“Spicy food is a hot topic in nutrition — no pun intended,” says Patricia Bridget Lane, a registered dietitian/nutritionist.
So let’s dig in to get a taste of how hot-and-spicy dishes can benefit your health.
Does spicy food help you lose weight?
That habanero salsa definitely makes your mouth burn. Could it burn calories, too? It sounds strange, but it’s not that far-fetched. Research shows that people who eat more spicy foods are less likely to be obese or carry excess weight.
Increasing your spice intake could help with weight loss in a couple of different ways:
Boost your metabolism
Much of the research on spicy foods focuses on capsaicin, the compound that gives chile peppers their kick. Some of that research has found that capsaicin boosts the body’s ability to break down fat and burn more energy.
“It seems to rev up the body’s fat-burning mechanisms,” says Lane. “That can help with weight loss and weight management.”
Control your appetite
Chiles and other spices might also affect your hunger. “There’s some research that capsaicin acts on the hypothalamus — the part of the brain that controls hunger and fullness,” Lane says. So you may feel full sooner if you add some heat to your meal.
“People who eat a diet rich in spicy foods tend to eat less food overall throughout the day,” she adds.
Other health benefits of spicy foods
Dousing your dinner in hot sauce may have benefits besides weight management:
Improve heart health
By helping break down the fats in foods, spices may boost heart health. Some studies have shown that fiery fare may reduce the risk of diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.
A study from the University of Vermont found that people who regularly ate chile peppers had a 13% lower likelihood of death. The researchers found that these culinary fire eaters were less likely to die of cardiovascular causes like heart attacks and stroke.
Boost the microbiome
Fiery foods might sound like a bad idea for someone with a sensitive stomach. But there’s evidence that capsaicin might actually be good for the microbiome in your gut.
The microbiome is a community of bacteria and other microbes that are important for immune function and other aspects of health. “Capsaicin can stimulate a healthy gut flora and have a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract,” Lane says.
Reduce inflammation
Hot-and-spicy dishes might also reduce inflammation. There’s evidence that capsaicin can help combat low-grade inflammation in the gut — a type of inflammation that has been linked to obesity.
Capsaicin’s inflammation-fighting powers extend beyond the belly, too. Over-the-counter capsaicin cream can help treat pain ranging from arthritis and fibromyalgia.
Spicing up a healthy diet
Before you start buying hot sauce in bulk, Lane offers a few caveats. Even the hottest chile peppers can’t undo the damage from a poor diet heavy on sugar, processed foods and saturated fats.
“While spicy foods might have benefits, it’s more important to consider your overall diet,” she says.
In other words, adding spice to a veggie stir fry is a great idea. Ordering an extra side of deep-fried buffalo chicken wings? Maybe not. “If you aren’t eating a healthy, balanced diet, spicy foods alone won’t rev up your metabolism or lower your cholesterol,” she says.
And not all spice is created equal, she points out. Whole chile peppers and dried chile powder are great pantry staples. But many hot sauces and packaged seasonings are high in salt or other ingredients that you should only consume in moderation. Salt contributes to high blood pressure, so read nutrition labels before you get saucy.
How to spice up your life
If you’re not used to spicy foods, start slow. “If you aren’t used to a lot of spice, don’t start with habanero peppers,” Lane suggests.
Overdoing it can make your mouth burn — and may cause diarrhea. There’s no need to shoot for the world’s hottest chile. “You don’t necessarily need a lot of spice to reap the benefits,” says Lane.
But if the world’s hottest pepper sounds intriguing to you, here’s some good news: If you keep eating spicy foods, it’s likely your heat tolerance will increase over time. Lane says to have fun with it and explore recipes featuring peppers.
“But no matter how much spice you add,” Lane says,” remember that the goal is still a balanced diet.”
