【Fan Letter】Zhao Yu (pseudonym), who grew up in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, could not eat spicy food when she was young. However, as she got older, she unfortunately discovered that she had high blood pressure, making her more cautious about her diet. In contrast, her husband, Ma Ming (pseudonym), who is from Hunan Province, is a passionate enthusiast of spicy food.
As the autumn and winter seasons arrived, Xiaoyu’s mother-in-law always liked to use a large amount of chili in cooking, which made Xiaoyu feel helpless. Every time she mentioned her high blood pressure, her mother-in-law always dismissed it, insisting that chili helps lower blood pressure and even cited some articles in support.
Xiaoyu was deeply troubled by this, so she decided to seek advice from a doctor. “I heard my mother-in-law say that chili can dilate blood vessels, helping to lower blood pressure, but the doctor previously told me not to eat spicy food. I’m really conflicted, is it lowering or raising blood pressure to eat spicy food in winter?”
【Doctor’s Reply】Regarding the impact of chili on blood pressure, some studies do show that the spicy component in chili – capsaicin, can dilate blood vessels, having a certain hypotensive effect. However, this effect is relatively short-term and not applicable to everyone. For individuals with high blood pressure, long-term and excessive consumption of chili may trigger some potential adverse reactions and add burden to the heart.
Gender Differences in Spicy Food and Hypertension
Recent studies have found some gender differences between consuming spicy food in winter and hypertension. Specifically, in females, those who eat spicy food 1-2 times a week and more than 3 times had their hypertension risk reduced by 10% and 12%, respectively. Additionally, the more frequently females consume spicy food per week, the more significant the decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In males, there was no clear correlation between the frequency of consuming spicy food per week and the risk of hypertension or blood pressure levels.
Effects of Spicy Food and Alcohol Consumption on Hypertension
Interesting findings also emerged from the study regarding alcohol consumption habits. Among drinkers, compared to non-spicy food eaters, those who consume spicy food daily had only a 2% decrease in hypertension risk. However, in non-drinkers, daily consumers of spicy food had a remarkable 28% decrease in hypertension risk.
Adjustment of Lifestyle Factors on the Impact of Spicy Food
In order to have a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of consuming spicy food in winter on blood pressure, researchers corrected for lifestyle factors, body mass index, waist circumference, and sleep duration. Through these adjustments, they attempted to eliminate other possible factors that could affect hypertension, aiming for a more accurate assessment of the impact of spicy food on blood pressure.
In this regard, the study results show that in females, even after considering the aforementioned factors, the risk of hypertension was reduced by 10% and 12% for those who consumed spicy food 1-2 times and more than 3 times, respectively. This suggests that the protective effect of spicy food on hypertension in females may be related to capsaicin’s bioactive components rather than factors like lifestyle.
This association is not as apparent in males. Even after considering lifestyle factors, the frequency of consuming spicy food does not seem to have a significant impact on the risk of hypertension in males. This indicates that there might be other factors influencing the relationship between spicy food and blood pressure in males, possibly involving hormone levels and metabolic pathways.
It is important to note that there are still uncertainties in the current research findings, especially regarding the specific biological mechanisms of how spicy food reduces the risk of hypertension. Future research could delve into the molecular level to further elucidate the role of capsaicin in areas such as blood vessels and the nervous system.
Finally, we recommend that when incorporating spicy food into a hypertension management strategy, personalized advice should be given based on individual factors such as gender and alcohol consumption habits. While people seek to reduce the risk of hypertension, it is essential to maintain a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle to comprehensively enhance cardiovascular health.
In addition to lowering blood pressure, regular consumption of chili peppers has also been found to have these benefits!
1. Boost Metabolism, Aid in Weight Loss
It has been proven that capsaicin in chili peppers can promote metabolism and accelerate fat burning. By increasing energy expenditure, chili peppers can be part of a weight loss plan. Research shows that chili peppers can stimulate the production of proteins beneficial for fat burning, aiding in weight management.
2. Alleviate Pain, Improve Arthritis Symptoms
Capsaicin is widely used in pain management. Its topical application can stimulate nerve endings, releasing a substance called “substance P,” which can inhibit the transmission of pain signals. Capsaicin is included in some topical medications for relieving arthritis and neuropathic pain.
3. Antioxidant Effect, Delay Aging
Chili peppers are rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and capsaicin, which counteract free radicals and help slow down cellular aging. This not only benefits skin health but may also have a positive impact on preventing chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
4. Improve Digestion, Promote Gastrointestinal Health
Chili peppers can stimulate the oral and gastric mucosa, increase saliva and gastric juice secretion, aiding in digestion and absorption of food. Chili peppers are also believed to slow down gastrointestinal motility and alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort. These effects may help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases.
5. Enhance Immunity, Prevent Colds
The capsaicin in chili peppers has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which can enhance the immune system. By consuming chili peppers regularly, individuals may be more resistant to colds and other respiratory infections.
6. Improve Cardiovascular Health
The benefits of chili peppers on cardiovascular health also extend to lowering cholesterol levels. Some studies have found that capsaicin in chili peppers can reduce cholesterol accumulation in the blood, thus lowering the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
Chili peppers, as a culinary seasoning, are rich in nutrients and offer multiple health benefits. When consuming chili peppers, it is important to remember these points to ensure that while enjoying the taste, you are also maintaining your health. For specific groups such as individuals with gastric ulcers and those allergic to chili peppers, caution should be exercised to avoid discomfort. The key to healthy consumption of spicy food lies in a balanced diet, moderate intake, and diversification in diet, considering individual health conditions to fully leverage the nutritional and pharmacological effects of chili peppers, enhancing our health.
#HealthyWinterPlan#
