For years I have been fond of spicy food. It started as a child, when I always spread a layer of sambal on my peanut butter sandwich. As we started to travel more and eat from other cuisines more and more, my love for spicy food increased. At our house we now eat extremely spicy. Sambal from the supermarket is never spicy enough for us, so we go to the toko or order it online. Not only do we buy the most spicy sambals and sauces here, we also stock up on hot peppers, curry pastes, kimchi and wasabi. My mouth is already watering just thinking about this! But is all that spicy food good for you? We take a look at some reasons why spicy food is so healthy for you!
Healthy weight
Spicy food is often said to help with weight loss. But is that really the case? There is little evidence that spicy food can actually cause weight loss. What studies do show is that people who eat a lot of spicy food are less likely to be overweight or obese.
Metabolism
The substance that gives hot peppers their spiciness is capsaicin. Certain studies show that this substance has the ability to slightly increase the combustion of the body. Don’t expect miracles, but it certainly can’t hurt!
Less pull
There is some evidence that capsaicin acts on the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that regulates feelings of hunger). According to this theory, spicy food would reduce appetite and better control your food intake during the day.
Heart and vascular disease
Research at the University of Vermont found that people who regularly eat chili peppers had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Think of having a heart attack or stroke. It could also have a beneficial effect on high blood pressure, cholesterol and type two diabetes.
Microbiome
More and more is being learned about the importance of a healthy microbiome on your overall health. By eating a varied diet and regularly opting for fermented products (such as yogurt, soy sauce, kimchi, sauerkraut, etc.) you can support your microbiome in a healthy way. Capsaicin is also said to have a beneficial effect on intestinal health.
healthy diet
Of course, to live a healthy life you need more than just spicy food! Combine the hot peppers with healthy food and make sure you get enough exercise. A hamburger with chili pepper may be tasty, but it will never be healthy ???? Do you have additional medical questions or are you in doubt about this information? In that case, always contact your general practitioner or treating medical specialist.
To enjoy
What is of course also very important is to eat food that you enjoy! Do you not feel well after eating spicy food or do you simply not like it? Then we advise you to leave it alone. Your health does not stand by eating spicy food, so don’t worry if you don’t do this regularly.
Join the conversation
What is your favorite spicy dish? And do you mainly choose dishes from Asian cuisine or do you also go for spicy dishes from other parts of the world? We are very curious. Join the conversation in the comments below this article. We think it’s fun!
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Image: Jonathan Niederhoffer via Unsplash