What are the benefits of eating spicy?

Spicy foods have become increasingly more popular over the years. In fact, more than 62 percent of people say they enjoy spicy food. But sizzling hot fare can do so much more than just turn up the heat on some of your favorite foods and make them more scrumptious. It turns out that spicy foods actually confer a number of health benefits.

Weight Loss

A study out of Purdue University found that participants who ate spicy food burned more calories than the control group, which consumed non-spicy foods. The group that ate the spicy food also expressed that they felt less hunger and fewer cravings for sweet, salty, or high-fat foods afterwards. A study out of Canada found that when participants put hot sauce on their appetizers, they actually took in 200 fewer calories when they got their entrée than their hot-sauce-fearing peers. Capsinoids, compounds in chile peppers that provide heat, also helps stimulate production of brown fat, which boosts your metabolism.

Previous studies have found spicy food can suppress your appetite. Researchers believe the capsaicin found in chiles are responsible for the thermogenic effect on your body post-meal. A study published in the New York Times has shown that eating spicy foods can bolster your metabolism in the short term by about 8 percent, and ups fat burning by nearly 16 percent — not too shabby, or flabby!

A Healthy Heart

In cultures where spicy food is most commonly eaten, people have fewer heart attacks and strokes. Scientists believe the capsaicin in hot peppers and sauces made from them helps reduce chronic inflammation, which is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Capsaicin also helps prevent cholesterol accumulation in your body by multiplying its breakdown rate. Cutting up a chile pepper into your dishes can also help cut your risk of heart disease by reducing the damage that LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) does to your body. Additionally, capsaicin blocks a specific gene that is responsible for narrowing your arteries, thereby upping flow to your blood vessels.

Cancer Killer

The American Association for Cancer Research mentions that the capsaicin that gives chile peppers their signature heat can kill off some cancer cells, particularly leukemia cells. Additionally, the spice turmeric, which is found in certain mustards and curry powder and is responsible for their vibrant color, can hinder the growth rate of cancerous tumors. Studies attribute this to the bioactive compound curcumin, found in turmeric. You increase these powerful health benefits by pairing turmeric with freshly ground black pepper, which increases its bioavailability.

A Longer Life

While there are many factors that contribute to just how long you’ll live, you can jump for joy over jalapenos because they may help add years to your life. Research between Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences studied the diets of more than 500,00 participants over a 5-year time period and discovered that those who consumed spicy foods six to seven times per week had a whopping 14 percent lower chance of dying early.

Reduces Your Blood Pressure

Hot peppers have dual blood-pressure lowering effects: the heat boosts blood flow throughout your body, and the vitamin A and vitamin C helps to increase the strength of your heart’s wall muscles.

Memory & Mood Booster

Research from the University of California at Los Angeles found that curcumin (found in turmeric, which gives curry powder its color) improved both mood and memory function. A component of black pepper also acts as a diuretic, which helps get rid of bloat that can dampen your mood.

Stress Buster

When you eat spicy foods, your body increases production of feel-good hormones, including serotonin, in an effort to block the pain experienced from the heat. This helps relieve stress.

Congestion Relief

Do you notice your nose dripping after you eat spicy stuff? The capsaicin in hot peppers is very similar to a chemical compound you find in decongestant medicines.

Derail Diabetes

Research has found that eating hot chilies on a regular basis reduces your body’s insulin requirements, thereby reducing your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Pauses Pain

Capsaicin in chiles can help reduce inflammation and pain by draining your body's quantity of substance P, a neuropeptide in nerve cells that carries pain signals to the brain. It also desensitizes your skin’s sensory receptors, which is why it’s a main ingredient in pain-relieving creams.

[Image via Shutterstock]

Not everyone enjoys eating spicy food, but if you like your meal with a little kick, you're in luck. Spicy foods offer many health benefits, like a faster metabolism, improved heart health, reduced risk of death from cancer, and even longer life expectancy. 

Here's what you need to know about why spicy food is good for you and any risks associated with consuming spicy food. 

1. Spicy food boosts your metabolism

Spicy foods can boost metabolism by increasing your heart rate and producing heat in the body, causing you to burn more calories, says Amy Shapiro, a registered dietitian and founder of Real Nutrition, a private nutrition consulting practice.  

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts food to energy. The faster your metabolism, the more calories you burn, and the more food you can consume without gaining weight.  

