Are Chili Peppers Healthy?
A lot has been said as to the health effects of chili peppers, both good and bad. Many recent articles have demonstrated positive effects of eating chili peppers, specifically revolving the red peppers. Touted health benefits range from antimicrobial, weight loss, reduced blood pressure, cardiovascular benefits, and natural pain relief. Recent studies even reported anti-cancer benefits. On the other hand, negative side effects reported from eating chili peppers were acid reflux, gastrointestinal problems, and contrarily, even cancer. So then are chili peppers healthy or not?
Moderate and responsible consumption of organic chili peppers, especially with a healthy, low-fat, plant-based diet are not only safe, their beneficial to health. In fact, they were found to slash your risk of total mortality according to a recent study. Cayenne pepper, for example, has been shown by Japanese researchers in a preliminary study to alleviate painful symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). That’s right, alleviate. Research from a large, 8-year observational study (Moli-Sani), was used to find heart disease and strokes were 40% lower in those who ate chili peppers than those who didn’t. Exciting new research revolving capsaicin for health is starting to blaze.
As far as those persons who experience side effects from eating spicier peppers, if your diet is routinely filled with animal protein, dairy, heated oils, refined carbohydrates, and refined sugars, otherwise known as the Standard American Diet, consuming peppers hotter than a bell pepper may not be possible. This is because chili peppers can exacerbate the symptoms of not only existing inflammatory health problems, but of those not yet diagnosed. Chili peppers however, are not organically the root cause of these symptoms, even if they've been blamed as such. The SAD diet is an extremely inflammatory diet and is the reason diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, heart disease, and cancer rates have soared. Adopting a low fat, plant based diet filled with whole fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, legumes, nuts and seeds however, will help anyone avoid not only chronic diseases so commonly seen today, but the chronic symptoms associated with those diseases.
As far as studies indicating chili peppers cause cancer, a meta-analysis (group of previously done studies) concluded that inconsistencies existed. An older study with mice stated aflatoxin contamination factors invalidated the study. Many foods today manufactured for high demand have become tainted with aflatoxin, a known carcinogenic mold. In light of this fact, are we better off avoiding chili? I would have to disagree. Plenty of conclusive evidence exists for the improvement of human health when including chili peppers in the diet. As Dr. Michael Greger, M.D., public health speaker, and advocate of the plant-based diet once stated about the consumption of tainted nuts, "benefits outweigh the risks".
Until there’s a plant-based clinical trial on chili peppers, one that includes controlling the diets of the participants away from the Standard American Diet, and controlling for use of organically grown, untainted peppers, I will be in favor of chili. In the meantime, there's always the option of growing your own or buying from your local organic farmer.
