The effect of spicy food on the body. Spicy food: benefits and harms

All people are different, so eating habits people are also different. When moving from one national cuisine to another, this difference becomes more obvious. Naturally, people who are accustomed to one diet cannot but respond to its changes. Moreover, this problem becomes relevant in our time - when the tourism industry is growing rapidly, and almost any exotic country in the world is already becoming accessible to everyone. In addition, for some categories of people, changes in diet can play a fatal role. So, consider what effect it has on the body as a whole and on digestive tract especially spicy foods.

First, let's look at the dangers of spicy food for human health.

Firstly, spicy food acts on the mucous membrane of the digestive organs, especially strongly on the esophagus and stomach. For someone, a long-term effect is needed, and someone can get a sufficient “effect” from a single intake of such dishes. Among the effects in this case, we can mention the following serious illness, as a burn of the mucous membrane, gastritis, ulcers of the stomach and esophagus, cancer, and so on. In this case, people who have undergone similar diseases in the past or having them in the present.

Secondly, if the above diseases do not appear, then it is likely that heartburn may appear, which in the most severe cases can lead to them, as well as diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

Third, Certain spices can cause bad smell from the mouth, and, in this case, they will not be able to help toothpaste, nor chewing gum. It should be noted that similar condition may last for a very long period of time. This should be taken into account by people working with people.

Fourth, spicy food can reduce the functionality of taste buds, which can manifest itself even from a single intake of this food, not to mention its constant intake. Thus, people who want to feel all the shades of taste need to take this feature into account.

Fifth, spicy meals taken before bedtime lead to excitation of the central nervous system, and thus sleep becomes defective.

Now consider the beneficial properties of spicy food.

Firstly, spicy food, taken in a certain amount, causes feeling of increased appetite. Such a property may be useful for those people who suffer from a lack of appetite and who need to learn large quantity food effect different reasons, for example, when changing the diet, aimed at gaining the missing body weight.

Secondly, in addition to increasing appetite, spicy food improves some functions of the digestive tract which, in one way or another, contributes better assimilation nutrients.

Third, spicy food improves intestinal motility, thus contributing to the acceleration of the withdrawal of unnecessary substances. This primarily applies to those food components that are not subjected to digestive processing.

Fifth, substances found in spicy foods contribute to normalization of factors affecting blood clotting.

So, spicy food has both good and bad effects on the body. In many cases, this influence depends on the individual characteristics of a particular person, for example, such as age, gender, diseases. gastrointestinal tract, individual intolerance, etc. In any case, if any negative manifestations medical attention must be sought immediately.

Photo source: Depositphotos
17 August 2015

Spicy food has been a source of controversy among many nutritionists for decades. Some say that it is harmful, while others, on the contrary, advise sometimes adding something spicy and exotic to food. The bottom line is that so far no one has given a clear answer to the question of whether spicy food is harmful. Therefore, it is up to you to decide whether to include hot peppers or exotic spices in your diet. Yes, in excessive quantities such things are definitely harmful and this is not even in doubt. But when used judiciously, there shouldn't be anything particularly bad from pungency. Although there are some nuances that we will try to make out.

There is an opinion that all spicy food has a very good effect on a person, charges him with little energy. Spicy spices improve blood circulation, greatly strengthen immune system of a person against certain bacteria and diseases, and also make the overall metabolism in the human body more efficient. But there is another opinion: for the stomach, spicy dishes are harmful in any quantities and you can use them only to the detriment of yourself and your body.
Numerous nutritionists and experts in this matter highlight the mass positive sides from eating spicy food

- It stimulates the appetite very well, so it can be used as a snack before dinner. On the positive side, people who eat little but often have good calorie control;
- Spicy food normalizes blood circulation and makes it more positive. Blood with the help of such food can independently cleanse and liquefy. Poor cholesterol is also automatically removed from the blood, a person feels much better than before. They constantly say about hot pepper that it strengthens blood vessels well and saturates them with vitamins of groups C and A;
- What is the use of spicy food besides this? It protects well against bacteria that can penetrate into human body different ways and helps relieve the symptoms of a cold. Symptoms such as runny nose and fever are very well removed. regular use eating a small amount of spicy food;
- Under the influence of acute, the human digestive system begins to work better. Gastric juice begins to stand out more intensively, so any food consumed will be digested simply gorgeous. The gastric mucosa will also recover remarkably, so there are really solid pluses from this side;
- In addition, it is spicy food that produces hormones of happiness, which allows you to provide a small analgesic effect. The consumption of salt is also limited, because due to spicy food, unsalted dishes can be easily eaten;
- If you eat a little spicy food before going to bed, it will contribute to a more peaceful rest. Spicy dishes will also be very useful for phlegmatic people, as they can significantly increase their temperament;

Is spicy food healthy? As we can see, it has obvious advantages. But some nutritionists insist on the importance of the existing disadvantages. Let's talk about them:

- Spicy food is annoying digestive system and lowers their natural defenses. In fairness, it must be said that this is possible only with its excessive use. Also, remember that overuse such food inevitably leads to gastritis, and then to a stomach ulcer;
- Another obvious minus - because of spicy food, heartburn can quickly develop, especially when overeating. Therefore, it is undesirable to take it in quantities greater than your doctor can prescribe;
- It is customary to attribute the serious disadvantages of such food to the fact that it seriously violates the sensitivity of human receptors responsible for taste. If you regularly eat spicy things, then ordinary food will no longer be as tasty and interesting as before;
- Spicy food guarantees you bad smell from mouth. All the hot spices so often added to food keep bad breath very for a long time. Almost all such seasonings contain onions and garlic, and in large quantities.