The spicy chemical compound capsaicin — found in chili peppers like jalapeño, cayenne, and habanero — offers many benefits for metabolic health. In fact, a 2012 review of 20 research studies found that capsaicin can help your body burn about 50 extra calories a day. The researchers concluded that this could result in significant levels of weight loss over the course of one or two years, as part of a weight management program.  

The review also found that capsaicin can act as an appetite suppressant, making you feel more full and consume fewer calories overall. Food sources of capsaicin may not be enough to fully experience these benefits, though. For example, another study found that capsaicin supplementation of 6mg a day was associated with fat loss. 

"Although sprinkling spices on your salad for one meal won't move the needle, consistently using spices in your daily intake can increase metabolism," Shapiro says. 

2. Spicy food improves heart health 

Spicy foods may also improve overall heart health. Studies have found that spicy foods increase circulation and lower blood pressure. They do this by stimulating the release of compounds that expand blood vessels, Shapiro says. Capsaicin in particular also decreases inflammation, which has been shown to be a risk factor for heart disease.  

Spicy foods can also lower your cholesterol, which improves your heart health and reduces your risk of heart disease. A small 2017 study found that participants who took two 4mg capsules of capsaicin a day for three months had improvements in blood cholesterol levels compared to the control group. 

Another very large 2017 study out of the University of Vermont examined the connection between heart health and consumption of red hot chili peppers over six years. It found a 13% lower incidence of death from causes, such as heart disease or stroke among participants who consumed the peppers. 

3. Spicy food reduces inflammation in the gut 

Many people think spicy food causes stomach pain, but research shows capsaicin may actually increase blood flow to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and protect against the formation of ulcers, Shapiro says. A 2006 study found capsaicin may increase blood flow to the lining of the GI tract and protect it from damage. 

Spicy food can also act as an antioxidant, reducing inflammation and aiding in the digestive process by fighting off harmful bacteria that may lead to an infection, says Ashlee Wright, a registered dietitian with Orlando Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization. 

These benefits are especially helpful for anyone with irritable bowel disease (IBD), like Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, which are associated with inflammation, Shapiro says. However, it's important to discuss with your doctor and see how you react to spicy food before using it to treat your symptoms. 

4. Spicy food may increase your life expectancy

A large 2015 population study among Chinese adults found that those who consumed spicy foods almost every day had a 14% lower risk of premature death than those who consumed it once per week. 

"This is likely due to its anti-inflammatory effect, improved heart health, and decreased obesity," Shapiro says.

Additionally, the same 2017 study from the University of Vermont found similar findings of life expectancy in the US, Wright says. But overall, it's important to remember that spicy foods are not a magic wand for health and should be paired with a healthy diet and a consistent exercise routine.

"Other lifestyle factors need to be considered," Wright says. "Adding spicy foods or ingredients to a healthy, well-balanced diet would be the way to go."

5. Spicy food relieves some pain 

Not only can eating spicy foods improve your health, but the topical application of lotions derived from spicy foods can also help relieve pain. 

"Topical forms of capsaicin help to block messages to your nerves so it helps to decrease the sensation of pain," Shapiro says. "It may also relieve pain from nerve damage, or other skin conditions."

A 2011 study found that a 60-minute application of a high-concentration patch containing 8% capsaicin provided effective pain relief in patients with neuropathic (nerve) pain for up to 12 weeks. 

Topical applications of capsaicin may also provide pain relief to people with:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Sprains
  • Muscle injuries
  • Arthritis

You can purchase lotions made with capsaicin over-the-counter at most drugstores, or talk with your doctor about prescription capsaicin cream.

Risks associated with spicy foods 

Spicy foods offer many health benefits, but they may not be for everyone. For example, spicy foods can trigger symptoms for people with certain gastrointestinal issues, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux). 

Hot peppers that contain capsaicin can also burn your eyes or face. Therefore, it's best to wear gloves when handling them. Additionally, consuming too much spicy food can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea, so if you aren't used to eating spicy foods often, start small to build up your tolerance. 

The bottom line 

Spicy foods offer many health benefits, like speeding up your metabolism and boosting heart health, but they can also exacerbate some health issues, like heartburn. If you aren't used to eating spicy foods, start by eating small amounts and work on building your tolerance.

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