We have all heard about the One Chip Challenge, and as a spicy food lover, you have surely considered doing it.
If you love spicy food as I do, it is only a matter of time before you take up the challenge but before you do, make sure you are prepared.
Also, there is one thing you need to remember before trying out the challenge.
You should not do the One Chip Challenge on an empty stomach. The chip is made from the Carolina Reaper and the Scorpion Chili, with SHUs of 2 million and 1.2 million, respectively. Eating the chip on an empty stomach can irritate your stomach lining and cause severe stomachaches and cramps.
In this article, I will discuss whether doing the One Chip Challenge on an empty stomach is a good idea, the side effects of doing so, and how to prepare yourself for it. So read on to help yourself decide whether or not this challenge is for you.
Is Doing the One Chip Challenge on an Empty Stomach a Good Idea?
The One Chip Challenge is an exciting phenomenon that is spreading across the world. If you haven’t tried it, you might be thinking of giving it a go. Be warned; the chip is extremely hot.
Doing the One Chip Challenge on an empty stomach is not a good idea. The chip is made from two of the spiciest peppers globally and can cause stomach aches, nausea, and vomiting if you can’t handle the heat. Consuming fatty food before doing the challenge will help line your stomach.
The Paqui One Chip Challenge can be bought on Amazon or in some stores in the USA. The product is extremely popular, and most reviews say it delivers on its claims.
The challenge is to see how long you can go without eating or drinking anything after eating the chip. Here are the rankings taken from the official website:
- 5 minutes – powerless
- 10 minutes – powerful
- 30 minutes – supercharged
- 1 hour – invincible
Here is a fun YouTube video showing somebody doing the One Chip Challenge.
Side Effects of Doing the One Chip Challenge on an Empty Stomach
Eating the chip might be fun and give you a good laugh, but you might experience some side effects.
There is a big warning on the box, which reads as follows:
“Do not eat if you are sensitive to spicy foods, allergic to peppers, nightshade, or capsaicin, or are pregnant or have any medical conditions. Keep out of reach of children. After touching the chip, wash your hands with soap and do not touch your eyes or other sensitive areas. Seek medical attention should you experience difficulty breathing, fainting, or extended nausea.”
Here are the ingredients for the 2021 chip:
- Blue corn
- Sunflower and/or safflower oil
- Carolina Reaper Pepper
- Scorpion Chili Pepper
- Sea Salt
There isn’t an official Scoville rating for the chip, but it is easy to understand from the ingredients that it is super hot. The challenge might seem fun, but be careful because eating the chip can have some side effects.
Some people build up a tolerance to spicy food because they eat it often but even if you like spicy food and can handle the heat, make sure not to do the One Chip Challenge on an empty stomach.
Some people’s heart rates skyrocket, while others throw up after eating the chip. If you eat the chip on an empty stomach or are sensitive to capsaicin, the lining of your stomach can become inflamed, which can cause pain and bleeding in extreme situations.
There are various adverse reactions to eating super spicy food made from hot chilis on an empty stomach or even on a full stomach if you are sensitive to capsaicin. These include:
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Stomachache
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Pain and burning in the digestive tract
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Sweating
- Runny nose
- Hyperventilation
- Hiccups
- Belching
- Bloating
Children shouldn’t eat chilis or super spicy food as the side effects can be traumatizing.
Serious medical complications from eating chilis or super spicy food are possible but are rare. Most people who suffered serious issues were taking part in chili eating contests. This being said, the One Chip Challenge is super hot, so be careful.
Many people are still rushing to the emergency room after consuming super spicy food. Some of the main reasons people go to the hospital after eating such foods are as follows:
- Panic and anxiety. Some
spice -lovers might think that they are capable of eating spicy food, but after eating it, their chest and stomach feel like they are on fire. They start to panic, thinking that they are experiencing an allergic reaction. The panic makes everything worse as the patients are already breathing heavily, coughing, tearing up, and in pain. - Excessive vomiting. After eating spicy food, some people might vomit excessively, which is one of the body’s defense mechanisms to expel possible toxins from the stomach. However, it can lead to dehydration, which can be severe if not treated, so going to the hospital is the right thing to do.
