The Surprising Reason Why Spicy Foods Are Good for You, According to Experts

Is spicy food harmful? While a powerful chili may make you sweat and cry like you’ve ingested a fiery poison, spicy foods and their active ingredient, capsaicin, can be beneficial, according to experts. Of course, you can overdo it — one man ruptured his esophagus after eating a ghost pepper — but spicy foods are generally nourishing, helping you potentially lose weight, fight cancer cells, and even live longer.

Related:We Tried 20 Popular Hot Sauces. This Is the Best

A 2015 study found that participants who ate spicy foods between six and seven times a week saw a 14% decrease in mortality compared to participants who ate spicy foods less than once a week. While the study’s authors didn’t definitively identify the cause, they note that capsaicin has anti-obesity, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Related:Spicy Fast-Food Menu Items to Order If You're Feeling Brave

The culprits behind painful stomach ulcers, the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), irritate the stomach’s lining. Capsaicin, on the other hand, improves blood flow, inhibits acid secretion, and stimulates neurons that signal for protection. So contrary to popular belief, don’t shy away from spice for fear of ulcers. 

Related: 16 Health Problems You’re Not Getting Help For — But Should

If you feel the burn at the gym and in the kitchen, you could be on your way to dropping a few pounds. A meta-analysis that looked at 90 studies found that the group of chemicals found in chili peppers could reduce appetite, increase energy expenditure, and reduce abdominal fat. The study’s authors write that while spicy foods aren’t a “magic bullet,” they might play a role in a weight loss program.

For more great health tips, please sign up for our free newsletters.

Growing evidence shows that the body’s microbiome can affect everything from your heart to your mental health. Capsaicin could keep that gut bacteria in check, according to a 2020 study. While the mechanism isn’t fully understood, the study’s authors discuss capsaicin’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

In 2006, researchers found that capsaicin inhibited the growth of prostate cancer cells in mice, prompting the study’s authors to call for a potential clinical trial. Capsaicin cream has also been shown to help cancer patients deal with nerve pain.

If you’ve ever marveled at a chilehead’s penchant for suffering, know that the pain caused by spicy food is enjoyable. When you bite into a hot pepper, capsaicinoids interact with a protein that normally detects physical heat, which tells your brain that the pepper is hot (and painful). Those pain signals release endorphins, a pain-inhibiting hormone, and dopamine, the neurotransmitter for pleasure.

The link between spicy foods and hotter climates is in part because of spices’ antibacterial qualities, according to researchers from Cornell University. People who ate spicier foods in hotter climes — which are more prone to foodborne illnesses — were healthier, and so they passed down this knowledge. For instance, nearly every meat-based recipe calls for at least one spice in hotter parts of the world.

Spicy foods are packed with vital nutrients. Chili peppers, for instance, are abundant in vitamin C, B6, K1, and A, which promote a healthy immune system and healing, among other health benefits.