The Health Benefits of Spicy Foods

Everyone has their own preferred taste. Some people enjoy sour foods so much that their teeth feel weak, while others prefer spicy foods to the point of tears and a runny nose. Research has found that one particular flavor is the healthiest. Which flavor is it?

This study covered nearly 500,000 Chinese individuals aged between 30 and 80. The research indicates that people who prefer spicy foods have a lower risk of death, as well as a reduced likelihood of developing cancer and heart disease.

So, how should one consume spicy foods appropriately? Eating spicy foods every other day can reduce the mortality rate by 14 percent, and the chances of developing cancer and heart disease also decrease accordingly.

The health benefits of eating spicy foods

1. Promotes blood circulation: Many people are wary of spicy foods, but they have significant medicinal value. In traditional Chinese medicine, consuming spicy foods in moderation can help the body eliminate dampness and phlegm. This can alleviate a series of discomforts such as cold intolerance, frostbite, and vascular headaches.
2. Enhances appetite: Capsaicin, found in chili peppers, can significantly improve appetite and help expel residual gases in the digestive tract, thereby treating bad breath to some extent.
3. Reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke: A certain level of spiciness can prevent arteriosclerosis and significantly reduce the formation of blood clots, thereby lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease.
4. Relives colds: The active substance capsaicin in chili peppers helps dilute nasal mucus, which can clear nasal congestion caused by colds, making breathing easier and aiding in recovery.
5. Protects the heart: Regular consumption of spicy foods like chili peppers can soften blood vessels and prevent arteriosclerosis, thus protecting our delicate hearts.
6. Protects the skin: When your tongue lightly touches chili peppers, the rich carotenoids enter the body, promoting the formation of vitamin A, which protects the skin. Additionally, the high antioxidant content in chili peppers is 40 times that of apples and 12 times that of oranges, which helps maintain skin elasticity.
7. Helps prevent gallstones: Regular consumption of green peppers can effectively prevent gallstones. The abundant vitamin C in green peppers can convert cholesterol in the body into bile acids, reducing the likelihood of developing gallstones. Consuming more green peppers can help alleviate the condition of those already suffering from gallstones.
8. Aids in digestion: Remember, only moderate consumption of spicy foods can aid digestion. A moderate amount of spiciness mildly stimulates the stomach and intestines, promoting peristalsis and the secretion of digestive juices.
9. Dispels cold and relieves joint pain: Capsaicin in chili peppers and allicin in garlic can stimulate nerve cells, blocking neurotransmitters that transmit pain, thereby reducing pain.

Precautions when eating spicy foods

Consider your constitution; thus, you can eat more spicy foods if prone to cold hands and feet. Sour and spicy are better than numbing and spicy; vinegar can reduce internal heat with spicy food, while Sichuan peppers in spicy foods can increase it.

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