- Severe stomachache, cramps, and fever. If someone eats super spicy food on an empty stomach or is sensitive to chilis, they can suffer from severe complications in their digestive system and will have to go to the hospital for some pain medication.
Some people who have done the One Chip Challenge describe it as the worst thing they have ever eaten as it caused terrible stomachaches, shivers, and nausea.
How To Prepare for the One Chip Challenge
So you want to do the One Chip Challenge, but you are not a reckless person and want to prepare yourself before doing it. That is a wise decision.
You can start by eating some of the other chips that Paqui makes. They are also hot but not as hot as the One Chip Challenge and will help build up your tolerance towards spicy food.
You can buy a Paqui Spicy Tortilla Chips Variety Pack (available on Amazon.com). The box contains 12 bags of chips. Start with Zesty Salsa Verde, then make your way up to Fiery Chile Limon, and lastly, Haunted Ghost Pepper. These chips have no artificial ingredients and are tasty and range from tangy to super hot.
Once you are ready to take on the One Chip Challenge, you should go into it prepared. It will burn, and you might have a pretty bad stomachache after, so make sure you have everything you need on hand.
Eat a nice fatty meal half an hour to an hour before doing the challenge. Capsaicin, the
Wear gloves when taking the chip out of the packaging, and don’t touch anything until you have taken the gloves off and washed your hands.
The capsaicin will stick to the gloves or your fingers if you don’t wear any and can cause severe chili burn if you touch your face, eyes, or any other sensitive area.
Once you have eaten the chip, seeing how long you can go without eating or drinking anything is part of the challenge, but make sure you have some cold milk close by.
Your mouth will feel like it is on fire, so eventually, you are going to give in and reach for something to drink or eat, whether it is after 5 minutes or an hour.
Don’t drink water; it does not dilute capsaicin and will only spread it. Drink milk or have some ice cream, peanut butter, or avocado.
If you develop a stomachache, feel hot, or start sweating profusely, you can try taking a cold shower, ensuring that you don’t have any capsaicin on your hands before you do. Once you are done, lay down with an ice pack on your stomach and do breathing exercises to calm your body.
Over-the-counter medication can also help with a stomachache. If you have indigestion, try chewing gum. The additional saliva production will help neutralize your stomach acid.
Final Thought
Doing the One Chip Challenge on an empty stomach is not a good idea. The chip is super hot as it is made from Carolina Reaper and Scorpion Chili peppers. However, if you are curious and brave enough, it is always best to go into it prepared.
Eat something fatty like mac and cheese with a glass of milk an hour before doing the challenge. The fat will help line your stomach and absorb the capsaicin from the chip. If you are sensitive to chili, it is best not to do the One Chip Challenge.
Sources
- Paqui: The 2021 Paqui #OneChipChallenge Is Over
- In the Know: Dangerous ‘One Chip Challenge’ on TikTok Allegedly Leads to Multiple Hospitalizations
- Wikipedia: Carolina Reaper
- Wikipedia: Trinidad Moruga scorpion
- Quora: Does eating hot chili pepper cause any damage to your stomach lining?
- One Green Planet: 10 Worst Foods to Eat on an Empty Stomach
- BuzzFeed News: Here’s What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Super Hot Peppers
- Reddit: Redditors who have done the One Chip Challenge
- Livestrong: 6 Ways to Neutralize Spicy Food in the Stomach and Settle Indigestion
- First We Feast: How to Prep For and Recover From Eating Spicy Foods
- PepperScale: Carolina Reaper Guide: Heat, Flavor, Uses
- WebMD: Health Benefits of Capsaicin
- Verywell Mind: 8 Deep Breathing Exercises for Anxiety
- Mayo Clinic: Dehydration