In general - as mentioned above, spicy food in reasonable quantities is only good. If it is abused, then you can get very unpleasant effect, in which a person will gradually earn the most natural ulcer. On this moment it is not known for certain whether excessive consumption of spicy food can lead to something extremely difficult for health, but the fact remains that if you eat spicy in moderation, then most often everything is fine. In addition, you need to take into account your own individual contraindications, which may prohibit eating any spicy food or seasonings. Listen carefully to contraindications and always follow them in order to avoid most problems.

I want something spicy and that's it! To bacon, to jelly, just spread on bread. Look, Caucasians won't live a day without spicy food. They say that if you eat spicy food, then neither colds, nor helminths, nor harmful bacteria. Spicy seasonings help strengthen hair and have a beneficial effect on vocal cords. Whether this is so, we don’t know for sure, but it’s worth considering the benefits of spicy food and its harm to our body. Moreover, if you introduce “hot pepper” into your diet, you can maintain a figure in one weight category, and despite the fact that everything hot and hot causes appetite.

Is spicy food healthy?

none National cuisine the world is not complete without hot spices. Both spices and spices not only excite the appetite, but also enrich the food with unique shades of flavors, make it saturated. Like all products, they are good in moderation, and this rule cannot be neglected.

Now consider the arguments of those who consider spicy food healthy. They trust the scientists and agree with them that some spices are healing. These include red hot peppers, and horseradish, and mustard, for example.

Benefits of hot spices

• First, spicy food promotes weight loss. For example, in the composition of substances hot pepper has capsaicin. He speeds up metabolic processes. How does this happen? When we spice food with hot pepper, our body temperature rises, and heartbeat is accelerating. You can’t eat a lot of spicy food, because with the help of such dishes calories are controlled. But this information is not a reason to fanatically use pepper in all dishes.
• Secondly, hot spices normalize blood circulation. Since with the intake of spicy dishes a feeling of warmth is created, the vessels expand and the blood pressure decreases. IN hot pepper a lot of vitamin A and vitamin C, thanks to which the walls of blood vessels are strengthened.
• Thirdly, spicy food improves the functioning of the digestive tract. All, without exception, spicy spices help the stomach to secrete gastric juice. Thanks to them, blood flow to the walls of this organ improves. Spices restore the gastric mucosa and are tireless fighters against bacteria that usually enter the digestive tract with food.

The therapeutic effect of the use of hot spices

It's no secret that spices have long been used to treat colds. They increased sweating and reduced discomfort during elevated temperature. If you have a runny nose, eat a dish with hot sauce, the nasal passages will quickly clear. Such food will help remove mucus from the bronchi.

Did you know that spices have a relaxing effect on nervous system and provide a calm and deep sleep? After all, the stomach is never full due to food seasoned with hot spices, so you sleep well, the morning bestows vivacity and a good appetite.

Not only chocolate, but also hot spices can increase serotonin and endorphins - hormones of happiness. As a result, the effects of stress are suppressed, and mild pains calm down.

About the dangers of hot spices

Undoubtedly, hot spices and spices are good for health, but not everyone can use them. Some people just don't like them, others get spicy food pain, the third should be abandoned altogether due to exacerbations inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract. So these products should be used with caution.

Here are some unpleasant states and diseases can cause hot spices:

• Heartburn, which occurs due to the fact that spicy foods contribute to increased excretion gastric juice, as a result of which acid from the stomach is thrown into the esophagus and irritates its mucosa.
• Bad breath, mainly due to garlic or onion, which persists for a long time.
• Gastritis due to the fact that it is consumed a large number of spicy food. The lining of the stomach becomes inflamed and weakens its protective barrier to infection.

It must be remembered that constantly introducing spicy dishes into the diet, you can lose the sensitivity of taste buds. It can be said that food for some people may turn out to be tasteless and insipid without hot seasonings and sauces.

Lose weight on spicy food

Red pepper is a unique weight loss tool. He came to us from the South American tropics and became an indispensable stimulant in food, in the composition of various mixtures of spices, in medicines.

Today there is a lot of evidence that pepper is really capable of performing miracles in the process of shedding extra pounds.

What is in this vegetable? The active ingredient is capsaicin. Thanks to him, red pepper is in demand not only in cooking, but also impresses with its healing properties.

