Get A Pepper High Yes, that's what it reads. When you eat fiery foods that contain capsaicin, your brain releases endorphins into your system. That must be why I am so addicted to peppers and must have at least one meal with hot sauce a day. Dictionary.com defines an endorphin as: en·dor·phin (n-dôrfn) n. Any of a group of peptide hormones that bind to opiate receptors and are found mainly in the brain. Endorphins reduce the sensation of pain and affect emotions. [endo(genous) + (mo)rphin(e).] and endorphin n : a neurochemical occurring naturally in the brain and having analgesic properties If you'll kindly notice, the word opiate shows up in the above definition. This explains why you sometimes feel pleasantly light-headed after a spicy meal. Endorphins can create some major bliss, from 5-15 minutes. It's the same kind of feeling referred to as the 'runners high'. Except this is a hell of a lot easier to accomplish.