Healthy Foods
Why Spicy Food is Good for You
By Leanne Ely, CNC
Some like it hot! And some like it spicy. Some like both at the same time! Whatever your preference, spicy food and in particular, hot and spicy food can rev your metabolism and put a little bounce in your step.
The most common peppers, cayenne and chili, are part of the sizzling red pepper family that turn up on the heat for our taste buds and help out our hearts. They help lower cholesterol and statistics have shown that certain cultures that eat hot and spicy foods regularly have a considerably lower rate of heart attacks and strokes.
Further, there are plenty of studies revealing that spicy foods with the compound capsaicin (the main component to cayenne pepper) help fights off cancer. Capsaicin is said to even kill cancer cells! Not only does it help in the fight against cancer, but it also can help prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. How often do you hear of foods that can help keep your memory safe? Spicy foods will readily take up arms to protect your cognitive health, and guard against fading memories.
Speaking of spicy, keep curry dishes in your menu rotation especially if you like to work out particularly hard. Curcumin, found in curry, will help soothe your muscles and keep them from swelling too much if they’re sore. It’s a great anti-inflammatory.
We love using spices in our Menu-Mailer! Check it out for yourself.