Can spicy foods kill your taste buds and dull your sense of taste, or
is this just a myth?

Hi blinkerfish,

Thank you for your interesting question.  No, spicy foods do not KILL
your taste buds, but they can suppress the appetite.  As a person
ages, taste buds DO decrease, which is a part of the normal aging
process.


Health Central.com
http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/44087.html

Will Spicy Food Kill My Taste Buds?

"Rob: Will eating spicy, hot food now burnout my taste buds when I'm older?

Dr. Dean: No, because it is the pain fibers on the tongue, not the
taste buds, that respond to spicy food. Why we like pain on our
tongues is anyone's guess."

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Hungrygirl.com 
http://www.hungry-girl.com/week/weeklydetails.php?isid=833Spicy

Hungry but don't wanna be? Check out these super-duper
appetite-curbers from HG...
 
"Hot" foods that pack a lot of spice and heat can help in several
ways. First off, they tend to dull your taste buds a bit, which helps
you eat less. And they have a metabolism-boosting affect as well."

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FNRI
http://www.fnri.dost.gov.ph/htm/goodnutri.htm

GOOD NUTRITION AND CHILDREN'S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE

"Avoid serving too spicy and highly seasoned foods. These may destroy
the appetite for the more bland but highly nutritious foods"

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AOL diet & fitness
http://diets.aol.com/newsandtrends/appetite-suppressants

"Hot Stuff: Spicy foods have a metabolism-boosting benefit and can
dull your taste buds so you're apt to eat less. Even foods that are
hot in temperature -- like tea and soup -- may diminish your appetite.
Just make sure your soup is tomato or broth-based (not cream!) and
your tea isn?t of the sugary variety..."

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Diet Pills and Herbal Supplements Pro Review
http://www.chasefreedom.com/herbalsupplements2.html

"Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in cayenne peppers, is
thought to suppress appetite. A recent study has shown that a spicy
food meal containing capsaicin may reduce food intake by about 200
calories."

=========

WebMd.com
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/not257911.asp

"Decrease in or loss of taste

Decrease in or loss of taste is common in older adults. It is part of
the normal aging process and may be caused by:

-  A decrease in the number of taste buds.
-  Changes in the way the nervous system processes the sensation of
taste. This may cause a decline in the awareness of taste.
-  A decrease in the amount of saliva or an increase in the stickiness of saliva.
-  Changes in the tongue, making it harder for flavors to reach the taste buds."

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keyword search:
spicy foods suppress dull kill appetite aging taste buds
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Best regards,
tlspiegel

Thanks for the links. I am reall looking for some real research on
this to support the assertion.

lol 

i am south asian by descent. And I can absolutely guarantee you that
my taste buds are in excellent condition.

Enjoy the curry!

I have heard the theory that spicy food is common in warmer climates
because bland food is not so appetizing in tropical climates  (I
agree).  The ingredients in peppers also have antiseptic properties, a
good thing in climates where food spoils more quickly.

Yes, I am hopeful that the spicy (hot) foods do not actually kill
one's taste buds, however, I can't seem to find any research on this.
It seems like there is a lot of anecdotal evidence but can someone
show me the numbers?

I don't think you would find research on this. Taste buds are made of
cells, and cells are not killed by the chemical capsaicin (which is
what makes things hot)!Indeed capsaicin is frequently used in research
on the body's response to pain (Pain fibres (c-fibres)in the skin are
stimualted by capsaicin) this certainly wouldn't be the case if it
damaged the cells.

Stimulation of c-fibres initiates some degree of stress response,
which may have something to do with the supression of appetite
thoery....

Anyhow, sorry I know that's still not what you wanted!

Actually, your explanation is the best I've seen so far. Thanks for the input