Can You Lose Your Spice Tolerance?

Yes, at least in my case, as I age I find I am unable to support some strong spices, namely hot peppers, even cinnamon and turmeric.

Transience of Spice Tolerance

It is possible to regain spice tolerance, but it can be temporary. For instance, when I competed in a hot sauce contest, I trained for a long time by consuming hot sauce brands like Mad Dog 357 Gold Edition and Mark of the Beast Satan's Blood with every meal. This rigorous training developed a tolerance to hot food, where regular hot sauces and peppers no longer brought a trace of heat.

However, after the contest, I resumed eating only 'supermarket' hot sauces, and when I tried a chicken wing contest a year later, I lost all my previous tolerance. I felt like I was going to pass out from hyperventilating from the pain. But even though I lost my full tolerance, I retained a level of understanding. You no longer experience the same anxiety a naive hot sauce user might, who is unfamiliar with the severe pain. This is a significant part of the 'suckiness' of spices, and the anxiety is a factor that contributes to the discomfort.

Age-Related Loss of Spice Tolerance

Many people over 50 also report a loss of spice tolerance. For example, I know several individuals who no longer shake chili onto their pizza slices, and their bottles of sriracha last much longer in the fridge.

Yes, with age, your body's natural response to spicy foods changes. As someone who grew up in Louisiana, I have a sad realization that I no longer eat spicy food as much as I used to. To mitigate the discomfort, I always keep antacid cream on hand and take other precautions to settle my stomach.

Conclusion

Losing spice tolerance is a common phenomenon, and it often happens with age. While you may not completely regain the tolerance you had, understanding the process and taking necessary precautions can help manage the discomfort.