Spicy meals are loved by many. They add much flavor and kick to otherwise bland food. Adding hot sauce or chili oil to any savory dish is a ritual for numerous people.
Some believe that spicy dishes are mostly unhealthy because of their effect on the stomach lining. Therefore, chili must also not be good for the body. In contrast to this, many diet-friendly recipes include the addition of chili.
This leads many to the question is chili healthy for weight loss? Scroll down below to find out the answer.
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Types of Chilis and How They are Used
There are several types of chilis with varying levels of spiciness. For example, the Carolina Reaper is the spiciest chili pepper to exist. It is mainly used in foods to create dishes for food challenges. Banana peppers, a much milder chili, are commonly used for cooking several dishes.
If you are ever curious about what chili has what level of spiciness, look up the Scoville Scale, which is the measurement of the spiciness of a particular chili. 0-100 is the lowest value of the Scoville heat unit, 3,000,000+ being the highest.
Chilis are used in dishes by themselves, as flakes, or in powdered form. They can also be eaten raw, if you can handle its spice, that is. Therefore, as chilis require no preparation for consumption, they are easy to include in dishes. Chili flakes can also effortlessly be made at home. Simply blend up some dried red chilis!
Many Asian cuisines use chilis in almost all savory dishes. Tteokbokki, Szechuan Spicy Chicken, and Laal Maas are some of the most popular ones, loved by people worldwide.
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Chili and its Health Benefits
People conscious of their health and well-being are constantly looking for foods that are beneficial for their health. Chili is a common ingredient that also possesses several health benefits.
As people are becoming more familiar with the benefits of eating chili, they are incorporating it more into their cooking. A few of these benefits have been stated below.
Weight Loss:
Chili possesses several weight loss properties. Some consume chili with the sole purpose of losing weight.
Not to mention, chilis are one of the most versatile ingredients that can be paired with any suitable dish from the several fresh produce available in the market. Therefore, chili consisting foods are highly diet-friendly.
This topic has been further elaborated on in this article.
Lowers the Risk of Heart Diseases:
As surprising as it may sound, eating chilis and spicy foods can decrease the probability of heart diseases. The ingredient capsaicin in chilis helps to burn fat in the body.
Chili can also help to reduce inflammation in the arteries. This allows the heart to maintain proper blood flow. Therefore, you can say that chili helps protect your heart.
Rich in Nutrients:
A balanced diet should always consist of ingredients packed with adequate nutrients. Chili peppers are an excellent source of Vitamin C. They contain other nutrients and minerals such as Vitamin A, calcium, potassium, etc.
Lemons are what we assume to be the richest source of vitamin C. But surprisingly, chilis contain it in a much higher percentage.
Vitamin C is essential for maintaining healthy skin. Substantial amounts of vitamin A can prevent night blindness. Therefore, chilis are beneficial in many aspects.
Can Help with Sinus Infections:
People suffering from blocked sinuses know how painful it is not to be able to breathe correctly and not be able to taste anything while eating. Under these circumstances, chili becomes a savior for people enduring such discomfort.
A warm spicy soup can be enough to help clear up your sinuses and bring back flavor into your mouth. The intense component in chilis stimulates your sinuses, clearing them from congestion.
Helps Prevent Cancer:
Chili is known to be an anti-cancer food as it can induce the death of cancer cells and reduce the rate at which cancerous cells spread.
They are also rich in antioxidants, which play an essential role in cancer prevention. Antioxidants eliminate cancer-triggering radicals that roam around freely inside the body.
Such properties of chili have caused people to consider it a cancer-preventing food.
Aids to Reduce Stress:
Last but not least, eating spicy foods can also help your mental wellness. Some claim that consuming chili greatly helps with stress and anxiety relief.
Spicy foods can help you distract from your stress-causing thoughts and also aids in releasing the happiness-causing hormones – endorphins. Even a bowl of spicy ramen after a long tiresome day can help fade your worries away!
