10 Scientific Reasons Why Spicy Food Is Good For Your Health

Many of you, after reading the title, might think I am joking. Well, that is pretty obvious because nowadays doctors, dietitians, the food magazines and, obviously, our parents ask us to have healthy foods which are less spicy and less oily. Even the chefs also try to make new recipes that are less spicy yet tasty at the same time. But we Indians literally crave for spicy foods, and that is something we have in our blood. The extra spicy north Indian dishes make our mouth water every time we think about it.

So, here are few facts about spicy foods which will make your guilty bite not so guilty as they have certain health benefits:

1. Turmeric in Indian curry can help reduce pain

Turmeric, along with black pepper which is also used in most of the curries, absorbs Curcumin (an anti cancer element) in our body. Also black pepper can trigger TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1) which helps in reducing pain especially neuropathic pain. Curcumin can also help in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and other inflammatory conditions. And this combination of black pepper and turmeric also helps to fight high cholesterol levels and diabetes.

2. Spicy foods also help in weight loss as it increases metabolism

The main compound in chilies, capsaicin, has a thermogenic effect that helps in burning calories. Studies say that it burn calories for 20 minutes after having a meal. Jalapeno can also do this trick and help in making your diet plan for weight loss.

3. It helps in reducing stress and depression

It triggers the production of serotonin in your body which is also known as feel-good hormones. So, next time you have a cup of tea, add shreds of ginger in it or you can also add red pepper flakes to fry chicken and add a little chili sauce to it.

4. Chili peppers are good for your heart

As I mentioned earlier, pepper can trigger TRPV1 (transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1) which in turn triggers the release of nitric oxide and lowers blood pressure. Chili peppers reduce the harmful effects of low density lipoprotein and keep your heart at good condition. Capsaicin is also well known for improving blood vessel functions.

5. Cinnamon is also very helpful as it boosts our metabolism and regulates blood sugar level

So, it is good for diabetic and pre-diabetic people. It reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) and overall cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. It also increases glucose metabolism by 20 times which improves your blood sugar level.

6. It helps in boosting your sex life

And why do I already feel that people with strict diet plans are about to change their food chart? Studies say that ginseng and saffron helps improving your sexual performance. Ginseng triggers your energy level and also speed metabolism. It is also well known for losing weight.

7. Spices like mustard (belonging to cruciferous family) help in burning calories

Mustard boosts the metabolic rate by about 25% which means more calories will be burnt. So, if you consume 3/5 spoon of mustard seeds daily it will actually help in burning extra 45 calories an hour.

8. Helps in improving sleep patterns

People consuming more spicy foods can fall asleep more easily and has more energy throughout the day. So, the insomniacs can try consuming more spicy foods and see if it works or not.

9. It also helps improving your breathing pattern

Hot peppers act as expectorant which helps people with asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, sinusitis and other respiratory disorders.

10. Lowers the risk of early death

Spicy food can actually lower the risk of early deaths as it helps in maintaining a proper blood sugar level, reduces the chances of cancer and heart diseases.

But before you get overexcited about having spicy foods every now and then, here’s a little note for you.

Avoid spicy meals before bedtime as it can cause indigestion and take forever to fall asleep. Spicy foods can also cause urinary tract infection, so you can understand consuming too much of it is also not good.

So, don’t have too much spicy food on a regular basis and stay happy and healthy.