Can I enjoy korean cuisine if I dont like spicy food?

Visitors to Korea often worry that they may not be able to enjoy Korean cuisine because they are not accustomed to spicy food. Why is it that so many here enjoy igniting their tastebuds on fire at the dinner table they may ask. Part of the answer can be explained geographically. As Cornell University professor, Paul Sherman explains, "people in warmer regions of the world benefit from eating spicier foods, because spices are natural antimicrobials. Food-borne pathogens and parasites are more prolific in warmer climates, and spices can kill or inhibit their growth. So it follows, "Humans do what makes them feel good, and they learn from each other. He adds, that people in hot climates learned that spicy food is less likely to make them sick and thus developed a preference for it. Personal experience is also a big factor, if your parents fed you spicy food since you were a child then you will have become accustomed to it over time. And finally, there is likely a genetic component as well, scientific studies have revealed that people vary in their sensitivity of taste, with most women tending to have a more sensitive palatte than men. So if you are a non-smoker with highly sensitive taste buds then the burning sensation that you experience while trying spicy food may be too painful to grant a second attempt.

Nonetheless, non-spicy eaters often rationalize their preference with statements like, "spices were invented to offset the taste of bad food," and complain that adding excessive spices to food renders one unable to appreciate the quality, or distinguish more subtle flavors of other ingredients. They mock those of us who reach for the salt and pepper shakers without first tasting the food from our plate, and point smugly to the fact that most so-called First-Tier restaurants stay away from overly spicy food because it overwhelms other flavors. Perhaps some of their critique is warranted, but I for one am more than a little offended when my taste for spicy food at the age of thirty is likened to a grown child that despite his parents best efforts couldnt be weaned off the adding of sugar to his cereal bowl.

In response, spicy food eaters will retort that those who do not have the courage to try spicy food are bland themselves, too weak to bear the initial sessions of mouth burning in order to experience the euphoria that follows. A little exaggerated, yes, but not completely untrue. Capsaicin, the chemical responsible for the burning sensation, triggers the brain to release endorphins because it thinks the mouth is on fire and needs chemical relief from the pain. Its not enough to intoxicate us by any means, thats probably why weve never heard of someone being pulled over for driving while under the influence of jalapenos, but it is enough to make spicy food somewhat addictive. Yes, its true that the very word addictive rightfully raises some red flags, but as a matter of fact, studies have proven that eating spicy food in itself does not pose health risks, so long as you are not suffering from a preexisting digestive disorder and enjoy your suicide-chicken wings in moderation. And interestingly, further studies have suggest that eating spicy food also offers health benefits such as helping to boost one's metabolism and immune system, lower cholesterol levels, and even prevent some forms of cancer -since capsaicin is a natural antioxidant.

If you're still not convinced, or too scared, then there is no need to worry. There are several Korean foods to enjoy that are not very spicy, and restaurnteurs much to my dismay, usually modify the ingredients for non-Koreans without asking based on the assumption that foreigners dont usually share a taste for spicy food. So rest assured, if you don't like spicy food then you will not starve during your stay in Korea, and if you have ever thought about trying spicy food then you have nothing to lose!