LONDON , England -- Painfully hot , they make your eyes water , your heart race and can turn your face embarrassingly red . Chilies have been used for many millenia both for their medicinal benefits and exciting falvor . Once only a staple of cuisine from far flung regions of the world , chilies can now be found in almost any dish around the globe . Last week an Indian woman wolfed down 51 `` ghost chilies , '' -- the world 's spiciest -- in two minutes and smeared the seeds on her eyes for an entry into the Guinness World Records . Anandita Dutta Tamuly , 28 , achieved the bizarre and fiery undertaking in the Indian north-eastern state of Assam . She was cheered on by British chef Gordon Ramsay , who also attempted a bite of the hot stuff before begging for water . A single seed can cause watering eyes , as well as a burning sensation in the mouth that can last up to five hours . A chili 's spiciness is measured in Scoville units ; the number of times a chili extract must be diluted in water in order for it to lose its heat . The `` ghost chili '' , also known as bhut jolokia , has more than 1 million Scoville units , while Tabasco sauce ranges from 2,500 to 5,000 Scoville units and jalapeno peppers from 2,500 to 8,000 units . Chilies have formed part of the diet in the Americas since approximately 7,500 BC and owe most of their fame to their sometimes unbearably spicy flavor . But they have also long been recognized for their health benefits . Scientific research -- and legend -- have attributed health wonders to chilies over the years . Diego Alvarez Chanca , a physician on explorer Christopher Columbus ' second voyage to the West Indies in 1493 , first wrote about the pepper 's medicinal effects back in 1494 . Below we look at effects eating chilies has on the body . Skin . Other than for its flavor-enhancing qualities , chili is , oddly enough , used to fight the summer heat . As the chili causes extreme sweating and blood rushing to the face , it cools the body down when the sweat evaporates , making it useful for combating heat . These same heat inducing properties are said to have a cumulative effect and over time are believed to alleviate pain when used in treatments for anything from arthritis and psoriasis to shingles and severe burns . Brain . The substances that give chili peppers their intensity when eaten or applied on the skin are called capsaicinoids . When consumed , capsaicinoids connect with pain receptors in the mouth and throat that are normally responsible for sensing heat . Once activated by the capsaicinoids , these receptors send a message to the brain that the person has consumed something hot . The brain responds to the burning sensation by raising the heart rate , increasing perspiration and releasing endorphins , called the body 's `` natural painkillers '' and `` happy hormones . '' Stomach . Chilies have long been associated with soothing the digestive system , by acting as stomach cleansers . According to the UK Food Guide , chili helps to settle stomach upset and encourages the production of good digestive acid . Chili aficionados believe the fruits can also induce weight loss because the substance that makes them `` hot '' speed up the body 's metabolism . However , one study by the American Institute of Cancer Research performed in Mexico showed in 2003 that a high consumption of chilies ( approximately nine to 25 jalapeno peppers per day ) is in fact associated with stomach cancer . Immune system . Red chilies contain high amounts of carotene and vitamin C. It is said that chilies contain more vitamin C than citrus fruits . Chili peppers are also a good source of vitamin B6 and are very high in potassium , magnesium and iron , giving them a reputation for naturally boosting the body 's immune system . Heart and other cardiovascular effects . A 2006 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that after adding chili to the diet , bad cholesterol , that can often lead to heart problems , took a longer time to develop into heart diseases .
An British woman last week wolfed down 1 million `` ghost chilies '' in up to five hours . The ghost chili has 51 bhut jolokia units , the measurement of a chili 's heat . Chilies have also long been recognized for their health benefits .