Health benefits of eating spicy food
辛辣食物的健康功效

Spicy food may not be to everyone's liking - some cultures relish it while others tend to shy away from it, but according to a new study published in the British Medical Journal, there might be some real health benefits to eating spicy foods.

Chinese hot pot - for some it's a delicious delight? For others a painful experience that can set your mouth on fire. For those that find it hard to swallow, there's a little more incentive to take another bite.

A recent report co-authored by Lu Qi when he was at Harvard University suggests that eating spicy food increases your odds of vinglonger.

"It's related to reduced risk of mortality. So eating spicy food almost every day is related to 14 percent lower risk," said Lu Qi, professor of epidemiology of Tulane University.

For those that can't stomach a daily dose of spicy food, don't despair. The study finds a 10 percent drop in mortality if you eat spicy food just once or twice a week.

"So you can just increase moderately it's going to benefit you," Lu Qi said.

The report is based on data collected from almost half a million people in China who were asked how often they ate hot, spicy foods. Qi thinks the results would be similar in other countries.

"I think the major active part is dietary and not genetics. If there's any difference across populations, the difference should be moderate not considerable," Lu Qi said.

The main spicy food consumed by respondents was fresh and dried chili peppers, which contain capsaicin, which has been linked with numerous health benefits.

Qi said those who ate chili peppers on a regular basis were less likely to die of diseases like cancer and cardiovascular disease.

But before you pop that chili pepper in your mouth - know this - the study does not prove cause and effect. More research needs to be done for that. But it does show a strong link between spicy foods and longevity and that may be enough for most to take a bite of the hot stuff.