Study says frequent spicy meals can increase your life span, but no evidence found

Scientists have come to know that curry can help people live longer. According to a new study published in the British Medical Journal, people who eat hot food are less likely to die prematurely.

During the study, researchers at the Harvard University monitored around 500,000 Chinese people for a period of more than seven years. It was found that the people who ate spicy food thrice a week were 14% less likely to die prematurely than the ones who abstained.

Though the researchers are saying that they cannot confirm that spicy food offers a protective effect, they believe that the findings of this new study should pave the way for further research on this subject, which might eventually result in fresh dietary recommendations.

Dried and fresh chili peppers were the most frequently used spices in the foods consumed by Chinese people eating spicy foods regularly. Additional analyses revealed that individuals who ate fresh chili appeared to be at much lower risk of dying from diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and cancer.

For those who don’t know: fresh chili is a rich source of capsaicin, an ingredient known for its ability to fight obesity, inflammation, and cancer.

University of Cambridge’s Dr. Nita Forouhi, however, is saying that it’s not the right time to announce whether only foods, or other behavior of people eating them, were responsible for the reduction in chances of dying prematurely.

According to her, further research is required for establishing whether consumption of spicy foods has the potential of improving an individual’s health and reduce his or her chances of dying or the habit is just a marker of other lifestyle and dietary factors.

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Researchers are still not asking people to eat spicy food for increasing their longevity. However, the findings of the study are exciting enough to trigger debates and further research.

Many healthcare experts, on the other hand, are saying that a balanced diet is still a perfect way of leading a healthy life. One such expert is Dr. Amelia Lake of Durham University. According to Dr. Lake, while some evidence gathered from previous studies suggests that spices do have some beneficial effects, they should always be consumed as parts of a balanced diet.