Do you wonder if the burning sensation of a truly powerful hot sauce comes with benefits? In fact, there may be health benefits of hot sauce that go beyond spicing up your daily meals and enhancing your favorite recipes.
What are the health benefits of hot sauce and how do hot peppers work their magic? Let’s find out what the research has to say about the plus sides of being a chilihead.
10 Hot Sauce Health Benefits
Most of the research on the health benefits of hot sauce was done using high doses of capsaicin, which is the chemical compound that makes chili peppers hot. While the research suggests there are many positive effects of capsaicin in the diet, keep in mind that more studies are needed.1
Just some of the potential health benefits of hot peppers include:
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Boost nutrition. Hot peppers contain vitamin C, A, B, and E. They are also high in folate, magnesium, and potassium for a dash of added nutrition to every meal.
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They are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Studies suggest that capsaicin is a powerful antioxidant and reduces inflammation in the body.1
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Stop migraines. One treatment for migraines involves using a special spray containing capsaicin to numb the nerves that cause migraine pain.2 Ask your doctor; do not try this at home.
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Live longer. A single large study suggested that adults who ate spicy food including hot peppers once a week for 20 years reduced their risk of death by 13%. This might be due to the anti-inflammatory properties and link to weight loss.2
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Normalize insulin. Capsaicin is linked to preventing excess insulin levels, which in turn might reduce the risk of developing health conditions like Type 2 diabetes. Eating spicy hot sauces with a meal can help normalize insulin levels.
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Lose weight. Eating hot sauce may help prevent obesity, due to an appetite-suppressing hormone that is triggered by eating spicy foods high in capsaicin. It may also speed metabolism and reduce the risk of heart disease.2
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Relieve pain. The very fact that hot chili sauces cause a painful reaction in the mouth and on the skin might be a reason they relieve pain. Our bodies respond to the sensation of being burned by releasing endorphins, which can temporarily numb sensations of pain like those caused by arthritis and fibromyalgia.1,2
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Slow cancer. Early research suggests that high levels of capsaicin slow the growth of many kinds of cancer cells in mice. More research is needed to fully understand the benefits of hot sauce in cancer therapy.1,2
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Breathe easier. For certain kinds of stuffy nose or rhinitis that are not caused by allergies, capsaicin can clear the nasal passages and keep you breathing easy.
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Be happy. Another effect of that burning sensation and the release of endorphins is the way they impact your mood. Endorphins make you feel happy and reduce feelings of pain and stress. Eat your hot chili peppers and burn away the blues!
Finding Hot Sauces High in Capsaicin
Of course, the best reason to find your favorite hot sauce made from organic chili peppers, vinegar, and natural ingredients is for the amazing taste experience. The potential health benefits of a very hot artisanal chili pepper sauce from Hellfire are best discussed with your doctor.
Some people can get digestive discomfort from too much heat in their hot sauce, but this is a temporary price many are willing to pay for some of the best tasting and hottest hot sauces available. At Hellfire Hot Sauce, we balance flavor and heat in every bottle and create some of the hottest sauces on the planet from pure pepper mash and the finest fruits, liquors, and spices.
We are proud to be named as one of the healthiest hot sauces on the market by Men’s Fitness Magazine. When you want to spice up your daily diet and experience what makes our sauces famous, order a 4-pack of Hellfire for your table. We have the perfect sauce for everyday dining or mouth-scorching competitions like The Hot Ones, so bring the heat of Hellfire home today!
Sources:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-hot-sauce-good-for-you#sodium-content
- https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/ss/slideshow-foods-hot-peppers-benefits
