I can buy the normally very deliciously painful spicy stuff from Walmart now, instead of the pan Asian supermarket. I’ve noticed that it seems to taste wayyyy less spicy. It feels closer to a hot Cheetos spicy than the proper actually painful way it used to taste.
Jesus you’re like my father. Ever had stomach ulcers?
Just someone else jumping in to comment here, but I’ve had stomach ulcers since my late 20’s in direct response to mildly acidic food. Got even worse when I went abroad and caught a severe stomach virus, due to which I now have to take stomach meds on the regular.
Funnily enough, all the while I’ve been able to chomp away on hot chiles without the slightest inconvenience. I guess different guts = different microflora / fauna mixes.
Pretty sure they found out ulcers are due to a bacteria that can now be treated and not due to spicy or acidic foods.
I’m guessing you’re thinking of Helicobacter pylori, but even with a diagnosis, treatment can still be elusive. For one thing because a heavy dose of multiple antibiotics can be a lot for the body to deal with, and personally I’m guessing that with mounting resistance to such, sometimes they flat-out won’t work, anyway.
Meanwhile, cutting down on gut acidity and building a good biome seem to be best for the long haul.
In any case, IME spicy and acidic foods can absolutely exacerbate the situation.