I have a question for those who believe in evolution, which revolves around Chili Peppers. Chilis are native to the western hemisphere while humans are said to have evolved in Africa. Chilis are inedible to most higher animals, because of the burning sensation caused by capsaicin. Birds are immune to capsaicin, which probably ensures that the chili seeds get destributed at great distances, so that is understandable. Humans are interesting in that we have enzymes that allow us to digest capsaicin, but we aren't immune to capsaicin like a bird. We experiance the burn, but capsaicin causes an endorphin rush, which is comparible to a runners high. Capsaicin can also be used as a pain releaver in humans, when applied topically. Humans are very well adapted to eating chili peppers and we gain many benefits from the consumption of capsaicin, so here is my question: why are we evolved to consume these plants if humans couldn't possibly have encountered these plants until humans first colonized the New World?

good point

because human beings are animals of habits.
therefore, when our specie came to these regions where chilli peppers grow, and that was a source of food, our habits adapted to the condition.
Mr. Darwin said it. We need to adapt to new circumstances in order to evolve and prevail.
I'm going to ask one of my homeboys about it, he may have a better answer.

TheLonelyWalker,

But I would have to point out that Christopher Columbus brought back chilis from the New World and they were instantly adopted into European cooking and moved from there to almost every country in the Old World. The first time humans encountered Chili Peppers, they were edible, it wasn't a long process over thousands or millions of years.

That might be because of the immediate effects, who knows?

spidey:
May I say that the same happen after the invention of Coca Cola.
I mean I know those are two different things. I'm trying to relate it somehow.
Coke was invented here in North America, in a matter of a couple of decades it has become in the most popular beverage across the world regardless of culture and race.
Just a thought.

TheLonelyWalker,

Capsaisin requires a special enzyme to be digested, it's not a matter of choice or taste, humans can digest capsaisin without harm, but we aren't immune to the burning effect. So we get the digestive, anti-biotic, and Limbic effects from digesting capsaicin and we get the topical pain releaving effects of capsaicin. We are unique of all animals in that we get all of the benefits from capsaicin. So the question is why are we able to digest something that we couldn't have evolved around? Please keep in mind that we have had domesticated cows for a long time and we still have a significant portion of the population who are lactose intolerant.

The history I find says:
Chili peppers have been a part of the human diet in the Americas since at least 7500 BC and perhaps earlier....3
I would definately say there was time to evolve....especially if we are talking about true evolution where as "humans" could have actually been eating them before they evolved into what we consider the human race now......

I understand what you mean.
what if before finding chilli peppers, there was some kind of root, herb, or any other kind of food that contained something similar to capsaisin since the time our specie was in africa, and therefore, we already got this tolerance from centuries before coming to America.
I do not have a certain answer, I'm just trying to find some logical explanation.
If u have some light about this please share with us.

Chili peppers are thought to have been domesticated at least five times by prehistoric peoples in different parts of South and North America, from Peru in the south to Mexico in the north and parts of Colorado and New Mexico (Ancient Pueblo Peoples).

We are talking about prehistoric times in the Americas......that is evolution!

I think the same way that disease can mutate into other diseases...why was there no aids 100 years ago???

Ever heard of the land bridge?

yes, I know about the land bridge
that is the way people came to America from Asia
and that is why most of Native Americans have some asian feautures

and they grow curry in india which has capsaisin so yeah

wow that is a piece of knowledge that i did not have

glad to enlighten u it was especially 4 spidercmb

however curry is not one specific plant rather sevral different plants mixed with rice in indian cuisine

Land bridge and evolution are not applicable. Unless the theory is that all humans crossed the land bridge, adapted to eating capsaicin and then some migrated back across the land bridge, then there is no posiblity. For Columbus to enjoy chili peppers, that would have to mean that he had already evolved to or been created with the characteristics necessary to enjoy capsaicin.

"I think the same way that disease can mutate into other diseases...why was there no aids 100 years ago??? "

I posted links months ago of studys that showed that long-term Heroin use causes AIDS. AIDS isn't a new disease, it's not even a disease, it's a syndrome. It's been around for a long time and probably isn't caused by HIV at all.

lizardking19,

Curry plant is almost tasteless and does not contain any capsaicin. Curry powder smells like the curry plant, which is where it gets it's name from, but curry powder is made from peppers (imported from the New World) and other spices.

so spidey, u r referring specificly to the europeans who took the chilli peppers to europe, and who did they get adapted to it when they had never been exposed to such a plant?
am i right?