Gustatory hyperhidrosis occurs to some people who eat spicy foods. While lots of people sweat a little when they eat spicy foods, other people sweat excessively and may even do it when eating foods like ice cream. Here is some information on this disorder from the International Hyperhidrosis Society. For a simple, easy-to-read resource about spicy foods causing the sweating response, this Scientific American article is accessible for most students.

The question "why do we sweat?" ties into the larger issue of how our bodies manage water. At the core of this question is the hypothalamus and its ability to regulate not only the sweat response, but also the thirst reflex and urine production. This page from the Hydration for Health Initiative does a good job of describing all of the complex interactions. In the TED-Ed lesson What would happen if you didn’t drink water? Mia Nacamulli explores the effects of dehydration and overhydration. 

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