The benefits of chili for heart and brain health
Helps to lose weight (as part of a weight loss diet). And perhaps for this reason he is a faithful ally of our heart. In addition to being considered by many to be a treat for the palate, chili can be considered a serious option for protecting cardiovascular health. Various studies prove it. Therefore, even in a Mediterranean diet, chili pepper seems to play an important preventive role.
The properties of hot peppers
Frequent consumption of hot peppers reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular causes. A fact that the researchers observed regardless of the overall quality of the diet followed by each of the people observed. The outcome was also measured among those who generally followed a non-Mediterranean diet. A sign that, in all likelihood, “regular consumption of chili peppers can be considered beneficial to our health.” According to several published studies, chili peppers have antibacterial and vasodilating effects. But not only. It would also help keep cholesterol and blood pressure under control. And based on the conclusions of a study published in 2017 in the International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, it would be an element that you should never deprive yourself of during a weight loss diet (thanks to its potential positive effect on metabolism ). It contains elements that together could explain the reduction in cardiovascular risk. The benefits of chili derive from a combination of antioxidant substances present in it: vitamin C, carotenoids, polyphenols. But the main credit goes to capsaicin, the main molecule found in hot peppers and responsible for their spiciness.
Spicy is great, with tons of health benefits, but it’s not for everyone.
Although it has many beneficial properties, chili should be avoided in some cases. Those who suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoidal syndrome, peptic ulcers, and acute inflammatory bowel disease know this well. One of the first restrictions placed on their diet is precisely the exclusion of spicy foods and spices in general. In addition, hot pepper should not be used when preparing dishes for allergy sufferers and children: their digestive system is too delicate and can be irritated. Caution is advised when consuming hot dishes in pregnant women.
Spicy foods are one of those things that we either love or hate. There is often no middle ground between them. Like many things you eat, hot sauce can have a big impact on your body and health. See how it affects your general condition:
You may feel pain in your tongue
If you’ve ever eaten a very spicy chili pepper, you know that you can feel a burning pain. This is due to capsaicin binding to receptors on your tongue that sense temperature and indicate pain. Don’t worry, this is only temporary.
Your temperature rises
Whenever you eat something spicy, like hot sauce, your body undergoes thermogenesis, the process by which your internal temperature rises. This makes you sweat, your face may turn red, because the smallest blood vessels in the body dilate.
Your mood is lifted
Shortly after your tongue starts to feel the burn, your nervous system, responding to the cry for help it’s getting from the rest of your body, releases endorphins that boost your mood. This helps the body more easily overcome the pain of burning in its mouth.
Your heart will start beating faster
Spicy increases the amount of blood flowing to the stomach, which causes the heart rate to increase and increases blood circulation throughout the body. This is in response to the heat you just absorbed.
You may get heartburn
If you are prone to heartburn, one of the things you should avoid eating is spicy foods. The initial sensation is not actually nausea, but the capsaicin that binds to receptors in the esophagus, causing heartburn. Just in case, keep antacids handy.
Seasonal allergies will dissipate
In an interview with HuffPost, Dr. Clifford W. Bassett says that the capsaicin in cayenne and chili peppers will help get rid of runny noses caused by allergies. So eat some chili the next time they call and see how it affects you.
Note: The article is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation or substitute for consultation with a specialist.
