Eating more peppers can help you live longer? Study finds: Eating chili regularly can reduce the risk of death, how much is good?

Uncle Zhang is 56 years old this year. Although he is Cantonese, his eating habits are not the same as most Cantonese , that is, he likes spicy food very much.

When I was young, I spent a lot of time in other places, and I gradually became able to accept all kinds of spicy food, even to the point where I didn’t like spicy food . Later, when I returned to Guangdong, I thought that Cantonese food was too bland.

Two years ago, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure during a routine physical examination. Since then, his wife has often stopped him from eating spicy food. "Eating chili peppers often increases blood pressure. I am afraid that one day your blood vessels will suddenly burst. 'It's over!"

So Uncle Zhang can only satisfy his cravings by ordering a table of spicy dishes every time he goes out to meet with friends, although he blushes and his heart beats faster every time he finishes eating .

But later, Uncle Zhang heard from friends that chili peppers would not raise blood pressure at all, but could lower blood pressure instead! So Uncle Zhang was puzzled. Chili, which makes the heart beat faster every time he eats it, can actually lower blood pressure. Is it true?

1. Does eating chili often increase or lower blood pressure?

I don't know if you have found a situation, that is, "eating spicy food will make you addicted".

Why once you fall in love with "chili", you will be attracted to it?

Strictly speaking, spiciness is not a comfortable experience. Once ingested, it will give you a pain.

For the brain, this kind of stimulation is equivalent to the attack of pain, and it may release the pain-relieving substance - endorphin, and this substance will bring people a pleasant feeling , which also causes many people to "dislike spicy food".

Does eating chili raise blood pressure or lower blood pressure?

In July 2021, a research team led by Professor Li Liming from the School of Public Health of Peking University used the project data of the prospective study of chronic diseases in China to conduct data analysis on 54,000 people in China.

The results showed that among women, eating spicy food at least once a week was associated with a 10% lower risk of developing high blood pressure compared with not eating spicy food every day .

In addition, the study found that among people who drank alcohol, eating spicy food every day reduced the risk of hypertension by only 2% compared with never eating spicy food. But among those who did not drink alcohol, eating spicy food every day was associated with a 28 percent lower risk .

For people with high blood pressure, chili peppers have high potassium content and are a good vegetable. However, excessive consumption of chili peppers can cause the risk of constipation and exert strong pressure on blood vessels, so it is necessary to control the amount when eating.

2. Research has found that eating more chili can lead to longevity, is it true?

In the eyes of the public, eating too much chili is harmful to the human body, but scientific research has found that eating more chili can reduce the risk of death!

Published at the Scientific Annual Meeting of the American Heart Association, a four international large-scale study from the United States, Italy, China and Iran, after incorporating the diet and death data of more than 570,000 people, found that people who like to eat peppers live longer, And a significantly lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or cancer:

• 25% reduction in all-cause mortality;
• Cardiovascular disease mortality decreased by 26%;
• Cancer mortality was reduced by 23%.

According to research analysis, this may be related to the capsaicin contained in peppers, which can release a variety of neuropeptides , thereby exerting anti-inflammatory, dilating blood vessel, and protecting gastric mucosal effects.

But when it comes to eating chili peppers, everyone still does what they can, and if they eat chili peppers one to two days a week, beneficial effects can also be observed.

With the in-depth study of chili peppers, other effects of eating spicy food on the human body have also been discovered:

1. Reduce cancer risk

In a joint study by Oxford University, Harvard University and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, a follow-up survey of 500,000 Chinese people for 8 years found that people who eat spicy food every day have a lower risk of cancer.

2. Prevent high blood pressure

A prospective study published by Professor Li Liming of Peking University School of Public Health and others found that eating spicy food every day can effectively prevent the occurrence of the disease, which may be related to the capsaicin in peppers.

3. Increase appetite

Chili peppers can also play the most important role in people's diet. Digestive enzymes in chili peppers can help break down proteins, and some components can also stimulate endorphins to increase appetite.

4. Protect cardiovascular

An experimental study by Professor Zhu Zhiming, director of the Department of Hypertension and Endocrinology of Chongqing Daping Hospital, found that capsaicin has a protective effect on blood vessels, and capsaicin can act on its specific targets to promote the production of nitric oxide in the vascular endothelium, thereby expanding blood vessels and reducing blood pressure. Purpose.

Because capsaicin can stimulate mucosal congestion and easily cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc., it is not suitable for people with weak digestive function, hemorrhoids, chronic gastritis, esophagitis and other people .

3. Why do some people have diarrhea when they eat spicy food?

It's cool to eat spicy food for a while, but after eating chili peppers, many people will always have diarrhea. What's going on?

The capsaicin contained in peppers will bind to the capsaicin receptors in the body after entering the human body. When the capsaicin receptors are activated, in order to expel capsaicin from the body as soon as possible, it will increase the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract, and the gastrointestinal tract is suddenly installed. "Accelerator", uncontrolled for a while, defecation will become irregular.

It is important to eat chili to be healthy:

1. Do not eat spicy food on an empty stomach

Physician Zhang Guoying of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital said that eating chili on an empty stomach can cause strong irritation of the gastric mucosa, which may cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

2, ice milk can relieve spicy

Accidentally greedy for spicy food, how to relieve it after irritating the mouth and throat? You can drink some milk at this time.

The American Chemical Society points out that the casein in milk can reduce the attachment of capsaicin , which can effectively relieve spicy irritation.

3. Eat spicy food

Eat spicy food according to your ability. For people who rarely eat spicy food on weekdays, don’t start the challenge with medium or spicy food first. For people with stomach diseases, it is not recommended to eat too spicy food, otherwise it will easily stimulate the stomach.

Although it’s good to eat spicy food, it can’t be too much. For those who don’t eat spicy food, don’t force yourself to eat spicy food. The benefits brought by chili can also be compensated by other foods. You don’t have to eat chili to benefit.

References:

[1] "Does eating peppers lower blood pressure or increase blood pressure? The truth was discovered after tracking 54,000 people! 》. Health Times. 2021-09-21

[2] "Eating chili often prolongs life? The latest evidence is here! 》.Medical Endocrinology Channel. 2020-11-19

[3] "The more spicy the place, the more anorectal hospitals? How does spicy food affect the body, remember these points when eating spicy food healthily! ". Health Times. 2022-08-19

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