This food might make you live longer -- if you can take the heat

Researchers at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont, found that consumption of hot red chili peppers is associated with a 13 per cent reduction in total mortality - primarily in deaths due to heart disease or stroke.

Using National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) III data collected from more than 16,000 Americans who were followed for up to 23 years, medical student Mustafa Chopan and Professor of Medicine Benjamin Littenberg, M.D., examined the baseline characteristics of the participants according to hot red chili pepper consumption.

They found that consumers of hot red chili peppers tended to be "younger, male, white, Mexican-American, married, and to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and consume more vegetables and meats, and had lower HDL-cholesterol, lower income, and less education," in comparison to participants who did not consume red chili peppers.

They examined data from a median follow-up of 18.9 years and observed the number of deaths and then analysed specific causes of death.

"Although the mechanism by which peppers could delay mortality is far from certain, Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, which are primary receptors for pungent agents such as capsaicin (the principal component in chili peppers), may in part be responsible for the observed relationship," said the study authors.

eddie wrote:Chillis and other hot spices also help clear airways and  help people cough up phlegm - which is the enemy of the human body (think milk, cheese and dairy...all make people produce too much phlegm).

I can see chillis being a superfood. Most naturally brightly-coloured foods are good for us.

'Wolfie wrote:

I prefer to consume my chillies in chilli sauces, and in things like pies and tacos/stews/casseroles...

P.S.  the concept of "superfoods"  !!!   Populist unscientific bulldust, and spawn of internet scammers--  no genuine nutritionist/dietician will use that nonsensical term..

nicko wrote:Superior attitude you mean