Is hot spicy food healthy? Hot spicy food is supposed to make you happy, but is it healthy? We look at this question in this article and have good news for hot spicy food lovers.
1. What Makes Food Hot Spicy?
- Some spices contain substances that produce heat:
- In chili, the substance capsaicin is responsible for spiciness.
- Pepper becomes a hot spice because of the piperine it has.
- Mustard oil makes mustard, but also horseradish hot.
- The allicin contained in garlic provides an intense flavor.
- Gingerol gives ginger its spiciness.
See Also: Red Chili Benefits And Side Effects
2. Are Hot Spicy Food Healthy?
Hot spicy food is healthy if enjoyed in moderation. Only those who have problems with the stomach should avoid spicy food.
Hot spicy food indeed makes you happy. Scientifically, it can explain this quite simply. The aromatic substances in the spices create a burning pain on the tongue, which sends a pain signal to the brain. When pain felts, endorphins release into the bo, and these happy hormones relax and have a euphoric effect.
Spices generally have an antibacterial effect. However, that of hot sauces is once again significantly greater. Your immune system is robust, and you are better equipped against colds. Since the hot herbs also stimulate blood flow to the nasal mucous membranes, a blocked nose clears more quickly.
If you suffer from constipation, you can boost your digestion with hot spicy food. However, you should refrain from it if you have problems with the stomach. Hot spicy food increases stomach acid production and promotes heartburn.
Figure-conscious people will be pleased to know that losing weight is more accessible with hot spicy food. Hot spices regulate insulin levels, and a substantial increase in this hormone would promote weight gain. In addition, spicy food makes you sweat – for this, the body needs a lot of energy and burns fat all by itself.
Smaller studies now suggest that hot spicy food not only keeps the digestive system healthy and it probably also positively affects the cardiovascular system and possibly counteracts cancer development.
You can also check out the article “Healthy Foods for Breakfast – What should we eat and not?“.
3. What Are Capsaicinoids?
Chilies, in particular, are being used more and more frequently in American kitchens to flavor dishes. Even chocolate refine and chili varieties differ in color, size, aroma, and heat.
So-called capsaicinoids are responsible for the hotness of chilies. These include capsaicin, which accounts for two-thirds to three-quarters of the total capsaicinoid content.
Capsaicin excites the nerves in the oral mucosa, responsible for perceiving heat and pain stimuli. Thus, pungency is not a taste, such as salty, sweet, bitter, sour, or umami, but a pain response.
See Also: Best Healthy Chinese Food Options Takeout
4. Hotness Can Be Measured
The heat or hotness of chilies or chili products can determine through the Scoville Heat Units known as SHUs.
The Scoville unit indicates how many milliliters of water are needed to dilute the concentration so that it just tastes hot.
For example, to neutralize 1 milliliter of Tabasco sauce, like 4,500 SHU, you need 4.5 liters of water. We can also measure spiciness analytically, like 1 mg capsaicin/kg = 16.1 SHU.
5. Moderate The Usage Of Hot Spicy Foods For A Sensitive Stomach
People with sensitive stomachs should enjoy hot spicy foods with caution because stomach pain or diarrhea can result. Heartburn may aggravate by the stimulating effect of gastric juice production.
There may be a link between eating very spicy foods and cancer of the upper digestive organs. For example, eating very spicy food over a long time has been associated with esophageal cancer.
See Also: Which Foods Are Good For Diarrhea?
6. Beware Of Extra Hot Chili Sauces And Extracts
Spicy to very spicy foods of traditional African or Asian cuisine is unfamiliar to Americans, but occasional consumption will not harm health.
However, excessive chili preparations and chilies consumption can lead to adverse health effects (nausea, irritation of mucous membranes, vomiting, high blood pressure) and can be life-threatening.
Children, in particular, are susceptible to chili products. Therefore, food experts advise consumers against ingesting substantial hot chili sauces and chili fruits.
See Also: Cabbage Health Benefits And Side Effects
7. Safe Usage Of Hot Spices
- Use hot spices in moderation. After all, the food should still be edible.
- When using chilies and chili products, always approach heat slowly.
- Capsaicinoids irritate the eyes. Therefore, you should wash your hands or wear gloves after handling chilies.
