Spicy Food in the Wilderness - your thoughts please

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Mar 22, 2011
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Hello,
I got the idea for this thread from a response I posted in another thread.

"I have a theory about spicy food outdoors. I like it because it makes me feel a lot fuller. It makes me eat slower. I think that by eating slower you give your body more time to realize that you've eaten enough. There are all sorts of hormones released when food hits the stomach/duodenum. Some of these hormones tell the brain that you're satiated, but it takes time. Additionally, the lingering spiciness, in my opinion, makes it feel like you are continuing to eat for some time. I am completely satisfied by one Shin Cup, but if there is one small hamburger, I always feel hungry, even though the hamburger has more calories. Hhmmm.... this gives me an idea for a video ... maybe this is worth exploring a bit."

I'd like to hear your thoughts and experiences on the subject. Am I crazy? Have you experienced similar things?
 
Makes sense.I recall watching Richard Proenneke's video,he spiced his food something fierce.
 
Spicy food is better for me, since it leaves a nice tingle in my mouth and makes me feel like I'm eating when I'm not. You alluded to this, so I'd have to agree. The only way one burger will fill me up is if I stack it full of other food. (Such as bacon)
 
Spicy foods are eaten in Asia & India because the heat & spices help to stimulate appetite. When the weather there can hit 110+ degrees with 100% humidity, one can lose interest in eating and develop serious health issues.

Luckily, spicy foods here in the USA is typically for enjoyment. I always have these mini bottles with me to spice up my outdoors meals.

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Sounds great to me! The only thing Id be worried about is hydration. I love spicy food, and hot sauce makes everything palatable.. but it does always make me quite thirsty... That may just be me though.. I always carry mints to calm hunger. They take the edge off of the most intense hunger.
 
I always try to bring at least some salt, pepper, and tobasco when camping (often some Lawry's too). Just because you're camping doesn't mean your food needs to be bland. I really haven't noticed much effect on my appetite other than I'm more apt to eat food that tastes good.
 
I love spicy food, the problem is it always burns twice... :eek:

So I am going for something slightly different: Nong Shim japanese style udon noodle soup. This stuff is by far the best choice regarding asian instant noodle soups in my opinion (and I have tried a lot, which I am not too proud of..). It has more volume and weight, but considering its taste it is so worth it to me. It will satisfy your hunger without being spicy/hot and you won't regret it the next day...
 
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^ This. Reactions to spicy food may vary, but a burnin' doo for many ain't condusive to a good mornin' in the woods in my book.

That said, flavor vs. burn is always a priority IMO.
 
Be sure to test out your spicy food in the comfort at home first to make sure you're not hurting.. ehm.. in the field
 
While I noticed that many outdoors folks love spicy hot food the reason for it is this. http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/spicy-food-addiction-caused-by-endorphins.html
Now as for me I like food that is spicy but not burning hot. Eating burning hot spicy food is not good for your digestive system. Many times your stomach can't break the spice down. One of the reasons it burns you twice lol.
I were always more partial for herbs and spices to add more flavor to the food. I were under the impresson that one of the reason for the burning hot spice was to cover the taste of the food which many times didnt taste good or was very bland.
For soup I like miso soup which I would add some dry veg like carrots red onion or green onion corn seaweed and maybe some shrimp. Make a big cup of it and its mana from heaven at the end of a long day of backpacking.

Sasha
 
I love spicy food, the problem is it always burns twice... :eek:

So I am going for something slightly different: Nong Shim japanese style udon noodle soup. This stuff is by far the best choice regarding asian instant noodle soups in my opinion (and I have tried a lot, which I am not too proud of..). It has more volume and weight, but considering its taste it is so worth it to me. It will satisfy your hunger without being spicy/hot and you won't regret it the next day...

Very good post for 2 reasons - you point out a truth that people who do not usually eat hot food would not know. There is a balancing act. I eat hot food every day, so it isn't an issue with me. The body gets used to stuff.

Second, you mention another thing for me to try outdoors. I will look for this product. Thank you!
 
