The 5 Amazing Health Benefits Of Spicy Foods

Sorry to say, bell peppers and crushed black pepper are not considered spicy foods. Bell peppers do not have capsaicin even though they are technically in the same family with chili peppers. “You’re going to have to eat something that starts firing it up a little bit,” says Dr. Peeke. “You don’t have to dive into a habaneros tomorrow, but you do have to add a small amount of something like crushed red pepper or ground cayenne.” 

Black pepper doesn’t have capsaicin either, although Dr. Peeke points out that “the active substance in black pepper ispiperine, which gives it flavor but also blocks the formation of new fat cells.” Combine black pepper with a little capsaicin, which speeds up metabolism, and “you’ve got yourself a great thing,” she says.

As for how much spicy food you need to eat to get the benefits,doctors recommend that you try to include hot peppers and turmeric in your diet two to three times a week. Since eating them raw can be a challenge, you can sautee them or cook them, says Dr. Miller, and they retain their healthful benefits. 

If you have trouble tolerating spicy foods or they bother your stomach, “a lot of people couple it with yogurt or something that will line the stomach wall,” says Dr. Peeke. Otherwise, if you can’t tolerate the spice, skip it, and talk to your doctor about taking a curcumin or capsaicin supplement.