Eating spicy food is not just about adding flavour and heat to your meals. Research has shown that consuming spicy foods can have potential health benefits. From improving digestion to reducing inflammation, spicy foods may offer several advantages for your body. In this sense, incorporating spicy ingredients into your diet can not only add a kick to your meals but also contribute to promoting your overall well-being.
Capsaicin found in chilli peppers works topically to relieve pain from arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, psoriasis, or other nerve pain. It also works for pain not related to these conditions, like muscle soreness.
Although there are many different types of hot peppers, most of them have similar health advantages, largely because they all often contain capsaicin and other nutrients. Here’s what makes spicy food—especially chilli peppers—so good for your immune system, metabolism, and more.
Fights Free Radicals And Inflammation
Some of the most beneficial plant substances are those found in hot peppers, such as carotenoids like lutein, capsanthin, and zeaxanthin, as well as a variety of flavonoids like quercetin and luteolin. These compounds are antioxidants, which means they have the ability to combat disease-causing free radicals, dangerous germs, and inflammation all over the body.
Supports A Healthy Immune System
It is well known that chilli peppers are a superior source of both vitamin A and vitamin C. Also an immune-stimulating antioxidant, vitamin A is well known for its role in protecting and preserving eye health. The same immune- and antioxidant effects are provided by vitamin C, which also aids in iron absorption and promotes healthy-looking skin.
Maintains And Improves The Gut Microbiome
Almost every function of the body is favourably impacted by capsaicin’s favourable effects on the gut flora. Moreover, this substance has been shown to help healthy digestion. According to research, capsaicin can also increase alkaline and mucus secretions while decreasing acid production to help prevent and heal stomach ulcers.
Keeps Heart Disease At Bay
Consuming foods high in capsaicin has heart-healthy advantages according to a review in the journal Nutrients. Eating capsaicin causes the TRPV1 channel to open up, protecting our organs from cardiovascular disease. Consuming chilli peppers was linked to a lower chance of dying from heart disease, according to another study that was finished in 2021. (and cancer). Blood pressure is a major contributor to heart disease, and TRPV1 aids in controlling it.
Protects And Promotes Brain Health
Capsaicin aids in addressing issues with our brains’ overall health, and was found to be helpful in treating dysphagia (the difficulty swallowing) after a stroke and useful in delaying impairment and neurodegeneration in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, according to a Scientific review.
So the next time you are at the supermarket, grab a bag of fresh chilli peppers to reap the many benefits of this spice!
THE LIFESTYLE COLLECTIVE 