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Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

well.blogs.nytimes.com

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Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#31

Post by adriand »

derekp7 wrote: post #24

One thing that I don't quite understand -- what is it about spicy food that makes it desirable? Esp. the super hot peppers? I know that I love them, but I can't really say why (after all, I normally try to avoid pain). The only thing I can think of is that part of the brain knows that the pain isn't "real" (that is, it isn't being caused by something that is damaging you), yet another part is releasing endorphins to…

I think the endorphin theory is a pretty common explanation, but I think for me and for many others it's largely about flavour. I enjoy the flavour of chili peppers, and I also enjoy how spiciness brings out other flavours in food and makes it richer and more interesting.

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#32

Post by pyre »

bsder wrote: post #28

"Spicy" things tend to have anti-microbial properties. That could certainly trigger a beneficial intestinal flora change--especially in places without a good refrigerated handling chain. Spicy food also has a tendency to clear sinuses. I believe a couple of studies have shown that clearing sinuses occasionally (but not too often) is beneficial.

I've heard that the pain response that the spices trigger somehow activates your immune system or something like that, though as you eat more spicy food you build up a tolerance so I'm not sure how that factors in.

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#33

Post by desdiv »

derekp7 wrote: post #24

One thing that I don't quite understand -- what is it about spicy food that makes it desirable? Esp. the super hot peppers? I know that I love them, but I can't really say why (after all, I normally try to avoid pain). The only thing I can think of is that part of the brain knows that the pain isn't "real" (that is, it isn't being caused by something that is damaging you), yet another part is releasing endorphins to…

You're right on the mark.

>"The endorphins work to block the heat. The body produces them in response to the heat, which it senses as pain," said Paul Bosland, co-founder and director of New Mexico State University's Chile Pepper Institute. [0]

[0] http://abcnews.go.com/Health/capsaicin-ingredient-hot-pepper...

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#34

Post by pyre »

adriand wrote: post #31
derekp7 wrote: post #24

One thing that I don't quite understand -- what is it about spicy food that makes it desirable? Esp. the super hot peppers? I know that I love them, but I can't really say why (after all, I normally try to avoid pain). The only thing I can think of is that part of the brain knows that the pain isn't "real" (that is, it isn't being caused by something that is damaging you), yet another part is releasing endorphins to…

I think the endorphin theory is a pretty common explanation, but I think for me and for many others it's largely about flavour. I enjoy the flavour of chili peppers, and I also enjoy how spiciness brings out other flavours in food and makes it richer and more interesting.

> I enjoy the flavour of chili peppers

Do you like them "straight up" though? For example, I hate the taste of jalapeños, but I have no problem eating them as part of a meal.

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#35

Post by geomark »

clevep wrote: post #9

I think it's pretty common to eat milder foods when you are ill. I know I do. If that is universally true, and all else being equal, you could probably simplify this headline down to "getting sick less linked to a longer life."

Reminds me of the Dilbert cartoon (wish I could find it now) where the discussion was on how a survey showed that heathy people exercise more. Wally commented that's because sick people are too sick to exercise.

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#38

Post by somberi »

derekp7 wrote: post #24

One thing that I don't quite understand -- what is it about spicy food that makes it desirable? Esp. the super hot peppers? I know that I love them, but I can't really say why (after all, I normally try to avoid pain). The only thing I can think of is that part of the brain knows that the pain isn't "real" (that is, it isn't being caused by something that is damaging you), yet another part is releasing endorphins to…

Jury is out, but it is possible that Capcisin produces anti-depressent-like properties (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22542657)

Also this answers your question: http://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2010/sep/14/chilli-h...

Re: Eating Spicy Food Linked to a Longer Life

#39

Post by mirimir »

thebooktocome wrote: post #30
mirimir wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still makes no sense to me. There are numerous spices. But given that this is a Chinese study, maybe "spicy" means five-spice powder, or maybe just Sichuan pepper. And of course, health claims have also been asserted for several Indian spices. Personally, I'd go for a Goan/Sichuan hybrid :) Edit: OK, I see "mainly chili peppers". So are chili peppers more commonly used in China than Sichuan pepper?

I don't understand; Sichuan pepper (花椒, huajiao) isn't spicy. Wikipedia confirms: "Sichuan pepper's unique aroma and flavour is not hot or pungent like black, white, or chili peppers. Instead, it has slight lemony overtones and creates a tingly numbness in the mouth (caused by its 3% of hydroxy alpha sanshool) that sets the stage for hot spices." Chinese cooking uses many different kinds of spicy peppers, however. Fo…

Thanks. It's heaven-facing peppers that I was thinking of.
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