Eating Hot Peppers Is Linked To Living Longer

In good news for people who like spicy food, a new study indicated that eating chile peppers could help people live longer.

According to Medical XPress, a new study showed that eating hot peppers was associated with a longer lifespan and a reduced risk of death due to heart disease or stroke.

The study, published in Plos One, looked at 16,000 American men of various ages, races, dietary habits, education levels, and smoking patterns over 23 years. The study also looked at whether these men ate chile peppers and/or spicy food. The findings suggested that the people who ate chile peppers lived longer than those who don't.

How exactly chile peppers are related to lower mortality is still a question, though. Researchers theorize that the chemical capsaicin, which makes peppers taste spicy, is responsible because it increases blood flow and is also linked to a reduced risk of obesity.

The research is still ongoing, but in the meantime, check out some of our best chile pepper recipes.