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When you snack on chips and salsa or fill up on a Mexican burrito, you might not be thinking of the health benefits of your meal. It may surprise you to learn that spicy food is good for more than just your taste buds—the heat-causing agent, capsaicin, is also beneficial to your overall health. Here are just a few of the physical advantages of indulging in spicy food.

3 Health Benefits of Eating Spice

1. Weight Loss

When you eat spicy foods, you’ll ingest capsaicin, which is thought to help increase your metabolism, the rate at which your body burns calories. This means you could burn more calories both when exercising, and when sitting still. With a faster metabolism, you’re more likely to lose weight, or at least avoid obesity and the related complications.

2. Improved Gut Health

burritoWhen you ingest spicy food, it passes by your tongue and into your digestive tract. Along the way, it activates nerves, which register the “spiciness.” In the gut, capsaicin produces anandamide, an anti-inflammatory agent.

This can calm the digestive tract, preventing ulcers, irregular bowel movements, and the symptoms of conditions like Crohn’s disease. When inflammation is reduced, there’s also a lower risk of tumors developing in the intestines.

3. Enhanced Heart Health

According to some research, people who eat spicy food—specifically chili peppers—have lower amounts of LDL cholesterol in their bloodstream. This type of cholesterol raises the risk of heart disease and strokes. Another study showed that people who eat spicy food on a daily basis have lower mortality rates. Therefore, indulging in a burrito with a bit of capsaicin could help you live longer.

 

If you’re hoping to enjoy a spicy meal, visit The Taco Spot in Chandler, AZ. This Mexican restaurant offers delicious handmade tortillas, which they use for their tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other mouthwatering menu items. In addition to their authentic dishes, they also serve refreshing margaritas. To learn more about this family-run eatery, call (480) 917-7883 today. Review their menu online.

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