the compound that gives pepper its spiciness is an alkaloid called piperine. This alkaloid has antioxidant properties and stimulates digestion, which is why it is recommended to add it to your diet every once in a while.
When added to food, piperine stimulates receptors in our mouth just enough to make us experience a rather pleasant tingly sensation. Inside the nose, however, this chemical compound acts as an irritant.
Long story short, it pushes our pain and acidity receptors into overdrive and triggers sneezing. An involuntary response and, therefore, beyond our control, the act of sneezing is meant to clear our nostrils of whatever piperine has made it inside them and restore peace and order in our nose.
