A hot new study hit the news last week with the press reporting that spicy curries can make you live longer! Great news if you’re a fan of hot food but before you ring for your vindaloo it’s worth taking a quick look at the research and see what it actually means.

The large study, published in the British Medical Journal, looked at nearly 500,000 adults in China and examined the consumption of spicy foods with mortality. They found a 14 percent lower risk in total mortality for those eating spicy food nearly every day and nearly as much protection in those eating spices just twice a week. The protection was not only against heart disease but also included cancer and respiratory disease.

Despite the drawbacks of studies of this type and despite other factors such as the fact that people who eat hot food tend to also eat other beneficial spices and herbs and to drink more water and green tea (known to be protective against many diseases) the study does add weight to the growing argument that spicy food is very good for us.

Chilli peppers contain a substance called capsaicin that gives them their heat. Capsaicin has been heavily researched revealing many potential benefits including being antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cancer protective, helping to combat obesity and detoxification properties.

Benefits of capsaicin

  • Capsaicin has been shown to reduce the risk of tumours. Research shows that it suppresses the growth of cancerous prostate cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. It has also been shown to be effective against breast, pancreatic and bladder cancer cells.
  • More and more research is pointing to capsaicin in the fight to combat obesity. Capsaicin has been found to have a thermogenic effect on our bodies meaning it helps to speed up our metabolism and lowers fat storage. What’s more it can help decrease ghrelin, our hormone that tells us to eat more so we feel full whilst eating less!
  • Ironically capsaicin is widely used topically for pain relief. It is available as creams and primarily used for treating the pain associated with shingles, arthritis, psoriasis and eczema.
  • It can lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and protecting against inflammation.
  • Capsaicin helps to regulate blood sugar levels after a meal with research showing that less insulin is required after a meal containing chilli.
  • Cardiovascular benefits including a reduction of cholesterol and capsaicin helps to protect cholesterol and triglycerides from oxidation
  • Capsaicin is a ‘warming’ substance which works to break up mucus and congestion in the body – great for detoxification.
  • Fights inflammation in the body and may be helpful for inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, psoriasis and diabetes.
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So adding some spice to your meals may not only make them taste better, but may also make you healthier. And to get the most benefit opt for hotter peppers which contain more capsaicin. The hottest varieties include habanero and Scotch bonnet peppers. Other good sources are African birdseye, Thai peppers and cayenne pepper.

We frequently add chilli or cayenne pepper to our food and even to our smoothies; cayenne pepper is central to many cleanses and detoxification programmes for a good reason so it is well worth adding liberal amounts on a regular basis.

This study may have been slightly flawed in design but taking into account the thousands of studies that point to the healing benefits of capsaicin maybe we shouldn’t feel guilty about eating that curry.

prawn curry