The pleasure with pain: health benefits of eating spicy foods

Indian cuisine is known for having a ton of masala in it. From chicken tikka masala to spicy aloo gobi, almost all Indian dish has to have at least a hint of spices. This brings us to the most debatable question in the culinary world-is eating spicy food good for health? While popularly it’s believed that eating spicy food can be harmful to the body, one must learn that there are several health benefits of adding spices to your dish.

According to a study, chilies may help to aid weight loss due to the presence of capsaicin. Apart from fostering your metabolism, adding spices is an effective way to make any boring food more palatable, especially when following a strict diet. Not to forget, spices are calorie-free.

Eating spicy food is very common among many cultures. All of these communities have marked fewer cases of heart disease. Spices like peppers can help to control LDL or the bad cholesterol level while fighting off further risks of cardiovascular complications. Similarly, the heat from spices can help to regulate the blood circulation in the body and keep a check on blood pressure.

The American Association for Cancer Research suggests that capsaicin from chilies and other spices can effectively kill some cancer and leukemic cells. Spices like turmeric, mustard, and black pepper are also beneficial to slow down the spread of cancerous tumors.

Above all, the kick from the spicy foods can help to elevate your mood by realising feel-good hormones or serotonin. It’s beneficial for people dealing with stress and tension.

Photo credit: Google