7 Legit Health Benefits of Slathering Your Food with Hot Sauce
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1. IT CAN HELP YOU BURN FAT (FOR REALS).
It’s true: Logging miles on the spin bike or stairmaster isn’t the only way to tighten your tush. In fact, researchers out of Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan found that consumption of chemicals found in chili peppers can increase the number and activity of the brown fat cells in your body, which are known to burn energy as opposed to storing it like white fat cells. “Another molecule in hot pepper, capsaicin, has been shown to help increase the amount of energy one spends without having them be in constant motion,” says Smith.
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2. IT’S ONE OF THE OLDEST COLD CURES OUT THERE.
Pro chefs and grandmas alike have long raved about the breathe-easier benefits of a hearty spice kick (along with a hefty serving of chicken noodle soup, of course). “Chile peppers are great for your immune system in general,” says Smith. “In addition to clearing congestion of mucous membranes in your nose and lungs, they help stimulate secretions in your digestive tract.” What’s more: One ounce of jalapeno peppers contain about 40 milligrams of vitamin C—almost as much as an orange! We’re not claiming it’s a magic pill to cure the flu, but it will certainly kick in faster than Nyquil.
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3. IT MAY SLOW THE GROWTH OF CANCER CELLS.
A study from 2006 found that high doses of capsaicin slowed the growth of prostate cancer cells in mice by up to 80 percent. Sure, it was only a rodent study, but experts say it’s got merit: “Along with capsaicin, chili peppers are great sources of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and potassium, and also contain carotenoids, the red and orange hue in plants associated with having cancer protection,” says Elizabeth Shaw, R.D.N. and founder of Shaw’s Simple Swaps.
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4. IT CAN RELIEVE MUSCLE PAIN AND TENSION.
When you’re hitting the gym like a boss, your muscles and joints take quite a beating. But that’s no biggie if fridge is well-stocked in the hot sauce department. Exciting new research in the Journal of International Society for Sports Medicine found that curcumin, one of the key ingredients in the Indian spice turmeric, might have the ability to relax stressed-out muscles. Score.
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5. IT CAN HELP WARD OFF HEART DISEASE.
Alarmingly, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, according to the American Heart Associaton. The good news is that capsaicin and its fiery-hot relatives known as capsaicinoids, found in jalapenos, habaneros, and other chili peppers, have the ability to lower blood pressure in people with heart conditions and also decrease the risk of blood clots. These findings, from the American Chemical Society (ACS), support the theory that a little hot sauce really can go a long way. “Add a few drops to your veggie bowls and stir fries for your best chance at reaping these long-term health benefits,” says Shaw.
6. IT MAKES US WAY HAPPIER—SERIOUSLY.
Aside from pleasing our taste buds to no end, hot sauce actually has mood-boosting benefits. “Just like after a sweaty workout, hot sauce boosts our body’s creation of endorphins, again thanks to the molecule capsaicin,” says Shaw. “It may even suppress your appetite—another side effect of your endorphin levels being inflated.”
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7. IT MAY INCREASE LONGEVITY.
A new study found that people who fuel up with fiery ingredients also have a reduced chance of premature death. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences analyzed the spicy food consumption of nearly 500,000 people ages 30 to 79 across 10 regions of China. They found that those who ate spicy foods six or seven times a week had a 14 percent lower risk of premature death than those who only ate spicy foods once a week or less. We’re not saying it’s the fountain of youth, but hey, it’s worth a try.
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