Working out can be a lot of fun, except when you get cramps. It’s something that almost anyone that does some type of workout has to deal with, but why does it happen? For years we’ve been told that it’s dehydration, starved electrolytes, or tears in micro-fibers and cell membranes, which can be alleviated simply by drinking water and electrolytes. But now it seems that more people are alleviating their cramps with spicy food.
Nobel Prize winning scientist, Rod MacKinnon studies molecular neurobiology and biophysics at Rockefeller University and he too suffers from cramps. He decided to look into it and found that a shot of spicy liquid, such as wasabi or hot peppers may be a far more effective treatment than an energy drink or a banana.
“The primary origin of the cramp is the nerve, not the muscle,” said Rod MacKinnon, to The Wall Street Journal. Dr. MacKinnon’s hands and arms became cramped up when he was kayaking with colleague Brice Bean, a neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School.
Hydration and electrolytes weren’t issues in this case, so after making it back to shore, the two scientists began to look for an answer. They began to focus on his muscles, and thought that something had to cause the impulses in the nervous system that sent his muscles to cramp.
After looking through existing research, they hypothesized about modifying the nervous system, including the motor neurons controlling the muscle, by applying a strong sensory input and by stimulating receptors in the mouth and esophagus. This is how scientists describe ingesting pungent tasting foods. These pungent tasting foods can overload the nerve receptors, producing a numbing effect.
Drinking spicy drinks is a growing trend for athletes. There are products such as Hot Shot, which is a mix of ginger, cinnamon, and capsicum that people take similar to power shots, except this one is specifically for muscle cramps. The solution is simple; it’s about tricking the nerves which deliver information throughout the body. If you trick them into staying in line by shocking them with spicy drinks, then your muscles don’t cramp.