Spice Up Your Life

It’s time to spice up your life – today is National Hot Sauce Day! There are so many varieties of hot sauce and they are a staple in the culinary cultures of many countries throughout the world.

There is a reason behind this – hot sauce has many health benefits! Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which causes the burning sensation you feel after eating them. But capsaicin also can also help to alleviate pain by depleting the body’s supply of Substance P, a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals to the brain.

Weight loss – Spicy foods have been shown to help with weight loss. Capsaicin helps increase your core temperature which increases metabolism and helps burn calories faster. Research has shown that it could increase your metabolism by up to 5 percent. A recent study also showed that people consume about 75 fewer calories after eating food with red chili peppers compared to eating bland food.

Depression – Capsaicin has been shown to work as an endorphin. The body produces endorphins, like serotonin, in response to the heat, which it mistakes for pain. This makes you feel better and decreases the risk for depression or stress.

Cancer Prevention – Capsaicin works as an antioxidant, protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals that can cause cancer. In lab studies, Capsaicin, an active component of chili peppers, has been shown to slow and destroy cancer cells.

Heart Disease – Chili peppers reduce the damaging effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is your bad cholesterol. And capsaicin helps fight inflammation, which has been proven as a risk factor for heart issues.

The vitamin A and C found in these plants may help strengthen the heart muscle walls, and the heat of the peppers increases blood flow through your body. All of these factors working together may help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.