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Spicy Foods: 10 Good And 10 Bad Things Spices Can Do For You
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For quite some time people have embraced the theory that spicy foods can give you ulcers. This has turned out to be an old wives’ tale: Spicy foods can aggravate an existing ulcer, but cannot cause one because of their spicy composition. It turns out that even though there are some bad things that can happen to you if you eat spicy foods, there are also many good things that can happen as well. If you are not concerned about any of the bad things that can happen, then you can take the heat. Enjoy your spicy foods, but remember that benefits come with moderation!
The Good Things.
1. A longer life
A large study of more than a half million people from China found that the group who ate spicy foods at least six times each week lowered their risk of dying by 14 percent. This study started in 2008 and spanned over seven years. Just by eating spicy foods twice a week reduced the risk of death by 10 percent.
2. You can lose weight
The scorched feeling when you eat spicy foods is called capsaicin. It is this condition that causes people to lose weight. It seems that when your mouth is on fire it slows down your eating. Hot peppers are able to reduce your appetite as well as speed up your metabolism.
3. Relief from pain
When you eat spicy foods, the capsaicin was found to encourage the body to release endorphins making you feel better naturally.
4. Antimicrobial effects
Another benefit of spices is that they show antibacterial properties and slight antifungal benefits.
5. Anti-inflammatory
Capsaicin helps to deal with many autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases are not common in countries where spicy foods are prevalent.
RELATED: 10 Spices That Do Everything From Preventing Heart Attacks To Killing Cancer
6. Good for your heart
Researchers believe that spicy foods actually have a positive effect on your heart. Capsaicin helps fight inflammation and spicy chilis are able to keep blood from clotting.
7. Prevents cancer
Curcumin, which is found in spicy turmeric, was proven to reduce cancer cells from growing as well as preventing them from forming in the first place.
8. Feel full
It has been proven that when you eat spicy foods you feeling fuller for longer. It is staying full for longer that helps some people lose weight.
9. Lowers your cholesterol
Spicy foods are also able to lower cholesterol which contributes positively to heart issues, including decrease in stroke risk.
10. Clears your sinuses
Many people already know this secret and when their nose becomes stuffy, they order spicy food so they can get some relief quickly.
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Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com
The Bad Things.
1. Scorched taste buds
The bad news is that after eating spicy food your mouth will feel like it is on fire. The good news is this is just a temporary situation. The best way to cool off your mouth and stomach quickly is to drink some whole milk.
2. Hot hemorrhoids
Another down side is what goes into your body must come out. If the foods are extremely spicy you could end up intensifying hemorrhoids.
3. Serves as a blood thinner
If you are on a blood thinning medicine, stay away from spicy foods because capsaicin serves as a blood thinner as well.
4. Heartburn
Many people end up with heartburn if they not only eat spicy food, but munch on huge portions of it. If you experience heartburn on occasion – then take note of the foods you are eating that are causing you to have this reaction.
5. Upset stomach
Many people who have a sensitive stomach will probably end up with an upset stomach if they eat foods that are too spicy.
RELATED: A Comprehensive Spice Chart For Seasoning Like A Pro Infographic
6. Diarrhea
Besides an upset stomach, some people may end up with diarrhea if the lining of the stomach is irritated by the spicy foods. You might have to lighten up on foods that are too hot and eat foods that are mildly spicy.
7. Unable to sleep
Eating spicy foods before bed could make it hard for you to fall right asleep. It seems that your body is unable to cool down right away so you can drift off to sleep. Your best bet is to eat your spicy foods earlier, not before bed.
8. Pain
Many people really do enjoy spicy foods, but for some of us eating spicy food equals to behaving and looking cool or tough. Enjoy what you eat and remember that eating spicy food is not the best tool to boost your masculinity.
9. Gastritis
If you continue to eat past the pain and fill yourself with spicy foods, the lining of your stomach could become inflamed and you could end up with gastritis.
10. Acid reflux
Your love of spicy foods could possibly interfere with your digestive process and you may end up with acid reflux. The foods turns into acid and burn as they work their way back up your esophagus. It usually wakes you out of a sound sleep and you won’t have enough saliva to get this feeling to go away. The best way to treat this is to sip on a cup of hot tea so you can get the acid to go down.
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