- Capsaicin is fat-soluble. For burning pain, milk or milk products or starchy foods (rice, bread) in combination with cooking oil or fats will help.
See Also: List Of Best Low Carb Baking Flour Substitutes
FAQ Hot Spicy Food
What Happens When We Eat Hot Spicy Food Every Day?
If you are not used to spicy food, you can quickly suffer from health complaints. Such as nausea and vomiting, mucous membrane irritation, and high blood pressure.
What Happens When You Eat Hot Spicy Food?
Neuroscientifically, we feel pain when we eat spicy foods. By irritating the pain receptors, the body releases happiness hormones called endorphins. At the same time, the body reacts with hot flashes and sweating.
Can Hot Spicy Food Cause Abdominal Pain?
Diet or eating habits can be responsible for stomach pain for the following reasons: Too fatty or too spicy food irritates the stomach lining. It stimulates the release of gastric acid. People with sensitive stomachs in particular often react to this with stomach pain.
Is Hot Spicy Food Healthy For The Heart?
According to various studies, the pungent agent capsaicin in chili peppers also positively affects the heart. It also lowers cholesterol levels, and its vasodilatory effect improves blood circulation. The mucous membranes also benefit from this, which enhances the taste.
Can You Lose Weight With Hot Spicy?
It is true, but spicy food is still not suitable for losing weight. The heat effect has a negligible impact on calorie consumption, and the spiciness does not affect fat burning.
Why Do You Sweat When You Eat Something Hot Spicy?
Because the spices that make the food spicy (pepper, chili, cayenne pepper, garlic) stimulate digestion and circulation. In other words, they get the body going (burning). That’s why the first thing you do is get nice and warm, and if it’s very spicy, you sweat.
Why Does It Burn During Bowel Movements After Hot Spicy Food?
The reason is that there are similar nerve endings in the mouth and anus. Spicy foods, especially chili, therefore burn not only on the mucous membrane of the mouth but usually also again at the end of the anus—special receptors found in both mucous membranes.
Is Chili Good For The Intestines?
The substance that makes chilies hot and sweats when we eat them could prevent tumors in the intestines.
Is Chili Good For The Heart?
Chili is a common ingredient in a traditional Mediterranean diet. The hot spice is thought to possibly reduce the risk of cardio– and cerebrovascular disease (disorders of blood supply to the brain).
Is It Reasonable To Eat Hot Spicy Food In The Evening?
Not only does room temperature and noise level impact sleep quality, but also diet. High-fat or spicy food before bedtime is known to disturb sleep. But we should also avoid some healthy foods in the evening to get restful sleep.
Is 5000 Scoville A Lot?
Pepperoni varieties usually come in at a relatively mild 100 to 500 Scoville. Tabasco sauce reaches a Scoville value between 2500 and 5000, jalapeño chilies measure up to 8000 Scoville. Significantly hotter are pure cayenne pepper (30,000 to 50,000 Scoville) and Piri-Piri (50,000 to 100,000 Scoville).
Can You Die From Chili?
Record values of over one million Scoville units have been measured. It makes chili, also known as “ghost pepper,” up to 417 times hotter than a jalapeño and can be life-threatening.
Is Hot Spicy Food Good For Colds?
To help loosen mucus in acute colds, hot foods, especially spicy soups, are ideal, experts recommend. The nasal mucosa supplies blood, and the mucus becomes fluid. The active ingredient capsaicin in chili also stimulates blood flow – especially in the gastrointestinal tract.
Why Can Asians Eat So Hot Spicy?
Many Chinese like their food spicy, and chili pepper is preferred. The spiciness in chilies is produced by capsaicin, and capsaicin has become a popular subject of medical research in recent years.
How Many Scoville Does The Hottest Chili In The World Have?
Carolina Reaper’s variety is still considered the hottest chili globally with 2,200,000 SHU. It was bred in 2013 by the American company The PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina. It is the current Guinness Book world record holder.
Conclusion
While spicy food does have some health benefits, it is essential to make sure you eat it in moderation. Always make sure you know the value facts behind the food you eat and stay within your calorie range!
Last Updated on 13/03/2022 by Buzz This Viral
