Spice Up Your Diet & Live Longer

If you like your food hot and spicy, you may live longer. Surprising? Please read on...

Today, research shows that people who include hot spices and fiery sauces in their diets lead healthier, longer lives than those who have a more mild palate.

why are hot spices healthy?

Chillies and hot peppers can thank capsaicin, the main ingredient found within their veins (and the chemical that gives them their heat) for the health benefits that they exude.

Capsaicin is an odourless, flavourless chemical that has been scientifically proven to combat several common health issues, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, joint pain, depression, and digestion problems.

Capsaicin stimulates then decreases the intensity of pain signals in the body. For this reason, capsaicin is frequently used as a topical treatment for pain relief in the clinical setting, including the treatment of pain following surgery, joint problems, mouth sores, and certain skin conditions.

But chillies and peppers are not the only hotties that can improve your health.

Turmeric, the main ingredient in many spicy sauces and curries -- found primarily in Middle Eastern, Indian and South East Asian cuisines -- has also shown specific health benefits in those who consume the spice in their everyday diets.

The main chemical in turmeric is curcumin, which is thought to slow the progression of certain neurodegenerative diseases. Most recently, it has shown promising results in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's disease, and it could possibly be used to develop a preventative treatment.

Alzheimer's disease results from the build up of "knots" in the brain called amyloid plaques. In a study conducted at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), turmeric was shown to reduce the number of these plaques by half.

This research, combined with the fact that Alzheimer's affects only 1% of the over-65 population in Indian villages, leads researchers to believe that a diet rich in turmeric may assist in warding off neurological diseases.

Recent studies also show that cultures that use hot peppers and spices in their diets have lower rates of cancer, heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism.

Find out how slapping some hot sauce on those chicken wings can help you live longer, and how to spice up your life with some easy recipes...

Chilli peppers and other hot spices have an undeserved reputation for causing bad breath, ulcers, stomach aches, and gas. Aside from the bad breath (hey, they're not perfect), most fiery spices and sauces are actually thought to remedy or prevent these ailments.

Diets rich in chillies, other capsaicin-containing peppers and many other "hot" spices (such as turmeric) actually improve general health and may prevent several serious or life-threatening illnesses.

A few of the health benefits linked to turmeric and chilli peppers include:
· Lowered blood pressure and cholesterol
· Reduction in the frequency of headaches and migraines
· Improved cardiovascular health and increased circulation
· Increased metabolic rate, leading to weight loss
· Decreased frequency of colds, fevers and other respiratory problems
· Increased endorphin production (counteracts depression)
· Anti-inflammatory benefits (arthritic conditions)
· Nutritional benefits (hot peppers and spices are packed with vitamin A, C, beta-carotene, and other antioxidants)
· Improved digestive function (wards off flatulence, and in some cases, prevents ulcers)

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