It’s hard to believe that a food that burns your tongue, makes your eyes water, and causes you to sweat could possibly be good for your health. The surprising truth is that spicy foods really are good for you. Peppers and other hot spices do more than just kick up the flavor of your food. These hot foods are a good source of essential vitamins and contain chemical compounds that can help you lose weight and feel better.

Pain-reliever (and cancer-fighter?)
When you consider how uncomfortable it can be to eat spicy foods, it’s tough to imagine that the tear-inducing spices in a dish of Indian or Thai food might help relieve pain — but they do.

A chemical called capsaicin, found in hot peppers, is responsible for that fiery burn you experience when you eat these foods. Besides making you sweat, capsaicin can actually relieve headaches and muscle aches. That’s why you’ll find this chemical antioxidant in some over-the-counter muscle rubs and headache creams. But that’s not the only way capsaicin can make you feel better: capsaicin is also a mood booster. When a hot pepper hits your tongue, the receptors in your mouth signal your brain to release endorphins, feel-good chemicals. These endorphins not only help you get over the pain of eating a hot pepper, but also put your brain in a good mood.

Studies have also linked capsaicin to cancer prevention. There’s preliminary research to show that capsaicin actually slowed the growth of cancer cells and, in some cases, caused cancer cells to die off completely.

Weight loss booster
Eating spicy foods might also help you stick with your diet and exercise plan. A British study found that women who topped their lunch with two teaspoons of red pepper consumed fewer calories and ate less fat in the rest of the meals for the day. The effect of spicy foods on your metabolism is a modest boost — similar to drinking green tea or caffeine — but over time, it might give your efforts in staying slim a boost, as well.

Vitamin boosters
One of the most surprising things about peppers is how good they are for you and your diet. No matter what color or spice level they are, all peppers contain an abundance of phytochemicals, naturally-occurring plant compounds that are packed with antioxidants. Eating antioxidants is important because they fight free radicals, the compounds that damage our cells. Get your fill of antioxidants each day and you’ll likely look younger, feel better, and be healthier, overall.

Besides containing antioxidants, peppers are also a great source of vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Just a half cup a day of peppers — of any color — can help you fight off infections, improve your eyesight, and lower your risk of developing cancer and other diseases.

Spicing up your diet
Knowing all the ways that spicy foods are good for you and your health, you might want to look for ways to incorporate more spice into your diet.  Here are a few ideas: 

• Boost your metabolism in the morning by spicing up your omelet with a few dashes of hot sauce.
• Dust curry spice (a savory spice common in Indian food) over plain rice and beans.
• Get your sweet fix by picking up a bar of dark chocolate that’s spiced with heart-healthy cayenne.
• Add some turmeric to your cottage cheese before a big workout. The spice aids in muscle repair.
• Pick up some green chilies, the hot peppers commonly used in Thai food, and add them to your chicken soup when you have a cold. The hot pepper acts like an expectorant, helping you clear out mucus.

With so many health benefits to eating spicy foods, it’s surely time to spice up your life a bit with a particular pepper!