Studies have shown that people consuming chilis regularly are less likely to die from severe diseases. If you consider incorporating chili into your dishes, be sure to do so!
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Some Disadvantages of Chili
Excess consumption of any food may result in unpleasant consequences. Similarly, if eaten in large quantities, chili can cause several health problems such as intestinal distress, gastritis, indigestion, etc.
People suffering from stomach ulcers should be especially cautious of their chili intake as capsaicin is also an irritant and can cause such conditions to worsen. Pregnant women should also be mindful of spicy foods as, in some cases, they can even induce premature labor.
Heartburns and stomach aches are two of the many discomforts competitive eaters experience while participating in spice tolerance challenges. Thus, consuming chilis in large amounts can be dangerous for the body and should be eaten in moderation.
Is Chili Healthy for Weight Loss?
Capsaicin is the critical component of chili that causes spiciness and helps with weight loss. There are many ways in which capsaicin aids in losing weight. The key factors have been stated as follows:
Chili Can Help Burn Fat:
Without regular exercise and a surplus intake of rich foods, excess fat builds up in the body. This can cause several obesity-related diseases, some even life-threatening ones.
Capsaicin in chilis helps burn fat in the body by converting it into energy. Therefore, spicy foods also help you feel more energetic. After eating foods with chili, you sometimes experience a burst of energy.
Suppose you are trying to get rid of the excess fat in your body with regular exercise and healthy chili-inclusive dishes. In that case, you will be fitter in no time!
Aids to Suppress Appetite:
Many find it difficult not to exceed their calorie limit for the day. This is one of the most common causes of weight gain. This leads several people to rely on harmful diet suppressants that withhold side-effects and risks of increased blood pressure, insomnia, and much more.
What if I told you chilis are nature’s diet suppressants? The spicy sensation caused by capsaicin helps suppress appetite. This results in an overall decrease in food intake throughout the day without containing the risks of actual diet suppressants.
Increases Metabolism:
The higher your metabolic rate is, the more calories you can burn. As you might have seen, people who claim to have increased metabolism can eat as much as they want and not gain any weight!
Therefore, to lose weight, people intensely focus on increasing their metabolism. An increased metabolism efficiently converts the consumed food into energy, burning calories off faster.
Capsaicin in chilis produces heat in the body. Simply put, the higher the energy, the faster a reaction is. Similarly, the excess heat created by chilis helps accelerate the breakdown of calories.
Chili Inclusive Dishes for Weight Loss
Long gone are the days of eating bland diet foods. Now many types of seasonings and chilis can be gracefully incorporated into several diet-friendly dishes. As mentioned previously, chili helps to lose weight and adds flavor to the plate.
The internet consists of numerous spicy dishes that help to boost your metabolism. A sprinkle of chili powder added to a healthy salad dressing made with olive oil and lemon juice can help elevate the taste of your salad. Or, simply seasoning air-fried kale chips with salt and chili flakes is a tasty addition to the crispy and healthy chips.
Consuming such foods along with regular exercise aids in triggering your fat-burning process. Get creative with using chilis in your dishes, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about chili.
What makes chilis spicy?
A chemical known as capsaicin in chili peppers makes them taste spicy.
What is the hottest chili pepper to exist?
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Carolina Reaper is the hottest chili pepper globally.
Can consuming chilis be harmful?
Eating an excess amount of chili at once can be harmful to the body. It can cause diseases such as heartburn and intestinal discomfort.
Are bell peppers considered to be chili?
Yes! Although bell peppers are not spicy as they do not contain any amount of capsaicin, they belong to the same family as chilis.
Final Words
Many trying to lose weight often wonder if their diet will be hampered by eating spicy foods. Let alone hindrance, and chili instead helps to lose more weight.
It is an ingredient loved by many with numerous health benefits. Eat chili often (but in moderation) to lead a healthier life. Therefore, if you see someone question, is chili healthy for weight loss, be sure to answer with “Definitely!”.
