How does spicy food affect the body?

Nothing stimulates our taste buds like spicy food, but aside from making our sinuses clear and our eyes water, what other effects does spicy food have on our bodies? It turns out that quite a few and some of them can be really positive. It’s just important to note that in cases of indigestion or colitis or Crohn’s, spicy food can worsen the symptoms.Experts from the University Hospitals Medical Center in Cleveland have published new research that better explains the physiological response behind the burning sensation of hot peppers.

Capsaicin, the ingredient found in peppers that causes spiciness is an oil-like chemical compound that binds to pain receptors in the tongue and throughout the digestive system. The body’s attempt to cool down and clear the symptoms such as a runny nose, sweating and watery eyes leads to an increase in body temperature due to the effort to cool the body. “Capsaicin doesn’t burn you,” explains University Hospitals dietitian Jaina Metalonis. “It tricks your brain into thinking there is a change in temperature, and as a result we feel sensations of heat and pain.”

Metalonis stated that it is recommended to consume spicy foods in moderation. When capsaicin is digested, it can cause symptoms such as hiccups, throat swelling, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

life extender

A study showed that those who ate spicy food six times a week had a 14% reduced risk of dying prematurely compared to people who ate spicy food less than once a week. The benefits also included lowering cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease and better health of the stomach and intestines. Capsaicin is also the main ingredient in a number of pain relievers used to treat ailments from arthritis to fibromyalgia to headaches.

Losing weight and reducing the chance of cancer

Capsaicin has many benefits for metabolism, especially for weight loss. A 2014 research review showed that when people consumed capsaicin compounds before eating, they consumed 74 fewer calories during the meal. Another study found that consuming capsaicin resulted in burning about 50 extra calories per day.

A 2007 study showed that the family of molecules to which capsaicin belongs has the power to bind to proteins in tumor cells and kill them without harming the surrounding healthy cells. Another study showed that capsaicin activated receptors in cells in the intestinal lining of mice, thereby reducing their risk of developing tumors. Another 2006 study showed that capsaicin actually pushes prostate cancer cells to commit suicide. A 2015 Harvard University study found that people who ate chili peppers most days of the week experienced an 8% reduction in cancer risk.

improvement in mood

Similar to endorphins, those feel-good chemicals that are released when we exercise, ride a roller coaster, or laugh with a friend, capsaicin may have the same effect. According to research from Northwestern University, capsaicinoids trigger signals that trick the brain into thinking we are in pain. In response, the brain releases the pleasure-inducing chemicals to combat the perceived pain.