They are sure to add a powerful boost to any meal.
But problems with eating viral chili peppers can cause stomach cramps, violent vomiting and, in extreme cases, even rupture your esophagus, experts say.
Kicking back peppers was made famous by YouTube programs, such as the Hot Ones. It sees celebrities, such as Cardi B and Louis Theroux, eating spicy sauces while being interviewed by YouTuber Sean Evans.
It has also taken TikTok by storm, with videos of people eating ghost peppers – which are 200 times hotter than a jalapeno – while crying and red-faced racking up thousands of views.
In a video from @Ramizeinn, who has 16.3 million followers, he eats several ghost peppers before gulping down a carton of milk and visibly in pain.
Louis Theroux is pictured taking part in a Hot Ones interview on YouTube. The documentary filmmaker is seen struggling to keep it together as he nibbles down chicken with an extremely spicy sauce
Cardi B is pictured taking part in a Hot Ones interview on YouTube, but he handles the spices with a glass of milk
In another video, posted by @peteypappi, who has 658,000 followers, two people are seen trying to eat the peppers but giving up halfway through.
Dr. Duane Mellor, a dietician at Aston University in Birmingham, warned that this trend could cause digestive problems and, in extreme cases, even increase the risk of cancer.
After eating something spicy, many will notice that their lips begin to tingle, a burning sensation on their tongue, and they begin to sweat due to the overwhelming heat.
But aside from the temporary burning sensation, eating large amounts of hot sauces and peppers, or extremely spicy varieties, can also damage your intestines.
One side effect is reflux – when stomach acid travels to the throat – according to Dr. Mellor.
He said: 'If this continues for a long time it can lead to changes in our oesophagus and can increase the risk of cancer.'
This is because recurrent acid reflux can turn into gastroesophageal reflux disease, which increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
Dr. Mellor noted that a combination of how spicy a sauce is and whether it is eaten as part of a meal or alone will determine how bad the reflux symptoms are.
But eating extremely spicy foods can also cause nausea, vomiting, painful bowel movements and diarrhea.
People with intestinal disorders are at greatest risk of these side effects to their increased sensitivity in the gut, said Professor Tim Spector, an expert in epidemiology and gut health at Kings College London.and co-founder of ZOE.
While this is not usually serious, a 2016 case report in the Journal of Emergency Medicine detailed that this could lead to a tear in the esophagus.
Video posted by @Ramizeinn, who has 16.3 million followers, shows him eating several ghost peppers (left). After attempting the challenge, he is seen gulping down a carton of milk and visibly in pain (right)
It reported on an unidentified 47-year-old man from California, USA, who showed up at a hospital emergency department after vomiting and experiencing severe abdominal and chest pain following a ghost pepper eating contest.
Scans showed he had a 2.5cm tear in his esophagus due to the violent vomiting. He had to stay in the hospital for weeks and eat and drink through a tube.
Eating more spices than you can handle can also cause symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
One Iranian from 2013 studyResearch found that people who eat spicy foods about ten times a week are 92 percent more likely to develop IBS – which causes stomach cramps, bloating and diarrhea – compared to those who never eaten spicy foods.
The findings were based on responses from 4,763 adults. However, the results also showed that spicy foods were not associated with IBS rates in men.
In a video posted by @peteypappi, who has 658,000 followers, two people are seen trying to eat the peppers but giving up halfway through
In addition to online, chili pepper eating has skyrocketed during in-person competitions at food festivals.
They see how heat lovers compete against each other in an attempt to eat extremely spicy peppers as quickly as possible. These include the Foodies Festival chilli eating competition, which takes place in multiple locations across the UK each year, and the League of Fire competition, which organizes food and chilli festivals across the UK, Europe, US, New Zealand and Australia travels.
However, eating a normal amount will not cause any problems, says Professor Spector.
'As with virtually any food, eating too much hot sauce can have negative effects. For most people, consuming a moderate amount will not cause any problems. But as a general rule, if a food is giving you severe stomach upset, you should stop taking it or at least reduce your dose.”
But as long as you don't eat a handful of extremely spicy ghost peppers, eating spicy food can be good for you.
Ghost peppers are extremely spicy and are rated at one million on the Scoville scale, for comparison a Jalapenos scores 5,000 Scoville Heat units (SHU)
Hot sauces that are minimally processed or homemade may have health benefits, according to Professor Spector.
'After all, chili peppers are a plant. They contain healthy plant chemicals called polyphenols, which help support your gut microbiome. And there is some evidence that eating peppers regularly can even extend your life,” he said.
A 2015 Chinese study found that those who consumed spicy foods had a 14 percent lower risk of dying prematurely.
Researchers looked at data from nearly 500,000 people in the country, aged between 30 and 79 at the start of the study, who were followed for about seven years.
In follow-up, scientists found that eating spicy foods was linked to a reduced risk of dying from cancer, as well as heart disease and racial disorders.
This remained the result when the analysis was adjusted for risky lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption.
But to ensure your hot sauce is healthy, it's best to make it yourself and avoid ultra-processed jars full of “unpronounceable chemical names,” says Professor Spector.
He said: 'As is the case with many foods these days, it is the other colourants, flavourings, emulsifiers and so on that are likely to affect your health in the long term if consumed in excess.
“If you're looking for a hot sauce, it's best to read the label and choose one with a shorter ingredient list and fewer unpronounceable chemical names.”