Can chili cure depression?

“Capsaicin has been shown to work as an endorphin,” Robinson says. “The body produces endorphins, like serotonin, in response to the heat, which it mistakes for pain. This makes you feel better and decreases the risk for depression or stress.”

piedmont.org - The Health Benefits Of Spicy Foods Explained - Piedmont Healthcare

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The health benefits of spicy foods

Chili peppers are the perfect way to spice up even the blandest of dishes. But did you know these fiery little vegetables can also be beneficial to your health?

Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which causes the burning sensation you feel after eating them. But capsaicin also can also help to alleviate pain by depleting the body's supply of Substance P, a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals to the brain. Haley Robinson, a clinical dietitian at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, shares six ways capsaicin can improve your health. 1. Weight loss. Spicy foods have been shown to help with weight loss. “Capsaicin helps increase your core temperature, increase metabolism and helps burn calories faster,” Robinson says. “Research has shown that it could increase your metabolism by up to 5 percent.” A recent study also showed that people consume about 75 fewer calories after eating food with red chili peppers compared to eating bland food. 2. Depression. “Capsaicin has been shown to work as an endorphin,” Robinson says. “The body produces endorphins, like serotonin, in response to the heat, which it mistakes for pain. This makes you feel better and decreases the risk for depression or stress.” 3. Cancer Prevention: Capsaicin works as an antioxidant, protecting cells from harmful molecules called free radicals that can cause cancer. 4. Heart Disease. Chili peppers reduce the damaging effects of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is your bad cholesterol. And capsaicin helps fight inflammation, which has been proven as a risk factor for heart issues. “The vitamin A and C found in these plants may help strengthen the heart muscle walls, and the heat of the peppers increases blood flow through your body,” Robinson says. “All of these factors working together may help lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.” 5. Digestion. “Capsaicin may improve digestion by increasing the digestive fluids in the stomach,” Robinson says. An increase in digestive fluids can help speed up the digestion process and relieve diarrhea. 6. Pain. Topical creams with capsaicin work as an analgesic and can be used to help with arthritic or neuropathic pain.

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Which foods promote weight loss?

9 Foods to Help You Lose Weight Beans. Inexpensive, filling, and versatile, beans are a great source of protein. ... Soup. Start a meal with a cup of soup, and you may end up eating less. ... Dark Chocolate. Want to enjoy chocolate between meals? ... Pureed Vegetables. ... Yogurt with berries. ... Nuts. ... Apples. ... Yogurt. More items...

webmd.com - 9 Foods to Help You Lose Weight - WebMD

Delicious foods that help you diet? It sounds too good to be true. No doubt: Weight loss comes down to simple math. You have to eat fewer calories than you burn. "Certain foods can help you shed body weight," says Heather Mangieri, RD, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, "because they help you feel full longer and help curb cravings." Some even kick up your metabolism. So take this list when you go to the supermarket: 1. Beans Inexpensive, filling, and versatile, beans are a great source of protein. Beans are also high in fiber and slow to digest. That means you feel full longer, which may stop you from eating more. 2. Soup Start a meal with a cup of soup, and you may end up eating less. It doesn’t matter if the soup is chunky or pureed, as long as it's broth-based. You want to keep the soup to 100 to 150 calories a serving. So skip the dollops of cream and butter. 3. Dark Chocolate Want to enjoy chocolate between meals? Pick a square or two of dark over the milky version. In one study, chocolate lovers who were given dark chocolate ate 15% less pizza a few hours later than those who had eaten milk chocolate. 4. Pureed Vegetables You can add more veggies to your diet, enjoy your "cheat" foods, and cut back on the calories you’re eating, all at the same time. When Penn State researchers added pureed cauliflower and zucchini to mac and cheese, people seemed to like the dish just as much. But they ate 200 to 350 fewer calories. Those healthy vegetables added low-cal bulk to the tasty dish.

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