How does red pepper affect the process of losing weight

Eating pepper suppresses appetite. This is confirmed by studies published in 2004. They said that for weight loss, you can not only eat red pepper, but also take it in capsules with the same success. Later, in 2007, Danish researchers also reported that red pepper increases thermogenesis. This is the rate at which the body burns fat.

And as a result of an increase in thermogenesis, a number of important processes occur:

• increased oxidation in body fat;
• increasing energy costs;
• the sympathetic nervous system is activated.

Thanks to these processes, the "era" of weight loss begins for the body.

Research was done at Oxford. A group of subjects was offered a fruit diet for a while, and at the end they measured the level of metabolism, fixing the result. At the second stage, they began to introduce into the diet small dose red pepper, and were amazed at the program's success. Metabolic level increased by 25%.

While doing these studies on the weight loss program, another benefit of red pepper was noticed. His stinginess made him thirsty. The subjects drank a lot of water, which reduced the amount of food they ate.

If you are interested in this method of losing weight, then you need to adhere to this dosage:

• tincture of red capsicum (0.5 - 1.0 ml) is consumed three times a day before meals;
• a good option would be pepper in capsules (800 mg each) according to the same scheme;
• you can insist red pepper powder (0.5 tbsp) in boiling water (1 tbsp). In this case, a teaspoon of pepper water is taken and washed down with plenty of water.

How the body can react to red pepper

Vegetable can cause allergies, pruritus or rash, sweating, and gastrointestinal tenderness. If you have an ulcer or suffer from heartburn from pepper, discard it as a weight loss product.

Light, but very effective cocktail is able to burn fat, helping those who wish to lose weight.

fat burning cocktail recipe

For a drink you need products:

• kefir 1% (250 ml);
• ginger (1/2 tsp);
• cinnamon (1/2 tsp);
• red pepper (a pinch).

Mix everything or it is better to beat in a blender and drink in the evening. If the cocktail is too spicy, you need to add less than the indicated dose of red pepper (on the tip of a knife).

Drink a fat burner every day and your figure will begin to correct itself.

And finally

The Chinese eat hot spices all their lives, and in particular - red pepper. That's why you rarely see fat people among them. They easily tolerate frost and go without hats. Spicy foods keep you warm, help you burn fat, but store energy.

Now you know about hot spices and their benefits for the body, about red pepper and its unique properties. But don't focus on it. In small amounts, it will be safe and can solve many health problems. Good luck on this path!

The tradition of eating hot Bell pepper, as well as onions, garlic, horseradish, mustard and vinegar, in other words, the habit of eating spicy and very spicy foods came to us from tropical countries with extremely hot climates. Aborigines from the jungle and tropics with the help of burning-spicy food from ancient times escaped from intestinal infections and various deadly epidemics. It is no coincidence that in countries with traditions of eating hot and spicy food there were no epidemics of typhus and plague, which wiped out half the population of Europe in the Middle Ages.

Today, hot and spicy food has smoothly migrated from Asia, Africa and Latin America to European, including Russian, restaurants, as well as to the tables of Russian lovers of delicious meals at home.

Nevertheless, there is a strong opinion that eating onions, garlic, vinegar, horseradish, and especially pepper is extremely harmful. Is eating spicy food harmful or beneficial?

Here are the undeniable harmful effects spicy food.

1. Abuse of spicy food causes gastrointestinal intestinal diseases such as gastritis.

2. Spicy food irritates the walls of the intestines, stomach and esophagus.

3. Causes heartburn.

4. After garlic and onions, there is a fume and extremely bad breath.

5. The constant use of spicy food causes "addiction"; a person ceases to enjoy insipid food. Decreases

The sensitivity of the receptors responsible in the body for taste sensations.

6. According to many experts (other experts do not agree with their opinion), spicy food causes diseases of the joints, pain in the back and limbs, headaches, tachycardia and dizziness.

7. There are works proving that the systematic use of spicy food spoils the mood and character, has negative impact to the nervous system.

And here are the undeniable positive consequences of the systematic use of spicy food.

1. Spicy food stimulates the appetite.

2. Spicy food tones up the processes of digestion, assimilation and excretion of food decay products in the body, which means it prevents slag formation and slagging of the intestines and internal organs.

3. Spicy food increases the body's resistance and strengthens the immune system.

4. Spicy food tones the intestines and enhances peristalsis.

5. Spicy food breaks down and brings out fecal stones from the large intestine.

6. Spicy food thins the blood and prevents the formation of blood clots, and also favorably affects the functioning of the heart muscle.

7. Spicy food stimulates lactation and dilutes the milk of a nursing mother.

8. Spicy food is depressing purulent infections.

And the main advantage of spicy food is that the plants used for its preparation generate the production of phytoncides by the human body, substances that destroy pathogenic flora.

So, should you eat spicy food or not? There is no single answer to this question. It's all about individual features specific organism. You need to listen to yourself. If you have a craving for spicy food and don't have medical contraindications to her, do not deny yourself the pleasure of eating spicy. The main thing is not to get too carried away.