Could eating spicy food make you live longer?
Feel the burn
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HEALTH Red Hot Chili Peppers
Good news for those who love spicy foods! A study conducted by the University of Vermont proved that people who consumed chili peppers actually lived longer.
The researchers followed more than 16,000 Americans for a span of 23 years. The participants were split into two groups, those who regularly ate red hot chili peppers, and those who didn't at all.
The findings showed that there were noticeably fewer deaths within the chili eating group. So much so, that they found out there was a 13% less chance of dying for those who consumed the spicy vegetable.
They don't know the exact medical reason the chilies could make you live longer. However, maybe it's because there's an ingredient in peppers called capsaicin that helps regulate blood flow to the heart, according to NowThis.
This study is not the first of its kind—researchers have been attempting to prove health benefits of a spicy diet for years. From curing a common cold to preventing obesity, there are many claims on the subject.
For those who go heavy-handed with the sriracha, keep on burnin'.