It’s not part of the list of our friendly skeleton from Everything That Will Kill You but it could easily! Ghost pepper can take your life…
Deadly chili pepper
The bhut jolokia, also known as “ghost pepper”, was once considered as the hottest chili pepper in the world, to which the title now goes to the Carolina Reaper in 2013. According to experts,it packs such a punch it could kill someone! The deadly effects are caused by a chemical called Capsaicin which is actually a natural neurotoxin. If eaten in large amounts it can cause heart attacks, seizures and even death.
Indeed, this “sweet” pepper hits around 1 000 000 on the Scoville scale – a measurment of spiciness. These types of nuclear chili have sparked a trend where some thrill seekers eat the things for pleasure. This is because the intense pain triggers the brain to release endorphins. The endorphins give you a sense of euphoria much like the sensation you get after having ridden a roller-coaster. Chilies also increase the mouth’s sensitivity to other foods so it appears to be much more flavorful than before.
However in order for a ghost pepper to be fatal you would have to eat an awful lot! A study in 1980 estimated that you would have to eat 1,5kg (3 pounds) of powdered bhut jolokia to kill a person weighing 70 kg (150 pounds).
What happens in your mouth when you taste one…