Man with rare spice tolerance accused of cheating in food competition

A man who has a rare tolerance for super spicy food was accused of cheating in a recent eating competition.

While some people love spicy food, others struggle to tolerate it at all, which means super hot items such as curries, wings or chilli are usually off the menu.

However, one man took to Reddit to explain that he recently entered a wing eating competition and - thanks to a high tolerance for spice - he ended up winning.

"So, our local restaurant that has really good wings was hosting a hot pepper eating competition recently, with a bunch of coupons for free wings on the line," he explained.

"I have a weird genetic quirk where my body doesn't register capsaicin normally, so my spice tolerance levels are waaaaay higher than normal."

Capsaicin is a component of chilli peppers and although some people can 'train' themselves to build up a tolerance to capsaicin, genetics can also play a part.

Dr Qian Yang, assistant professor in flavour science at the University of Nottingham explained to the BBC that it's capsaicin that is mainly responsible for the spicy sensation we feel when we eat a chilli pepper.

“Spicy compounds induce a warming sensation at low concentrations, burning and tingling sensations at medium concentrations and painful sensation at high concentrations," Dr Yang explained.

One man entered a wing eating competition (Getty Stock Photo)

When capsaicin is consumed, it binds to the TRPV1 receptor on our tongue, creating a burn.

While increased exposure at a young age can help with tolerance, genetics is also a factor.

Dr Allan Capin told the Cleveland Clinic: "Everyone reacts differently to capsaicin. Some people are naturally more tolerant of spice because of genetics. They are just born with fewer receptors for capsaicin, which gives them a built-in tolerance for heat.”

Meanwhile, one study suggested that 18–58 percent of a person's tolerance is down to genetics.

Another paper suggested that those who tolerate chilli are also more likely to be thrill seekers.

The paper states: "In Mexico, chilli pepper consumption is linked with strength, daring and masculine personality traits.

"Among American college students, eating chilli peppers has been linked with a number of ‘benignly masochistic’ and thrill-seeking activities, such as riding roller coasters, gambling and the consumption of substances such as alcohol and coffee.

"Each of these experiences, like chilli peppers, are initially aversive yet individuals learn to enjoy them, perhaps due to the appreciation that the perceived risk is harmless. This ‘constrained risk’ may be what makes chilli consumption thrilling for some individuals."

Essentially, it's a mix of 'nature and nurture', but the Reddit user was shocked when he discovered his friends thought he had cheated by taking part in the competition.

"I entered the competition and won the coupons, but my friends are now telling me that I cheated and I should have let 'normal' people compete and get the wings. So, Reddit, AITA for competing?" He asked.

The capsaicin in chilli causes the spicy sensation (Getty Stock Photo)

The general consensus was that the man hadn't cheated, with many comparing the situation to professional athletes competing in competitions.

"It's like telling a guy who's 7 feet tall not to enter a basketball dunking competition so guys under 6 feet can have a fair chance," said one.

While another added: "Me running against usain bolt: you are genetically gifted, you are a cheater!!?!

"Me playing baskeball against some 2m20 giant: stop cheating!!?!?

"Your friends an idiot, NTA."

And a third said: "'Normal people' aren't competing in a hot pepper eating competition to begin with. The only people in those things are people with way higher spice tolerances than normal to begin with."