Love spicy food? Turns out your love of peppery, hot food is good for your health! Read on to discover 5 surprising health benefits of eating spicy food!
They Help Combat Bad Cholesterol
According to a study in 2012 by the American Chemical Society, capsaicin helps break down “bad” cholesterol and maintains your levels of “good” cholesterol. The study concluded that capsaicin “lower cholesterol levels by reducing accumulation of cholesterol in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion in the feces.”
They’re Known To Relieve Sinus Pain
You may already be aware that a spicy meal can relieve sinus pressure and science has the evidence to back it up! A 2011 study showed that nasal sprays that contain capsaicin provided satisfactory relief almost instantaneously and continued to provide relief for up to an hour.
They’ve Been Linked To A Longer Lifespan
According to a 2017 study by the Larner College of Medicine at The University of Vermont, individuals who have a diet filled with spicy foods tend to live longer. Over the span of 23 years researchers looked at 16,000 participants. Over the course of the study they discovered that the participants who regularly ate chili peppers saw a 13 percent decline in their probability of an early death.
How is eating a lot of chili peppers linked to longer life expectancy? It’s believed that a diet high in chili peppers can protect your heart against heart attacks and strokes! The scientists also stated that capsaicin “also possesses antimicrobial properties that may indirectly affect the host by altering the gut microbiota.”
They Relax Your Blood Vessels
Another reason that capsaicin may be linked to longevity is because it helps keep the blood flowing! Cell Press released a study in 2010 that showed the relationship between consuming chili peppers and reducing blood pressure. Capsaicin relaxes the blood vessels by inhibiting genes that can contract our blood vessels! As a result your blood vessels widen and lower your blood pressure.
They Curb The Desire For Salt
If you love to load your favorite dishes up with spicy condiments, you may already know that a spicy plate reduces the desire for salt! A 2017 study by the American Heart Association found that individuals who seasoned their food with peppers had a higher sensitivity to salt. This higher sensitivity lead to a decreased desire for salt, lower sodium intake and lower blood pressure.
