If longevity is what you’re after, you may want to consider eating your way to a longer life.
We all know that a healthy diet is good for us and probably know that healthy people often live longer, but what if we could focus less on what we give up, and more on one particular food that we already love?
We’re talking about chilies. Hot peppers are packed with health benefits, and better health can sometimes lead to longevity. It sounds simple, and in some ways it is. According to the American Heart Association, eating chili peppers may play a role in significantly lowering your risk of dying from cancer or heart disease.
Experts looked at thousands of studies tied to leading global health databases. When considering the health of hundreds of people in different areas of the world, it was discovered that those who ate chili peppers had a relative 25-percent reduction in mortality from all causes, nearly that much in relative reduction of mortality from cancer, and a slightly higher relative reduction in mortality when looking just at cardiovascular diseases, alone. We should point out the health data was limited, and the studies that were considered varied in terms of the type of chili peppers people consumed, and the amount. This made it more difficult to figure out which types of chili peppers brought about the most health benefits, plus how much to consume and how often. Scientists say more randomized controlled trials are likely needed in the future.
Still, it’s something for chili lovers to take note of. We already know that the capsaicin in hot peppers contains anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, but this offers yet another reason to fill up on spicy peppers. Not only could consuming peppers high on the Scoville scale add an extra dose of flavor, but the peppers may also lead to a longer life. That’s certainly something to consider the next time you reach for extra heat.