Your heart is beating out of your chest. Your stomach feels like it’s full of butterflies. Beads of sweat begin to drip from your brow. Blood rushes through your body and you’re overwhelmed by a floating and lightheaded feeling. Euphoria.

No, that was not a description to a euphoric climax moment of a sexual encounter, rather one from eating chilies.

Have you wondered why eating chilies will make your lips swell with numbness or that you become overwhelmed with a hot sensation?

Chili peppers, when consumed, have the ability to release endorphins – produced by the central nervous system and pituitary gland, these neurotransmitters interact with receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and has similar effects to drugs such as morphine and codeine, leads to feelings of euphoria, release of sex hormones and feelings of fewer negative effects of stress – which acts as an aphrodisiac.

With the power to raise the body’s temperature and make lips swell to a kissable lush pout, the effects of consuming a chili pepper can seem like a sexual flush and visually encourage one to be in the mood.

Historically, chili peppers have been used as an aphrodisiac, as anesthetic and a natural remedy to promote cardiovascular health.

If you’re looking to inject some passion into your sex life, try some Mexican food or Szechuan cuisine on your next date night!