Because of how unsettling they are for your taste buds, a lot of people assume that spicy foods are unhealthy. However, this isn’t generally true—in fact, they’re packed with many health benefits. Here are some of these surprising health benefits of spicy foods that can convince you to consider eating them more often.
Aids Digestion
Contrary to popular belief, spicy foods can aid in digestion, not mess it up. Capsaicin stimulates the stomach lining to produce protective juices, reducing the risk of ulcers. Additionally, spicy foods increase the secretion of digestive enzymes, making it easier for your body to break down food.
Enhances Mood
Many people are aware that eating spicy foods triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. These endorphins create a sense of well-being and happiness, acting as a natural mood booster. This can be particularly helpful for those dealing with stress or depression, yet despite knowing this, people rarely use spice as a remedy.
Supports Weight Loss
In addition to boosting metabolism, spicy foods can help you feel fuller for longer, helping you to lose weight. This is due to how capsaicin reduces appetite, leading to lower calorie intake. So, including spicy dishes in your meals might assist in weight management by curbing overeating and snacking, but be careful not to eat high-calorie dishes, as this will counteract the benefits.
Boosts Metabolism
As the NIH points out, one of the biggest health benefits of eating spicy foods is that they can increase your metabolic rate. Capsaicin, the compound that gives chili peppers their heat, triggers a process called thermogenesis, which helps burn calories faster. This means you could potentially lose weight by simply adding a bit of spice to your diet.
Reduces Inflammation
Capsaicin also has anti-inflammatory properties, allowing it to inhibit the production of certain neuropeptides associated with inflammatory processes. This can be beneficial for those suffering from conditions like arthritis, helping to alleviate pain and swelling, so it’s worth eating some spicy foods if you suffer from joint pain.
Improves Heart Health
Despite raising your heart rate in the short term, spicy foods can actually improve cardiovascular health. Studies suggest that capsaicin can lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease; this is because it promotes better blood circulation, helping to keep your arteries clear and healthy, reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Boosts Immunity
Spicy foods are often rich in vitamins and antioxidants that boost the immune system. For instance, chili peppers are high in vitamin C, which is essential for maintaining a healthy immune response, and hot curries contain all sorts of healthy vegetables, spices, and sometimes even fruits, helping your body to fend off illnesses and infections more effectively.
Relieves Pain
Not only does capsaicin help reduce pain from inflammation, but it’s also good for pain relief as a whole. It works by desensitizing sensory receptors in the skin, providing relief from conditions such as arthritis, shingles, and neuropathy. Eating spicy foods can also provide a similar, though less intense, analgesic effect.
Improves Blood Circulation
As was briefly mentioned earlier, spicy foods will do wonders for your blood circulation. They promote the dilation of blood vessels, improving blood flow throughout the body. This increased circulation can lead to better oxygenation of tissues and more efficient delivery of nutrients, as well as generally helping your body to repair itself.
Promotes Longevity
Believe it or not, those who eat spicy foods frequently have a lower risk of death from various causes. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of spicy foods contribute to overall better health, and considering that spice is often paired with healthy vegetables, this is even more the case. So, consider cooking more spicy dishes for a longer life.
Reduces Cancer Risk
Some research indicates that capsaicin has anti-cancer properties, as it may help slow the growth of cancer cells and even cause them to die. While more studies are needed, incorporating spicy foods into your diet could potentially lower the risk of certain cancers, and they certainly won’t hurt to try.
Clears Sinuses
You probably already figured this out from experience, but eating spicy foods can help clear nasal congestion. Capsaicin acts as a natural decongestant by thinning mucus and promoting its drainage, providing relief from sinusitis and other respiratory conditions, and making it easier to breathe.
Improves Sleep
Another surprising health benefit of spicy foods that you didn’t know is that consuming them might improve your sleep quality. It can help regulate body temperature and promote better sleep patterns, and the release of endorphins after eating spicy foods can also induce a state of relaxation, helping you fall asleep more easily.
Enhances Respiratory Health
Yet another benefit of capsaicin is that it can encourage improved respiratory function. The heat from capsaicin helps open airways, which can be beneficial for those with asthma or chronic bronchitis. This can lead to easier breathing and better overall lung function, so it doesn’t just help in terms of your sinuses.
Boosts Mental Clarity
Due to the increase in blood flow and endorphin release from spicy food, it may actually enhance your mental clarity and cognitive function. Many people use it to improve their concentration and mental focus and even to protect themselves against age-related cognitive decline.
Promotes Gut Health
It may sound counterintuitive, but spicy foods can promote a healthy gut microbiome. Capsaicin encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract, and a balanced gut microbiome is crucial for digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall immune health. It may lead to guy problems if you only eat it occasionally, but once you get used to it, you’ll see benefits.
Enhances Flavor Without Extra Calories
Spicy foods, especially chili peppers, are excellent for adding intense flavor to your meals without the need for extra calories. Spices work wonders for this, too, making your meals significantly more satisfying without the need for fats or sugars. This can be really useful for those trying to reduce their calorie intake without sacrificing flavor.
Improves Skin Health
The antimicrobial properties of capsaicin can work magic on your skin health, with topical application of capsaicin being used to treat certain skin conditions. Furthermore, spicy foods may help reduce acne by controlling bacteria on the skin, and the anti-inflammatory effects also help keep skin clear and healthy. So, consuming spicy food could be the perfect addition to your skincare routine.
Acts as a Natural Preservative
Few people realize that the antimicrobial properties of capsaicin help prevent food spoilage, allowing it to act as a natural preservative. This can lead to a healthier diet, as you’ll no longer be relying on artificial additives to preserve your food.
Boosts Endurance
Due to all of the health benefits listed so far, spicy foods can improve physical endurance. The increased metabolism and better blood circulation help enhance athletic performance, not to mention the pain-relieving properties of capsaicin, which help to reduce muscle soreness, allowing for quicker recovery after exercise.
Enhances Food Safety
You might be surprised to learn that adding spices to your food can improve food safety. Many spices, such as chili peppers and turmeric, have antibacterial properties that can reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. So, chili peppers and spices don’t just make your meals more flavorful but also safer to consume.