In space, even cravings are different. Astronauts who might not necessarily like spicy foods on Earth develop a taste for hot sauce, and start craving sour and sweet tastes. Scientists have a few theories about why this happens.
One factor might be that people lose their sense of smell in space, and with it much of their experience of flavor, as anyone with a stuffy nose can tell you. The heat of peppers is perceived by pain receptors, not taste buds, so an astronaut with a dulled sense of taste and smell may come to crave the hot "taste" of spicy food.
NASA's lead food scientist, Michele Perchonok, believes astronauts lose their sense of smell because the fluids of their bodies aren't pulled toward their feet, as they are on Earth.
"We call it the Charlie Brown phase, because their faces have gotten more round," says Perchonok. Round, because they are retaining fluid in their heads. "And as they retain fluid, they also feel like they have a cold or they're congested, and again they're not smelling as much."Read more: Why Astronauts Crave Tabasco Sauce - NPR
What do you think? Do you crave spicy foods when you are congested?
Related: Better Than Tabasco? Louisiana's Crystal Hot Sauce
(Image: Faith Durand)
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umm, i crave sriracha ALL the time! But, I have a friend with no sense of smell, who craves tastes he can 'feel' - vinegar, spicy, minty foods... other flavors do nothing for him.
Ya I do crave for something warm nd spicy,,,
@Irene, you might like this recipe for Sriracha spiked artichoke dip! http://robinsbite.com/?p=627
I always want hot soup and tea for the steam, and spicy foods, when I'm congested. Because it works.
Astronauts visited my middle school once upon a time (on earth--I'm not an alien) and told us they couldn't stand anything minty to eat because it reminded them of toothpaste. A couple of chocolate mint desserts were not hits. But here on earth, mint is nice when congested. Of course, I don't eat from a tube.
I love spicy food at ANY time. It's especially good for me when I'm hungover, have a cold or any illness, days I feel blue or blah...one of my fave cures for the sniffles is a piece of bread (preferably the white, spongy supermarket stuff) smeared on one side with tomato ketchup, the other side slathered with sriracha: fold in half and snarf down. Aaaah...the world looks like a friendlier place. Also: peanut butter (crunchy) and Indian lime pickle.
Whoah, carrborogirl, that definitely proves taste is subjective, because that sandwich description made me dry heave. Yikes.