A little chilli never hurt anyone! In fact, if anything, it has tons of benefits that you might not even be aware of. Spice evokes opinions stronger than almost anything else in the world! Would you go for chipotle, mild salsa or the hot version? Do you like tabasco, how about a bit of chilli sauce in your sandwich? If you are someone who loves spicing up things- pun intended, then you are in luck because there’s science backed evidence that spicy food has a series of benefits. From helping you lose weight to aiding your gastrointestinal health (surprise!), today we will show you how spicy food is good for health.
Benefits of Eating Spicy Food
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It Doesn’t Only Burn Your Tongue, But Calories Too
Well, habanero salsa definitely burns your tongue but what it does additionally is burn calories. It might sound far fetched but research shows that people who eat more spicy foods tend to be slimmer and on the fitter side of things.
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It Might Help Fighting Cancer Cells
Another one of the positive effects of eating spicy food on health is that it helps in fighting cancer cells. Chilli contains an antioxidant named Capsaicin which works as an antioxidant and helps in destroying cancer cells and protects cells from harmful molecules known as free radicals. Not just that, a UCLA Study also found that capsaicin stops the growth of prostate cancer cells in mice.
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Spices Help Fight Inflammation
Studies suggest that a compound named Curcumin, present in turmeric helps in reducing inflammation. Not only that, Capsaicin too has inflammation fighting properties which go beyond the belly. You might not know this but, over the counter capsaicin cream can help in treating pain caused due to fibromyalgia and arthritis. Along with that, capsaicin also helps in combating low grade gut inflammation.
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It Helps Boost Your Metabolism
Most of the research about spicy foods focuses on capsaicin which is a compound that give peppers the spiciness and kick. Spices like cumin, turmeric, chillies, cinnamon and cumin are known to raise your metabolic resting rate and slow down your appetite. Some studies also suggest that capsaicin also boosts your body’s ability to break down fat and burn energy.
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It Improves Heart Health
Spicy foods also help in breaking down the fats in food which can help in boosting your heart health and reduce the risk of diseases like high blood pressure, cholesterol troubles and Type 2 diabetes. Recently a study conducted by the University of Vermont found that people who consume chile peppers or culinary fire eaters are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular issues such as stroke and heart attacks.
How To Spice Up Your Life?
We are sorry but it made for the perfect opportunity for a pun! But for reals, if you wish to spice up your life… we mean, food then we have a few tips.
If you are not in the habit of eating spicy foods then we would recommend you to take it slow.
You don’t have to aim for the spiciest chilli right in the beginning. Overdoing it might trigger diarrhea or cause ulcers.
If you start eating spicy foods and keep at it your tolerance levels will increase over a period of time and you can have fun experimenting with recipes that feature peppers.
Well, that is all about how is spicy food good for health and how can you add spice in your life. If you would like to know more about it or want a customised diet plan which features chilli as one of the primary ingredients then you can get in touch with our expert nutritionists with FITFEAST and do the same.