Spicy foods can be delicious and savoury, but have you ever noticed that our nose starts to drip when we eat them? It can happen due to various reasons like excessive mucus production. Here are a few reasons why eating spicy foods trigger a runny nose. Tap to know!

The heat from spicy foods may irritate the nasal lining; however, to protect it, our nose produces mucus that may drip when produced excessively.

The spicy foods may heat up our body, making it feel hotter than the actual temperature. To cool down, our body releases fluids like mucus, making the nose runny.

Our nose and mouth are connected, so when the spicy food affects the mouth, it also affects the nose, making it runny due to excessive mucus.

Spicy foods contain capsaicin, a compound which causes a burning sensation, tricking the brain into thinking the body is burning, and leading to a runny nose.

Sometimes, spicy foods can also make our eyes water. This fluid in the eyes can drain into the nasal passage, leading to a runny nose.

When we eat spicy foods, it triggers trigeminal nerves in the face, which senses the heat as a threat and produces excessive mucus, leading to a runny nose.

Regular consumption of spicy foods can make our nose more sensitive to spice. To protect the lining from irritants, it produces more mucus, leading to a runny nose.

According to PubMed, eating spicy food can lead to a runny nose due to its capsaicin content, excessive mucus production, and more. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for personalised suggestions.