HOT TIPS FOR HEART HEALTH
The chemical compound that gives chillies their intense flavour can truly fire up your cardiovascular defences. It’s a case of no pain, no gain
Fire up your cardiovascular defences with chillies. It’s a case of no pain, no gain
Go for the vindaloo – it’ll do you good. Though you might question our intentions during tomorrow’s morning ablutions, our seemingly sadistic advice has your longevity in mind.
According to an Italian study in the Journal of the American
College of Cardiology, those who consumed spicy chilli peppers more than four times a week had a 40% lower chance of suffering a fatal heart attack. What’s more, the protective effects weren’t dependent on other dietary factors; the same benefits were recorded among people who stuck to a healthy Mediterranean diet and those who didn’t.
You might be the sweatiest one at the table during your next trip to Nando’s, but gritting your teeth and reaching for the hot sauce is a sensible choice. As you mop your brow with a napkin, you can remind everyone that upping your chilli consumption reduces your mortality risk from all causes by as much as 23%.
A separate study in the BMJ backs up the findings, but with a catch. It found that chillies were able to offer some protection against a range of diseases – including lethal cancers – but consuming alcohol wiped out the benefits. If you can’t imagine hitting the Balti house without a few lagers to wash things down, slice some fresh chillies and throw them in your al-desko lunch. They’ll add an appetising twist to your pasta leftovers and may even help you push out a few more reps at the gym, according to researchers at the University of São Paulo. Fortune clearly favours the bold.