Am I the only one this happens to? I know that other peeps I've talked to said they also get the hiccups when they eat food that's too spicy. So what gives?
As I came up with the idea for this post, I pondered a bit over the subject. When did I first get the hiccups after eating spicy food? It's weird that I can't remember when it first happened.
I can recall a time when spicy food didn't give me an involuntary reflux but not what age it started to happen. No doubt, though, that by the time I was in my later teen years it was a regular occurrence.
It Takes A Certain Heat Level
Not all kinds of spicy foods give me the hiccups. There are hot sauces from our local Mexican Restaurants that don't do anything except heat up my mouth.
Some peppers, or dishes that use them, give me an almost immediate case of diaphragm spasms. Habeneros and fresh jalapenos will do it to me, and in that order of quickness.
I might make it a few seconds longer after eating jalapenos than habaneros. Eating too much is another thing that can cause me a case of throat tremors, if I allow the heat to build.
Grilled habaneros could have the power to end my life. It's many years since I ate half of one and I'll never forget it. It was the night of my 30th and good friend's 40th birthday party.
The Habanero Affair
Once again, drinking was heavily involved in my decision making that night. It was a surprise party my girlfriend (now wife) threw for me and the neighbor friend. I came home from work and truly was surprised.
The night unfolded into a huge success with several dozens of people coming to frolic. We had the BBQ going and at some point my wife threw on a few habaneros from the neighbor's pepper garden.
It wasn't until I was goosed later in the evening that my wife hatched her torturous scheme. Knowing I would be susceptible to coercion, she dared me to take a bite of one.
I wasn't having it at first, until she started calling me the kinds of things that insult a man's pride. She knew right where to push.
Now the funny part is definitely the hiccups that ensued seconds after having chewed on half a habanero. A large crowd gathered to watch me sputter, spit, and quite nearly choke to death.
Yea, choke to death. You see, I've had dental problems dating back to an injury that occured playing pickup basketball in my early twenties.
My front middle upper tooth and one next to it took an elbow blow and snapped into the back of my mouth. At the time of the habanero affair, I was wearing what dentist's sometimes call a flipper. A prosthetic tooth to fill the gap where one had broken entirely.
Embarrassment over a missing tooth is one thing. An explosion of saliva from a habanero leading to death by choking on a plastic tooth is another.
Blue In The Face To Near Suffocation
This is the only technique I've ever found to be effective for removing my hiccups. I've tried the other methods you might suggest. Pinching my nose while trying to drink water or even being frightened just doesn't work.
I might hyperventilate after holding my breath for so long, but it almost always works and is the only method I've found for respite. Are there other methods you know of that might do the trick?
I Still Love Spicy Food!!
Although it sometimes causes me duress, I really can't resist it. As we call it in SoCal (via Mexico), the comida caliente is simply irresistible. That's Spanish for 'spicy food'.
In fact, because it's graduation day for a special soon to be 9th grader, we're having sushi for lunch! I'm about to devour several slices of this Tijuana Roll picked up from our favorite Sushi place down the street.
Those jalapenos on top might be hot enough to put me over the edge into annoying guttaral sounds. I already know it'll be worth the risk, even if I have to go blue in the face.
Does spicy food mess you up? Tell me about it in the comments below...
Happy Hiveing!!!
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