10 hidden benefits of eating spicy food that will make all spicy food lovers happy AF

Last Updated on 2016-06-23 , 12:27 pm

Spicy food lovers rejoice! Finally more reasons for us to indulge in the sensational spices that makes our food so much tastier and exciting.

Some fans of non-spicy food would ask “why would you torture yourself by eating that buffalo chicken wing that’s burning your tongue, making you sweat buckets and eyes tear up?”

While reaching for the next piece, we would reply saying that its shiok, we love the sensation that chillies provide or because we crave the taste of spice.

Now, we finally have another reason to defend our spiced foods: spicy food is healthy for us!

It protects our hearts
Studies have shown that people who consume spicy food are at a lesser risk of getting heart attacks and strokes. Reason might be because chilli peppers can reduce the bad cholesterol and capsacin, the burning sensation you feel after eating a McSpicy helps to fight inflammation in our bodies.

It lessens our blood pressure
Chilli peppers contains Vitamin C and A which does a good job in strengthening the muscles of our heart. Plus our blood flow increases through the heat of spicy food resulting in a stronger cardiovascular system in our body.

It helps to clear your runny nose
This one is pretty common, if you’re having a runny nose and getting irritated by the multiple pills that you have to consume. Try adding a pince of cayenne pepper to your tea and breathing it in, you’ll find that your blocked nose is cleared in no time. Hot peppers actually protects the nasal membrane as well, keeping clear of any germs that may enter your body.

It makes us happier
Spicy food plays a part in keeping us happy and it’s not all because we are getting food! Spicy food causes our brain to produce hormones that are “happy” which results in lesser risk of depression, stress and anxiety. So the next time you’re getting some roti prata, remember to ask for more curry please!

It helps us sleep better
Studies have shown that people who consume spicy food are able to fall asleep easier and able to wake up the next day with more energy! Be right back while I finish this spicy taco for tomorrow’s productivity.

It helps to prevent cancer
According to some medical experts and their research, the sensation of capsacin is spicy enough to be comparable to the effects of some cancer-killing drugs. It is said to be so effective it’ll slow down the growth of tumors as well.

It helps in weight loss
Capsacin in spicy food comes to the rescue again! Not that we’re complaining. The works of capsacin helps in shedding some weight by speeding up our metabolism and burning calories. According to a study in the New York Times, consuming a plate of spicy food increases your body to burn calories by a whole 8%!

It’s a pain reliever
Similar to how pain reliever patches work, the spicy sensation, capsacin helps to send signals to your brain through your nerves, killing any pain that you might be feeling. It’s a pretty damn good hero, if you ask me.

It helps us to digest better
Having spicy food would increase the hydrochloric secretion of your stomach. To put it in simpler terms, consuming spicy food would lower the amount of gastric acid in our stomach, lessen any stomach bleeding and prevent any stomach ulcers. More spicy food for a better stomach? Bring me a plate of Mee Goreng, please!

It helps us to breathe better
Similar to the logic of how spicy food can help clear your nasal passages, consuming spicy food can help people with asthma, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory cases.

While spicy food is oh-so-shiok, please remember to consume them moderately. Some people might have sensitive stomachs or a lower level of tolerance for these foods so do be careful! Too much of a good thing is a bad thing after all.