Spicy Food Cures
Some people can't handle the heat when it comes to their food. Others think that the hotter and spicier it is, the better it tastes. It's possible that the latter group is reaping health benefits that those tossing back the bland foods do not enjoy. As it turns out, there appears to be a variety of healthy reasons to eat spicy foods, even though the precise reasons for these spicy cures remains somewhat of a mystery. Many people would be better off spicing up their lives a bit. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
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Weight Loss
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If you have a few pounds to lose, adding spicy foods to your personal menu might be a good idea. According to the Weight Loss Steps website, there is evidence that eating spicy foods regularly has a profound effect on metabolic rate. When the body's metabolism rises, it can burn more calories and will be less likely to tack on extra pounds. Pepper, ginger and garlic are all spicy foods that tend to have the biggest effect on metabolism. Also, the capsaicin that makes some foods spicy --- like chili peppers --- works as an appetite suppressant and is likely to reduce the amount of food you consume each day.
Hearth Health
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Heart disease is the leading killer of people worldwide, so anything you can do to promote heart health is a good thing. Eating spicy foods is among the simple things you can add to your diet to improve heart health. Eating hot peppers can help reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. It is also known to relax blood vessel walls and therefore bring blood pressure down. The combined effects can be a big step toward warding off heart attacks and strokes.
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Cancer
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The hot and spicy natural chemical capsaicin could be the next wonder drug. According to the Health Castle website, a study at the Edwards School of Medicine in West Virginia suggests that capsaicin can prevent the spread of lung cancer cells. The study also shows capsaicin is able to kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells intact. Tiny steps in this spicy food subject could potentially lead to a giant leap in the fight against cancer.
Mental Health
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If there's one cure everyone should be able to get behind, it's the cure for a bad mood. Eating spicy food simply makes you happier -- not only because it tastes so good, but because of a chemical response from within the brain. When the body experiences pain, the brain releases serotonin to help the person cope while the pain is happening. The slight pain associated with spicy foods will cause that same release of serotonin and will result in a slight euphoric state. So if you're feeling depressed, take a bite of habaneros salsa. It'll perk you right up.
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References
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