10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Hot Peppers You Should Know

Spicy food is enjoyed all over the world because spices add an incredible amount of flavour to what you eat. Cultures all over the world have dishes that excite and stimulate your palate with spices and add heat and taste to everyday ingredients. But if you like spicy food like chillies, curries and hot sauces, there is so much more to look forward to.

Hot peppers like cayenne pepper, jalapeño, habanero and chilli are used in various kinds of dishes to bring out the flavour in your recipes. These peppers contain a rich component called capsaicin, which have innumerable health benefits and can fight against certain diseases.

According to the New York Times, spicy food ingredients such as horseradish and hot peppers may have the ability to treat the symptoms of common cold. The hot peppers also contain cancer-fighting antioxidants that may help prevent or slow down the growth of cancerous cells.

Recent research shows that adding some spice to your meal can provide more health benefits than previously thought. Yes, you heard it right — in addition to making your taste buds sizzle, spicy foods comes with some perks. These include:

 

1. Relieves Headaches

Did you know that eating hot peppers can relieve you from headaches? Hot peppers contain capsaicin that is known to effectively reduce or stop cluster headaches, migraines as well as sinus headaches. It reduces the inflammation and pain by draining Substance P (key transmitter of creating pain and inflammation) that carries pain signals to the brain.

 

2. Arthritis Relief

Turmeric (haldi) reduces joint inflammation and bone destruction. Circumin present in turmeric helps to alleviate the pain associated with arthritis.

 

3. Prevents Cancer

Many studies have shown that regular consumption of chillies and curry decrease the risk of cancer. Capsaicin slows the growth of cancer cells and in some cases, even causes the cancer cells to die off without harming the surrounding cells. In countries where diets are traditionally high in capsaicin like India and Mexico, people tend to have lower rates of some cancers.

 

4. Longer Life

Jalapeño peppers will add years to your life if you consume them more often. People who eat hot peppers six or seven times in a week will have a 14 percent lower risk of dying prematurely. Hot peppers aid in longevity and will definitely help you to live longer. Happy living!

 

5. Heart Health

The capsaicin component in hot peppers reduces the cholesterol levels and triglycerides, which further helps in protecting the heart. It also helps to reduce chronic inflammation that increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases. People who consume hot peppers more often have lower chances of heart attack and stroke.

 

6. Aids Weight Loss

Hot peppers contain capsaicin, which can speed up metabolism and help the body burn calories faster. This is because capsaicin increases your body temperature and contributes to an increase in your heart rate. Furthermore, studies have shown that people who eat spicy foods eat smaller portions, which can reduce their calorie intake.

 

7. Contains Vitamins And Minerals

All kinds of hot peppers are excellent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, choline and vitamin B6. Hot peppers are also loaded with calcium, potassium, phosphorous and magnesium and are a good source of fibre too.

 

8. Contains Antioxidants

Hot peppers contain phytochemicals, an antioxidant that help in lowering free radicals and reduce the risk of heart diseases, neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Phytochemicals also help in reducing the chances of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

 

9. Relief From Indigestion

Don’t think that hot peppers cause gastric problems. It’s true that hot peppers bring relief from digestion problems, thanks to the capsaicin in hot peppers. Capsaicin prevents indigestion and eliminates the bad bacteria and energizes the gut to produce juices, which is essential to calm the stomach.

 

10. Mood And Stress Booster

Chillie peppers boost the level of endorphins and serotonin, both of which dull pain and give us a feeling of wellbeing. They can act as depression fighters and powerful stress relievers.