SPICY FOOD MAY HELP

CURB SALT CRAVINGS

If you enjoy eating spicy Chinese food, there are greater chances that you would crave less for salt and have lower blood pressure, potentially reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, new research suggests.

“Previously, a pilot study found that trace amounts of capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their pungent smell, enhanced the perception of food being salty,” said senior study author Zhiming Zhu, Professor at the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China. “We wanted to test whether this effect would also reduce salt consumption,” Zhu added. The study enrolled more than 600 Chinese adults and determined their preferences

for salty and spicy flavours. Researchers then linked those preferences to blood pressure.

The findings showed that compared to those who least enjoyed spicy foods, participants with a high spicy preference had lower blood pressure and consumed less salt than participants who had a low spicy preference. “If you add some spices to your cooking, you can cook food that tastes good without using as much salt,” Zhu said.