10 Amazing Benefits of Spicy Foods

Spicy Foods comes with amazing health benefits such as combating inflammation, promoting weight loss, improving heart health, fighting cancer, supporting digestion, fighting flu, promoting good health and longevity, supporting brain health, and preventing diabetes.

Spicy food is becoming popular day by day and for a good reason. It is not just the thrill of testing your limits against the spices but also the fact that it is good for your health when consumed in moderation. Here we would like to put some stress on the word moderation as too much of anything is bad. Just like everything else nature has provided us to take nutrition from, spices too contrail elements and compounds that can help us in many ways. Consider eating spicy food from time to time to gain their benefits.

So, the next time you and your friends decide to order something that will make your eyes and nose run, remember it is good for you. As a matter of fact, many Koreans eat spicy food to deal with stress. They believe that when things are going rough, an extra dose of chili can help you relax. They consider it a healing food that aids in stress management.

10 Amazing Benefits of Spicy Foods

1. Spices Can Combat Inflammation

Scientists believe that inflammation may just be the cause of various chronic diseases. These include arthritis along with various heart diseases. Turmeric contains a compound named Curcumin that may reduce inflammation in your body. Inflammation does not just affect the heart and your knees but also your brain and causes scary diseases like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. Researchers have found that not only does Turmeric powder aid in preventing these diseases but also helps in regeneration of stem cells.

2. Spicy Food Can Help with Weight Loss

Various studies have shown that certain spices can increase the rate at which your body metabolizes food. Some spices can even suppress hunger and keep your appetite in control, some of these include cinnamon, peppers, chilies, turmeric, and cumin. It was found in a study conducted on mice that turmeric can even suppress the growth of fat tissue. So, if you are aiming to lose a few pounds, add a little chili to your meals to make your diet more effective.

3.  Spicy Food Can Improve Your Heart Health

Besides fighting inflammation with Capsaicin to reduce the risk of a heart attack or a stroke, hot peppers can also dissolve blood clots. According to researchers, hot peppers can help get rid of the LDL cholesterol in your body. High levels of LDL cholesterol in your body can be very harmful and can even lead to a heart attack. Include red peppers in your diet now and then to keep your heart healthy.

4. Spicy Food Can Help Fight Cancer

According to statistics, countries that have diets rich in capsaicin have lesser rates for certain cancers. Research has shown that the capsaicin found in chili peppers can slow down the growth of cancer cells. In some instances, it was also able to kill cancer cells. Include a healthy dose of chili peppers in your diet to prevent various forms of cancer.

5. Spices Are Good For Digestion

The long-held belief that spices can cause ulcers has been proven to be a myth. As a matter of fact, it is actually good for you because capsaicin can actually fight off the bacteria H. pylori, which is known to cause ulcers. The curcumin in turmeric can help in treating bowel syndrome and general digestive discomfort. When taken in moderation, they can actually aid in digesting food.

6. It Can Help Fight the Flu

The flu isn’t really that dangerous, but it can wreck your entire week. You cannot work properly, eat properly or even sleep properly because your sinuses are clogged, and you don’t feel well because of it.The capsaicin in chili peppers may make your eyes and nose run but it also improves your blood flow and increases metabolism. They help provide relief from symptoms of cold and flu by opening up nasal passages and decreasing discomfort in your body. Consider adding some chili to your soup for a faster recovery.

7. Spices Can Help You Live Longer

According to a research conducted between Harvard School of Public Health and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, on 500,000 participants, it was found that people who ate spicy food five or six times a day hade fourteen percent lower risk of dying at an earlier stage in life as opposed to those who did not eat spicy food. The research was conducted for over five years. So, add a few more years to your life by including some jalapenos to your diet.

8. Spices Are Good for Your Brain

The curcumin found in turmeric can not only prevent Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, but it can also uplift your mood. The compound can help reduce stress and even improve your memory function. Stress is a major problem these days, thankfully we have more awareness now and people take mental health seriously now. Include turmeric in your recipes to make sure you do not face these problems. In a study conducted by the University of California at Los Angeles revealed that curcumin can both improve your memory and make your mood better.

9. Spicy Food Can Make Get Rid of Pain

Some spicy foods can release serotonin in your body that decreases pain and makes you feel good. Our brain sends signals throughout the body using neurotransmitters. Substance P is a neuropeptide, found in our nerve cells that are responsible for carrying pain signal to our brain. The capsaicin present in chilies decreases inflammation and drains our body of Substance P. In ancient Indian medicine turmeric is even used as a way to heal wounds.

10. Spicy Food Can Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes isn’t always genetic and unavoidable. You can prevent type-2 diabetes by controlling your weight and insulin through the things you eat. According to research, hot chilies can decrease the insulin requirements of our body, consequently also reducing our chances of developing type-2 diabetes. Add chili peppers to your diet to make sure you do not have to suffer from the disease.

Conclusion

Adding spices to your food doesn’t just make it exotic or delicious; it also makes your food more nutritious and beneficial for you. However, you need to take spices in moderation because too much spice can be bad for you. Avoid spicy foods if you have ulcers or urinary tract infections as the spices can irritate those conditions. Remember whenever you take spices for medicinal reasons, your doctor should know about it. Talk to your healthcare provider and make sure that the substance would not harm you.