Sprinkling hot sauce on your food is an excellent way to add a spicy kick to your meal — but did you know it can also be good for your health? This is largely due to capsaicin, a powerful antioxidant found in chili peppers. Better yet, capsaicin is released and easier for your body to absorb after a pepper has been cooked or cut, making hot sauce an effective way to get this nutrient. Here’s a closer look at some of the incredible health benefits that come from adding hot sauce to your diet.

Help Your Body

Capsaicin has been linked with a wide range of physical health benefits, including helping you maintain your waistline. Hot sauce adds minimal calories to your meal, while consuming capsaicin actually increases your metabolism so your body can burn more calories. Interestingly, the antioxidant has also been linked with a decreased risk for cancer.

Of course, the peppers that go into your hot sauce also contain several other essential nutrients, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and lutein. Their anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties can go a long way in keeping your body in excellent shape.

Feel Better

Hot sauce won’t just help your body become healthier — it can also help you feel better mentally. This is because eating spicy food helps your body produce serotonin and endorphins — key hormones that improve mood and reduce stress.

Spicy foods such as hot sauce can also help you feel better when you’re sick, as they clear up the congestion that is common to sinus infections and other illnesses. Downing some hot sauce will at least provide some temporary relief!

If you’re looking for a restaurant where delicious hot sauce is always available, make Steve T. Hots & Potatoes in Rochester, NY, your first choice. Whether you’re looking for delicious breakfast dining or some of the best hamburgers the area has to offer, you’ll always find something to please your palette at this 24-hour restaurant. Check out their menu online or call (585) 429-6388 to learn more.