You probably love hot sauce for the flavor, but did you know it’s good for you, too?
While it’s no secret adding hot sauce to any meal can give it a boost, there are five great reasons to use hot sauce for your health.
Better nutrition
Let’s start with its nutritional value. Hot sauce doesn’t contain fat or carbs, and it’s very low in calories. While peppers do have the advantage of vitamins and minerals, you don’t use a very large amount of hot sauce in a single setting.
Immune boost/decreased inflammation
Still, the vitamin C in hot sauce does help with your immune system. While it’s a relatively small amount, the vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and helps fight against inflammation. It’s thought that a compound called capsaicin in hot peppers not only provides the spicy flavor but can also help decrease inflammation.
Weight loss
While hot sauce is low in calories, it may also help with weight loss. That’s because the capsaicin in hot peppers is thought to boost fat burning and increase your metabolism. When you eat hot peppers, they also help you feel fuller, which can decrease your appetite, and potentially help with weight loss, too.
Prevention of cancer
It’s no secret that eating better can help with your overall health, and some studies suggest eating capsaicin may help prevent certain diseases. Some studies have pointed out capsaicin may help slow down the growth and spread of certain cancer cells.
Pain relief
If you’re looking for pain relief, the capsaicin found in hot peppers may help with that, too. Topical capsaicin is sometimes used to treat certain types of neuropathies and arthritis.
Of course, it’s always best to check with your doctor before changing your diet.
Your doctor may tell you to watch your sodium intake, but hot sauce is oftentimes lower in sodium than other condiments on the market. In many cases, using products with ties to the hot pepper scale is beneficial to your health, and your taste buds, alike.
