Did you know that spicy food is great for you? For those who love spicy food, that will be great news! But for those who are hesitant to have anything too warm, this list of benefits might just win you around.
There is a big misconception about spices and spiced foods, too; not all spices are hot, and just because something has a pinch of chilli in it doesn’t mean it is going to be spicy.
Photo by Ratul Ghosh on Unsplash
A lot of the best flavors from the food we eat come from a range of herbs and spices – and it just so happens that they are good for us (including those hot ones!).
Let’s take a look at the benefits of eating spicy food.
Microbiome
Our gut is responsible for so much within our body, and that includes our mental health. When your gut needs a healthy boost, that can come from the spices you eat. Capsaicin, the bit that makes spice spicy, has been shown to encourage a healthy gut flora and have a positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract.
Heart Health
Everything we do should be something positive for our hearts – after all, we want to live a long and relatively active (whatever that means to you) life. Capsaicin has been shown to have a positive effect on high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and even diabetes.
Some research has shown that people who eat spices more often are less likely to die of heart-related issues like strokes and heart attacks.
Metabolism
There have been more than a few suggestions that eating spicy food can help with weight management and even loss. The capsaicin that is in spicy food helps the body burn more energy and break down fat better.
Along with some metabolic support, spices have been shown to prevent people from overeating by reducing hunger pangs and helping you to feel fuller faster.
How can I add more spice to my daily life?
You might be tempted to reach for spicy sauces, but these have a lot of sugar and salt in them (depending on the brand). So you’re better off making your own spice mixes and sauces.
For those who never eat anything spicy, you can start with a few grinds of pepper or a pinch of mild chilli in your next meal. For those who enjoy spicy food, learning how to make chicken jalfrezi is a must! The tolerance you have for spicy food will increase over time, so even if you start with a little pinch for now, you can slowly increase it until you find your sweet spot.
The idea isn’t that the food is so spicy that it ‘burns’ your mouth or makes you uncomfortable (unless you like it), but that you get layers of flavors that are elevated and improved with the warmth of the spices.
There are so many different cuisines around the world to try, from delicious Arrabiata pasta dishes to the sushi dipped in wasabi: How To Eat Around The World At Home – Tabbys Pantry.