Eating hot and spicy foods does not only spice up one’s dish but it also has lots of health benefits. According to scientific research, adding hot peppers such as cayenne, jalapeno, Serrano and Habanero to foods can improve one’s health and relieve certain pains and diseases. Hot peppers are loaded with a phytochemical called capsaicin, which is responsible for spiciness and hotness, therefore, the hotter the pepper, the more capsaicin it contains. Capsaicin is a colorless, tasteless chemical. Capsaicin oil is not found in the seeds itself, but they are found along the veins holding the seeds. Capsaicin is indestructible, so whether the pepper is eaten raw or cooked, capsaicin still has health benefits. 
To encourage more people to spice up their foods, here is a list of some of the health benefits of capsaicin:
- Helps lose weight. According to a research, people who take in capsaicin early in the morning has lower calorie intake throughout the day. Also, capsaicin helps hasten metabolism and increases burning of fats.
- Pain reliever. Capsaicin blocks neurotransmitters from sending signals to the brain which causes an individual to feel pain. When neurotransmitters are blocked to and from the brain, pain subsides. Hence, people suffering from head aches are advised to eat and take spicy foods. Capsaicin are also added to topical creams to lessen pain and relief to muscle pains.
- Relieves nasal congestion and prevents sinusitis. Eating spicy foods can help people with nasal congestions as capsaicin helps stimulate secretion of mucus, clearing the nasal passages. Capsaicin also has anti-bacterial effects that help people suffering from sinusitis and other allergies..
- Anti-inflammatory effects. Eating spicy foods can help people suffering from arthritis, and psoriasis. Capsaicin prevents the production of chemical P, which is the cause of such inflammations.
- Protects the heart. Capsaicin protects the heart by reducing blood cholesterol, prevents inflammation of arteries and veins, minimizes clotting and hardening of arteries and helps lower blood pressure.
- Fights cancer cells. According to cancer research, capsaicin helps fight off prostate cancer cells. In the study, prostate tumor in mice decreased in size when capsaicin was introduced.
- Antibacterial effects. Capsaicin, according to studies, has antibacterial effects. Foods prepared with chili peppers such as salsa, are most likely to be Salmonella-free. Aside from killing Salmonella, capsaicin can also fight off other pathogens commonly found in foods.
- Improve intestinal diseases. According to a study at Duke University, capsaicin can help people suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Capsaicin fights off the bacteria causing such intestinal abnormalities and increases digestive fluid produced in the stomach.
- Indigestion treatment. According to research, capsaicin prevents the occurrence of dyspepsia and stomach ulcers. Contrary to beliefs that people suffering from ulcers should avoid eating spicy foods, capsaicin helps increase blood flow along the stomach lining. The increased blood flow along these walls help repair the stomach linings faster.
- Improve lung function. The antibacterial properties of capsaicin are said to be helpful for people suffering from lung infections. Oral intake of capsaicin helps relieve symptoms of COPD and emphysema.
Like any food, an exaggeration may not be a good fit for your health either. Therefore, remaining on the edge will help you improve your health with spicy food.