Student Article
Can Eating Chili Peppers Help You Live Longer?
Cardiovascular (adjective): Related to the heart and blood vessels.
Antioxidant (noun): A substance that protects cells from damage caused by harmful molecules.
Observational (adjective): Based on watching and analyzing, not from experiments.
Longevity (noun): A long life or existence.
Randomized (adjective): Chosen by chance, often used in scientific experiments to avoid bias.
A fiery plate of food might do more than tingle your tongue — it could also extend your life. According to new research from Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute, people who regularly consume chili peppers may reduce their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other causes.
The secret ingredient: capsaicin
The key component in chilies is capsaicin — the chemical responsible for their heat. Capsaicin has known anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, and blood sugar-regulating properties.
What the study found about chili eaters
This conclusion comes from a review of over 570,000 individuals across four major population studies conducted in the U.S., Italy, China, and Iran. The analysis revealed that people who frequently consumed chili peppers had a 26% lower chance of dying from heart disease, a 23% lower cancer mortality rate, and a 25% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with those who rarely or never ate them.
What we still don’t know (yet)
Dr. Bo Xu, a cardiologist and the senior author of the study, emphasized that these findings are observational and based on previously published data. The specific type and amount of chili pepper varied across studies, and no firm guidelines can yet be recommended. Additionally, the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear, meaning we don’t yet know exactly how chili peppers may influence longevity.
So, should you eat more spice?
Until randomized controlled trials are conducted, researchers can’t conclusively say that spicy foods like chili peppers directly improve life expectancy. But the data does highlight how diet may play a powerful role in long-term health.
© Jason Goodyer / Our Media
Cardiovascular (adjective): Related to the heart and blood vessels.
Antioxidant (noun): A substance that protects cells from damage caused by harmful molecules.
Observational (adjective): Based on watching and analyzing, not from experiments.
Longevity (noun): A long life or existence.
Randomized (adjective): Chosen by chance, often used in scientific experiments to avoid bias.