By Sara Butler
Some people just can’t get enough spice! Turning up the heat on your favorite foods can be a culinary adventure, but eating spicy food does more than just light up your taste buds. It turns out that spice can have an impact on your body -- in a few ways you may not have imagined. Here’s the good and the bad of eating fiery foods.
It Can Improve Your Immune System
The peppers that lend spice to food are really good for your health. They often contain a healthy dose of Vitamin C and Vitamin A, which help to support a healthy immune system. Spicy foods also have antibacterial qualities, helping you to fend off any budding infections in your digestive system.
It Speeds Metabolism
Spicy foods get their spice from a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin can help to speed up your metabolism by increasing your body temperature and heart. So, all that sweating when you eat something spicy is kind of like a workout. But let’s be honest here, spicy food is no substitute for proper exercise and healthy eating. Those spicy, deep fried chicken wings still aren’t good for you.
It Can Give Your Heartburn
It can be an unfortunate side effect of spicy foods -- heartburn. In truth, spicy foods themselves don’t cause heartburn. What they can do is make an existing condition worse. If you notice your heartburn is worse after something spicy, then you need to cut back. You can also temper the impact of spice with some yogurt or other dairy product.
It Kills Your Taste Buds
OK, so spicy food may not actually kill your taste buds, but it can make them less sensitive. Eating spice on the regular can dull your taste buds over time, so try to space out your spice. That will guarantee that you will enjoy spicy food for years to come.
It Can Irritate Your Skin
Have you ever been cutting up peppers for your favorite spicy dish and accidentally touched your eye? That’s a mistake you probably won’t make again! One of the downsides to spicy foods is they can cause irritation to your skin and mucous membranes. If you want to help your lips out before a particularly spicy meal, then put on some lip balm for some extra protection.
You can enjoy spicy foods, just make sure you know what it can do!
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Mill, S.C.
