chili peppers (Photo : Reuters)
A large study has concluded that consuming spicy foods such as curry and chili peppers as part of people's daily diet could help them to live a long life. Researchers found a link between the frequent eating of hot dishes, and human longevity and lower risk of death due to diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. It is a result of nutrients such as Vitamin C and antioxidants.
The study's findings were published in the BMJ on August 4, Tuesday. It was conducted by an international team lead by the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.
Scientists examined the diets of nearly 500,000 people in China. The study lasted for seven years.
They discovered that those subjects who ate spicy foods either one or two days per week had a 10 percent lower risk of death. That was compared to those people who ate such dishes less than once per week.
Those who spiced up food three to seven days per week benefited most, as their risk of death was 14 percent lower, according to The Guardian. That link was the same rate for men and women.
The study, which lasted from 2004 to 2008, included people between the ages of 35 to 79. They were from 10 regions in China.
Participants were asked about the types and frequency of spicy foods they ate. Chili pepper was the most common spice.
However, fresh chilies had better health benefits than the dried variety. People who ate the former had a lower risk of death from diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, due to nutrients such as Vitamin C.
Lu Qi was the lead author. He explained that this was the first study showing that the intake of spicy foods could provide health benefits and lower the risk of death of big populations, according to CBS News.
However, Open University's statistics professor Kevin McConway argued that the study's findings were not conclusive. He noted that the link between eating spicy food and lower death rates was only clear in non-alcohol drinkers.
Nita Forouhi from the University of Cambridge wrote the accompanying editorial. She said that previous studies have noted the benefits of chili peppers and their compound capsaicin. It battles oxidation, inflammation, obesity, and cancer.
