Spicy Foods – The Risks and Benefits Of This

What are the risks and benefits involved in eating spicy foods? Find out some below!

Spicy foods are many people’s favorites because of the different kick it has and here are the benefits and risks of eating this.

Are you the kind who always embeds your food with sriracha for that added kick and flavor? Do you slather everything with Tabasco and feel sad about eating without that peppery taste?

You must really love spicy foods and the good thing about them is that there are a lot of benefits to health that this kind of food can bring.

Every food comes with advantages and disadvantages. And as for the spiciness, people have different levels of tolerance when it comes to this. Spices are actually widely used in many cuisines.

Spicy Foods
Photo from Eat This Not That

Peppers, garlic, curry, jalapenos, Serrano peppers, and hot sauce can all bring that fiery blast when consumed.

When consumed in moderation, here are the benefits we can gain from eating this:

  1. According to a 2015 study from Harvard and China National Center for Disease Control and Prevention, consuming spicy eats once a day for six or seven days a week can lower the mortality rates by 14 percent.
  2. Spices like cumin, cinnamon, turmeric, peppers, and chilies can help boost metabolism.
  3. Turmeric has curcumin, a compound that may work against inflammation, and ginger and garlic have anti-inflammatory properties.
  4. A UCLA study found that capsaicin, an active component found in chili peppers, showed prevention in the growth of prostate cancer cells in mice. The healthy cells were not harmed.
  5. Spice helps kill bacteria because of the powerful antioxidants and antimicrobial properties it has.

Spicy can also aid weight loss because of its capsaicin and it may help in suppressing cravings and appetite.

Meanwhile, as stated above, foods have their advantages and disadvantages and these are the risks of eating spicy:

  • Excessive consumption may cause stomach pain and irritation.
  • It has a burning sensation which may also cause irritation in the tongue.
  • It may cause skin rashes if you eat without any protection.
  • It can worsen symptoms of GERD or acid reflux.
  • Too much spice can cause hallucinations but this happens rarely. This is because of the endorphins release and eating too much may lead to a chemical rush.

What can you say about this? Let us know!

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