I always think this about garlic, chilli, onion, etc. Feeling all tough, naturally designed to punish whatever’s just eaten it. Then humans be like, “OOOOO that’s yum. Add a bit more.”
We like plants that offer a challenge, apparently. We probably evolved to like these chemicals because we refused to be beaten and just ended up liking them.
Passing through the digestive tract of a mobile animal is a good way for plants to disperse seeds and reproduce. It makes sense that some plants would be naturally repulsive to some animals and attractive to others.
Also the plants and the animals evolved together. If you’re the only animal in the desert that can chomp on a cactus, you’re going to survive and pass on your genes.
We don’t know whether they evolved these chemicals to prevent being eaten by animals though. People have tested spicy (capsaicin based) foods with mice, and found that mice actually seemed to like or not really react to spicy foods. This means that capsaicin did not evolve to protect against rodents like initially thought.
In fact, we now know that capsaicin is a very powerful antifungal chemical. Chili peppers naturally grow in hot, humid environments where fungi thrive. There also aren’t many rodents in those areas. So the spiciness experienced by mammals like humans is just a side effect that didn’t really affect its evolution.
I always think this about garlic, chilli, onion, etc. Feeling all tough, naturally designed to punish whatever’s just eaten it. Then humans be like, “OOOOO that’s yum. Add a bit more.”
We like plants that offer a challenge, apparently. We probably evolved to like these chemicals because we refused to be beaten and just ended up liking them.
plant: evolves chemical defense mechanism to stop it from being eaten
humans: ayo put that shit on my steak
Passing through the digestive tract of a mobile animal is a good way for plants to disperse seeds and reproduce. It makes sense that some plants would be naturally repulsive to some animals and attractive to others.
Also the plants and the animals evolved together. If you’re the only animal in the desert that can chomp on a cactus, you’re going to survive and pass on your genes.
We don’t know whether they evolved these chemicals to prevent being eaten by animals though. People have tested spicy (capsaicin based) foods with mice, and found that mice actually seemed to like or not really react to spicy foods. This means that capsaicin did not evolve to protect against rodents like initially thought.
In fact, we now know that capsaicin is a very powerful antifungal chemical. Chili peppers naturally grow in hot, humid environments where fungi thrive. There also aren’t many rodents in those areas. So the spiciness experienced by mammals like humans is just a side effect that didn’t really affect its evolution.
Evolution doesn’t always have a purpose. Random mutations + coincidence can result is some goofy results