If you want to be a better runner, you may want to take a good look at what you eat.
You’ve probably heard of athletes loading up on carbs before a big race, but what if eating chili peppers could help you run longer without getting tired?
That’s exactly what some recent research suggests could happen.
We already know that eating spicy food can help speed up your metabolism, but it turns out the extra spice may also keep you from getting tired easily. Researchers say they found the capsaicin in hot peppers appears to help combat fatigue. When runners eat it, it seems they may be able to run for a longer period of time without feeling tired. It has to do with your pain receptors. Just like capsaicin has shown promise for its pain-fighting abilities in the past, it seems it may be also able to desensitize other types of pain, like exercise fatigue. While more research is likely needed, the news is promising to those who enjoy exercising and want to improve their performance. Even if you’re not a championship athlete, eating hot peppers may help you attain your other exercise goals.
If it sounds appealing, remember you probably don’t want to start at the top of the game, or in this case, the top of the Scoville heat scale. Just like you wouldn’t start a new exercise program by doing a marathon, you don’t want to start your pepper journey by trying out the hottest chilis on the pepper scale first. Aim to start lower on the scale, then work your way up to hotter and hotter peppers, much as you would if you were exercising by starting slow, then adding more and more miles until you hit your comfort zone. Not everyone was built for spicy food. Remember, it takes practice to reach perfection.
