Eating Chilli Is Said To Cut Your Risk Of Death From Heart Disease & Stroke By 40%
If you like mixing sliced chilli into your fish soup, there may just be a perfect reason for you to continue doing it.
Today, a new study finds that eating chilli regularly may actually help drastically reduce your chances of suffering heart disease and stroke.
According to CNN Health on Monday (16 Dec), a study conducted in Italy looked at 23,000 people comprising those who ate chilli, and those who didn’t.
They found that those who ate chilli at least 4 times a week are less prone to heart attacks and strokes.
Study on eating chilli & cutting risk of death was conducted over 8 years
In the study, participants’ health and eating habits were kept in check for over 8 years.
The results after the years of hard work shows that those who ate chilli at least 4 times a week are 40% less prone to dying from a heart attack and have 50% less chance of getting a stroke.
Basically, this means that if you eat chilli more often than others, you may be able to live longer. With “may” being the operative word.
Various plants of capsicum species protect our health
Researchers also explained that chilli has benefits that are passed down through Italy’s food culture.
They pointed out that various plants of the capsicum species, although eaten in different ways across the globe like in China and the United States, can “exert a protective action towards our health”.
Criticisms to the study
Although the long and tough research was praised by many, it has also received criticism, reports CNN Health.
One registered dietitian has stated that even though the research was interesting, there is no causal link between eating chilli and health benefits for humans.
On the other hand, another nutritionist stated that the researchers did not prove that eating more chilli would provide health benefits.
He added that chilli may just be a marker for some kind of diet that has not been proven.
Maintain your chilli diet if you wish
With all that being said, lovers of chilli should know that chilli peppers are long considered a healthy spice. Some of its proven health benefits include pain relief and weight loss, which you can read more about it here.
There are several potential downsides though, as eating chilli may cause discomforts like stomach pain and diarrhoea. Let’s not forget an earlier study that cited chilli as a main ingredient that may cause memory loss.
So the next time you order your mala, just stick to your normal spice level and don’t push yourself. Consume it moderately, and you should be fine.
Featured image adapted from Seth Lui.
