Health Benefits of Spicy Foods

Published August 19th, 2019

We all know that not everyone loves spicy foods. Some may find it unbearable, especially that fiery taste that you can feel in your mouth when you eat it. While others, still think that spicy foods can cause you harm, like heartburn, or acid reflux.

But did you know that eating spicy foods is, in fact, beneficial for you?

Here are a few good reasons to spice up your meals.

Benefits the Digestive Tract

Most of us have been told for years that spicy foods are bad especially for people with ulcers. Some even say that spicy foods result in an upset stomach.

But research says that capsaicin found in chili peppers has anti-irritant properties. It reduces the acidity in the digestive tract and kills the bacteria that causes an ulcer. So spicy foods are actually beneficial to people with ulcers. It also helps good digestion by producing saliva and stimulates gastric juices.

Capsaicin also has anti-oxidants properties which aid in reducing upset stomach.

Helps in Weight Loss

There are now several studies that show that eating spicy foods can help you lose weight.

The capsaicin found in chili peppers speeds up your metabolism and triggers thermogenesis. A process where it creates heat from burning fat. Capsaicin is like mimicking the fat-burning exercise. So when you eat spicy foods, even while you’re at rest, your body still burns calories.

Some studies show that spicy foods suppress your appetite. Once you eat spicy foods, it makes you feel satisfied after. So if you want a natural way of losing weight, adding up a little spice to your meal won’t hurt you.

Promotes a Healthy Heart

Lots of studies were already made about spices that prevent heart diseases.

Researches found that eating spicy foods lowers blood serum cholesterol. Thus, lessen the risk of having heart diseases such as heart attack, and stroke. It also helps in the dilation of blood vessels which helps in having good blood flow.

Decrease Cancer Risk

Experts say that Capsaicin has anti-cancer properties that slow and destroy cancer cells. One study even shows that capsaicin reduced the growth of cancer cells of the prostate.

Some even say that curcumin, a component found in turmeric, aids in preventing cell growth too. What’s great is that it’s not as spicy compare to eating chili peppers. So if you can’t tolerate extreme spicy foods, turmeric can be your other option.

Relieves Pain

You may notice that capsaicin is often used as an ingredient in pain relief creams and medications.

This is because capsaicin also acts as a pain reliever by dulling the body’s pain sensation. It targets the neurotransmitter called “chemical P” that acts as a pain signal of our body. This pain signal plays an important role in cases of hurt and injury.

Even in treating arthritis, eating spicy foods is often advised to aid in joint pain.