Does Jalapenos Make You Poop? ANSWERED!

Jalapenos are a spicy and exciting addition to any plate, but do they make you poop? I’ve tackled this question and here’s what I discovered!

According to Healthline, spicy foods such as jalapenos are one of the most common causes of food-induced diarrhea due to a compound called capsaicin which triggers TRP1 receptors in the digestive tract, causing irritation. This is why some people experience cramps or diarrhea after eating something especially spicy.

Keep reading to learn more about the connection between jalapenos and diarrhea, as well as how you can prevent any nasty side effects after enjoying this spicy pepper!

Why Jalapenos Cause Diarrhea & How To Prevent It

Jalapenos are frequently the culprit behind stomach upset, but they usually do not cause diarrhea until a few hours after they are consumed. Due to this delay, many people may overlook the jalapenos and blame something else they ate instead. That said, let’s take a look at how they affect you:

How Capsaicin Causes Diarrhea

Capsaicin is commonly found in a variety of peppers, including jalapenos, and this can trigger diarrhea, according to VeryWellHealth.com. As we consume this, it will stimulate something known as the transient potential vanilloid 1 receptors (TRPV1) receptor, which communicates to our brains that we are burning from within.

As the brain attempts to interpret this stimulation it releases pain blockers known as endorphins. This is why you may have noticed a slight euphoric feeling when you are eating something super spicy.

As the capsaicin irritate the small intestine, it travels along more rapidly than usual and arrives at the colon. Here, the process typically slows down, but those receptors are been over-activated and as a defense, the colon quickens the entire process. This prevents the colon from absorbing and leaves you needing to run to the bathroom with diarrhea.

How To Prevent Diarrhea From Jalapenos

Diarrhea is never a great experience for anyone, and this rings particularly true if it is caused by something spicy! The most logical option for preventing this would be to avoid trigger foods altogether, but this isn’t always easy. If you’re still tempted, here are some tips you can try:

Eat spicy foods with some dairy, such as milk. Dairy has been proven to neutralize any unpleasant effects.
A small snack of something sweet can also help to bind the body’s receptors, minimizing the burning sensation.
Grab yourself some Metamucil. Chug some down just before you plan on eating something spicy. The fiber will absorb the fatty acids in your gut that cause irritation when you poop.
Prepare for the morning. Prepare by stocking up on some hypoallergenic wipes for the morning after your spicy meal.

3 Additional Tips For Avoiding Burning & Diarrhea

1. Change Up Your Menu

If you must eat spicy foods, try and avoid eating foods that are both spicy and fatty, such as chicken wings or quesadillas covered in hot sauce. Too much fat can cause problems as the bile salts that your body utilizes to digest them can irritate the skin surrounding your anus, leaving you with a very unpleasant sensation!

If you absolutely love your jalapenos with your spicy chicken, then you need to soak up some of the fatty acids in your gut before you eat. You can do this by taking a fiber supplement before or even straight after you eat to avoid your poop burning.

Additionally, a diet that is generally high in fiber can help to prevent any other unpleasant side effects such as anal fissures, hemorrhoids, and constipation, so make sure you’re getting enough in your diet.

Lastly, you can run yourself a warm both for some soothing relief from burning poop and diarrhea complications.

2. Eat More Chilli Peppers

While this may sound counter-intuitive, try eating a lot of it in a short period of time. If you only eat spicy foods for a few days, you induce what is known as “rectal hypersensitivity”, which that burning pain you feel after eating spicy foods, as well as needing to go number two!

In fact, if you continue this for a period longer than 3 weeks, you may even cause your body to become desensitized, which can reduce any sensation in the rectum, alleviating pain and discomfort.

Research even showed that those who ate 2.1 grams of hot pepper daily experienced these beneficial changes. In other words, you’re basically putting your butt through a boot camp by training the pain receptors to better cope with spicy things! Pretty cool, right?

3. Clean Your Butt

There are in fact receptors located on the inside of your GU tract, so placing something on the exterior is unlikely to be of any help to you. As a short-term fix, however, you could apply a soothing cream to a clean butt. I recommend Calmoseptine ointment, as it contains calamine to reduce burning and itching. Finally, relief!

“Just apply a dab the size of a dime to the anal opening and create a thin smear,”
Arnold Wald, M.D., a professor of gastroenterology and hepatology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

If the pain still persists despite the above methods, it may be a good idea to visit your doctor and find out if there are any underlying causes that may be behind your burning pain and discomfort. Pain in your butt can be a symptom of more serious issues.

Why Do Jalapenos Hurt When You Poop?

When you eat something spicy, the spiciness of that food usually comes from capsaicin. This binds to your TRPV1 receptors and they detect heat, causing a burning sensation in your mouth. That said, these TRPV1 receptors are all over your body, and this includes your anus, which explains the burning sensation when you poop.

When you eat jalapenos, the capsaicin is not completely digested. As it moves through your digestive tract, it triggers TRPV1 receptors, which explains why some individuals experience cramps or an upset stomach after eating spicy food.

By the time the digested food reaches your anus, there is still capsaicin in the food waste and this is why your butt feels the burn!

When Should You See a Doctor?

If you experience diarrhea triggered by hot or spicy foods you can expect it to resolve ina day or so. In most cases, habits such as taking it easy on your gut, avoiding spicy foods for a few days should resolve the issue. Stay hydrated and stay away from caffeinated drinks that will only worsen diarrhea.

If symptoms have not resolved within a day or two, or if your diarrhea has worsened, leading to dehydration, then it may be a good idea to get medical attention for a proper evaluation.