The documented health benefits from hot peppers continue to grow at a break-neck speed, similar to the increasing popularity of consuming hot foods in various forms. The heat and health benefits come from a chemical called capsaicin.

Below are 6 health benefits of hot peppers.

1- According to a study, eating red peppers with your meal will burn more calories and reduce cravings for fatty, sweet and salty foods.

Turns out that all of that sweating you do while eating spicy foods serves a real purpose.  But keep in mind a spicy ingredient alone is not a magical doorway to significant weight loss. The research team noted an occasional sprinkling of red pepper on your meal can be beneficial when combined with a healthy diet and an active lifestyle.

2- Incidence of death caused by vascular disease, heart attacks, and stroke among those cultures that traditionally eat the greatest amounts of spicy foods.

Consuming chili peppers seems to negate the effects of bad cholesterol (also known as LDL). Additionally, capsaicin, the chemical responsible for the burning effect that spicy foods create in your mouth, helps to fight inflammation (which is one of the things that can lead to a heart attack).

3- It has also been proven that capsaicin fight some cancer cells (including prostate cancer). Capsaicinoids may slow the growth of tumors and decrease the spread of cancer throughout the body.

According to the American Association for Cancer Research, capsaicin has the ability to kill some cancer and leukemic cells. One particular spice, turmeric, found in curry powder and some mustards, may slow the spread of cancer and growth of tumors.

4- In studies, capsaicin has been shown to protect the lungs from harmful items in the air such as cigarette smoke, exhaust, dust, and viruses.

To keep your significant other attracted to you, eating hot pepper powder acts as a disinfectant to the air you breathe out by improving the odor of your breath.

5- Jalapeno peppers are high in Vitamin A and C.

These vitamins help to strengthen heart muscle walls. Also, the heat of eating peppers increases the blood flow throughout the body. These are both help lower blood pressure and help keep the cardiovascular system strong.

6- The releases of endorphins, such as serotonin, which are related to eating peppers, promote a sense of pleasure. They may also help reduce feelings of depression and stress.

This might explain why folks eating super spicy foods always look so happy, even when they’re sweating buckets and crying from the pain!