You’ve probably heard regular exercise is one key to a long, healthy life, but what if you could eat your way to longevity?
If you want to live longer, you may want to try eating more chili peppers. Sure, stuffing your belly with food isn’t probably a great idea, but in moderation it seems pepper lovers may be on to something. According to a recent study presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association, those who include hot peppers in their diet appear to have lower rates of dying from heart disease and possibly even cancer than those who either never eat chili peppers, or rarely eat them.
The study looked at people in the US, Italy, Iran and China. It found an overall mortality reduction of 25-percent in chili pepper eaters, with a 26-percent reduction in the risk of dying from heart disease and a 23-percent reduction in the risk of dying from cancer.
It’s just a preliminary report, so there’s no definitive answer yet if health benefits vary between different varies of peppers.
There’s no doubt, though, that peppers are full of healthy things like vitamins A and C. Peppers are also known to contain iron, niacin, and riboflavin. While this particular study is fairly new, other studies have made their own ties between hot peppers and good health in the past, including such possible health benefits as migraine relief, improved eye health, weight loss and reduced joint pain. So, if you want to try something that not only tastes great, but may even help you live longer, add some hot peppers to your diet. There are all kinds of ways to do it, from fresh peppers to pepper extracts that can help spice up any meal. Whether you just want a little spice or a mouth-watering burn, you’re sure to enjoy putting an extra dose of spice in your life.