Opinions about spicy food vary: Some consider it unhealthy, others attribute their well-being to the habit of eating spicy food regularly. While some eat spicy food to boost digestion, there are people who get heartburn or diarrhea from a meal with hot spices. Hot spices do indeed have benefits – however, you shouldn’t overdo it either.
Eating spicy makes you happy
Capsaicin is the name of the active ingredient that, along with other capsaicinoids, is responsible for the spicy taste in chili and peppers. Although it is tasteless, it irritates the nerve endings that normally perceive heat impulses. This is what we perceive as a burning hotness. Strictly speaking, our brain receives a pain signal when we eat spicy food. Consequently, endorphins are released. The substance piperine in pepper behaves in a similar way; thus, we also speak of the “pepper high effect”. Chili and other hot spices are therefore sometimes even called a kind of natural drug, because the happiness hormones can have a relaxing effect on the body.
Eating spicy: Healthy or unhealthy?
Imagine eating a particularly fiery portion of chili con carne. After just a few bites, you start to feel hot and sweat beads on your forehead. That’s because spicy food activates the heat receptors. This stimulates blood flow to the tissues, the pores open up, we sweat – this is thought to be the reason for the often spicy cuisine in many hot countries, because spicy food thus lowers the body temperature. Furthermore, many ingredients of hot spices or foods have an antibacterial effect. Hot vegetables such as onions, garlic and leeks have an antibiotic and disinfectant effect. Spicy food is also good for oral hygiene – provided your own health – because it stimulates the flow of saliva.
Lose weight through spicy food
Spicy food cranks up blood flow to the mucous membranes, which affects the taste buds. Hot spices therefore also act as flavor enhancers. Spicy food also stimulates gastric juice production. In addition, digestion, especially of fatty foods, is boosted – Italian scientists conducted a study in Bologna in which people suffering from dyspepsia (often referred to as “indigestion” in the vernacular) achieved significant relief of their symptoms, such as constipation, by taking paprika powder for several weeks. Another test was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Tasmania in Australia: With the help of a comparison of two test groups, they were able to prove that spicy food – in this case chili – regulates insulin levels. The greater the increase in insulin levels, the greater the likelihood of weight gain. Spicy food can also have a reinforcing effect on the conversion of calories into heat – in other words, it increases calorie consumption. At the same time, those who are not used to hot spices eat more slowly and reach their satiety limit with smaller amounts.
Eating spicy: Unhealthy in pregnancy?
Many expectant or nursing mothers fear that spicy food will harm their children. In fact, doctors reassure: it’s okay to eat spicy food even during breastfeeding and pregnancy, as long as both mother and child feel comfortable and you don’t eat vast quantities of very hot spices. Mothers from countries with spicy cuisine usually do not change their eating habits even during pregnancy, and their children do not suffer any harm. The important thing to remember is that you can’t eat very spicy foods overnight, but the level of spiciness should be increased gradually – whether pregnant or not, child or adult. Eric Kangiri
When is spicy food unhealthy?
However, spicy food can become unhealthy when stomach problems are present: Because it stimulates the production of gastric juices, it can increase symptoms such as heartburn. Chronic heartburn, in turn, can promote the development of esophageal cancer. In addition to years of intense smoking and alcohol consumption, eating very spicy foods for long periods of time is sometimes added to the list of causes of esophageal cancer. Stomach pain and gastritis can also result when a sensitive stomach has to digest spicy food. Some people also react with diarrhea.Furthermore, a possible connection of bladder irritations up to bladder incontinence and excessive consumption of hot spices is discussed.
List of hot spices and their effects
Some popular hot spices may have positive effects on health:
- Peppers, chili and hot peppers: nutrition for osteoarthritis and rheumatism, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect.
- Mustard: Regulates blood pressure
- Garlic: Prevents arteriosclerosis and donates selenium
- Ginger: Acts against nausea, seasickness, (pregnancy) vomiting.
- Pepper: Cranks digestion and circulation, has aphrodisiac effect, good for bronchitis and colds.
Spicy recipe for fruity and spicy shrimp.
This recipe is particularly suitable for a warm summer evening. For four people you need:
- 250 g ready-to-cook shrimp
- 2 jars of sun-dried tomatoes
- 3 cans of tomatoes in pieces
- 10 cloves of chopped garlic
- 60 g herb butter
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons parsley
- 10 small red piri piri from the jar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- Salt and pepper
Garlic, tomato paste and herb butter are lightly sweated. Add the piri piri and sun-dried tomatoes. Then pour the sauce with the strained tomatoes, mix in the remaining spices well. Now spread the sauce on small baking dishes or clay pots and put the shrimps on top. Bake in the oven at 210 degrees (convection). Serve with rice, tortillas or baguette.