While I noticed that many outdoors folks love spicy hot food the reason for it is this. http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/spicy-food-addiction-caused-by-endorphins.html
Now as for me I like food that is spicy but not burning hot. Eating burning hot spicy food is not good for your digestive system. Many times your stomach can't break the spice down. One of the reasons it burns you twice lol.
I were always more partial for herbs and spices to add more flavor to the food. I were under the impresson that one of the reason for the burning hot spice was to cover the taste of the food which many times didnt taste good or was very bland.
For soup I like miso soup which I would add some dry veg like carrots red onion or green onion corn seaweed and maybe some shrimp. Make a big cup of it and its mana from heaven at the end of a long day of backpacking.

Sasha

Good post. Link is good. I may be guilty of what they are saying. I do feel a 'high' after spicy food sometimes. Maybe it is endorphins as the article suggests. Also, as you say, heavy spicing is sometimes used to disguise other 'off' flavors. For instance, just tonight I made my spaghetti sauce with deer meat. I'm getting good enough at cooking with venison that I can usually disguise it so that no one knows the difference. For instance, I had 30 people over on Christmas Eve and they all ate deer meat, but none of them knew it. It just so happens that a tradition around my house for Christmas Eve is chili and cinnamon rolls. You can hide anything in chili and cinnamon rolls.
 
Can I recommend scrapping the Tabasco and carrying Cayenne pepper instead, not only can you use it to spice your food but it also works great and stopping bleeding and preventing infection.
 
Could also help you cool down in hot weather. Theory goes that the spicy sensation triggers the nervous system to try to cool the body down, much like drinking hot beverages can actually be more effective than cold ones on a hot day. That may also explain why spicy food is so popular in hot climates.
 
I'd like to hear your thoughts and experiences on the subject. Am I crazy? Have you experienced similar things?

Clearly, regardless of anything else, you are crazy.

I like spicy, I really do, but "face burn" spicy tends to mask the flavor of the food as well as shoot it right through me. From a purely subjective viewpoint food heavy in salt, pepper, and garlic seem to keep me satisfied and my cravings for more food down.
 
Oh how I miss it! Age and years of Habanero sauces I just cant take it...not the heat but the stomach and GI tract. Enjoy it while you can. I loved Habanero sauce the flavor is quite amazing but it comes with a ton of heat not as bad as a ghost pepper but right there. Most habanero sauces we have had would be a combo of carrots and peppers for the carrots would eat up some of the heat (oils from the peppers) and leaves you with the best flavor of all! Also the seeds are what do the heat...they lack the flavor and if you take them out you dramatically cut down on the heat.

As for camping, I dont like spicy food when I camp in the summer...I sweat too much depending on what it is so at night I dont want to be sweaty before bed. Doesnt last but just not my cup of tea! And who knows how my stomach will be 2-6 hours later...in the wilderness that is a chance I dont want to take. Now I have taken the mini Tabasco...if it is all I have it will do but the original red doesnt have the taste like some of the other cayenne pepper sauces. I use it on wraps, chili mac. Once again, if the original Tabasco is all I got it would go on eggs for breakfast or in a mountain house breakfast skillet. I really like the tabasco green and smoked/chipotle alot...I still sneak it... I love the franks red hots way better. Just wish they made minis like Tabasco does! None of these are too hot but the flavor is awesome! I dont eat spicy food for heat, I eat it for flavor. I dont do it as much because of the outcome so I need to pick my battles when I do! Too be honest all this is completely subjective anyway.
 
However one likes their food spiced, seasonings is something many seem to not have in their survival kits, or so it seems to me. One thing is for sure, salt and pepper at the very least makes your wild catch more enjoyable IMO. To answer your question, spicy is not what I call my cookin, but well seasoned is.:thumbup:
 
Capsaicin (a chemical found in hot peppers/chiles) is a known vasodilator, and improves circulation, which can give you the feeling of "warming up" - a nice benefit on a cold night of camping. As noted, it also triggers an endorphin release. In addition, it has anti-inflammatory benefits, which no doubt feels good after a long hike with sore muscles.

Summary - peppers are damn good for you!
 
Could also help you cool down in hot weather. Theory goes that the spicy sensation triggers the nervous system to try to cool the body down, much like drinking hot beverages can actually be more effective than cold ones on a hot day. That may also explain why spicy food is so popular in hot climates.

There is truth in the cooling down after eating peppers. A lot of people break into a sweat while eating them.
 
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