Is spicy food harmful or can you still dilute your diet with it. Spicy food - benefits and harms to humans

Many studies prove that the use of certain spices makes food healthier. In particular, this applies to those spices that are literally "fiery". What is useful in them?

Improve the functioning of the digestive system. All spicy spices enhance the selection gastric juice. This helps to improve the flow to the gastric walls and restore the mucosa. In addition, capsaicin, which is rich in hot peppers, destroys bacteria that penetrate into digestive tract with food.

Help in the fight against colds. Hot spices increase perspiration, reducing the discomfort caused by the body. Also, spices cleanse the nasal passages and help remove mucus from the bronchi.

Help to fall asleep. The warming effect of spices helps to relax and fall asleep peacefully. And since lovers of spicy dishes are rarely crowded, a person gets enough sleep and wakes up in the morning cheerful and has breakfast.

They're filming. Spicy foods increase the content of pleasure hormones - serotonin and endorphins. Such food calms, suppresses the effects of stress and can even ease mild pain.

Arguments against spicy food

Experts, despite the obvious health benefits, advise eating hot spices with caution, and sometimes even recommend giving them up altogether. What's the matter?

. Excessive amounts of spicy foods in the diet can cause gastritis - inflammation of the stomach lining. As a rule, it is caused by an infection, however, constant irritation of the stomach walls with spicy food can cause a weakening of the protective barrier.

. Spicy and spicy foods increase the secretion of gastric juice and can cause - throwing the mass contained in the stomach into. Most often this happens after plentiful feasts.

Unpleasant "aroma" from the mouth. Spicy seasonings, which contain garlic and onions, retain an unpleasant odor in the mouth for a long time.

Violation of the sensitivity of taste buds. Consuming spicy foods regularly can cause your taste buds to malfunction. This explains the addiction to the use of hot spices and the rejection of insipid food, which begins to seem tasteless.

Know when to stop

Regardless of the fact that spicy foods can be healthy, they should not be overused. Remember that the discomfort experienced by a person in the process of tasting spicy food is a signal from the body that a violation has occurred. normal operation.

The most careful monitoring of the use of hot spices should be people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or with hypersensitivity for spicy tastes. Learn to use spices in moderation to enjoy their flavor and maximize health benefits.

Spicy food has been the cause of controversy among many nutritionists for many decades. Some say that it is harmful, while others, on the contrary, advise sometimes adding something spicy and exotic to food. The bottom line is that so far no one has given a clear answer to the question of whether spicy food is harmful. Therefore, it is up to you to decide whether to include hot peppers or exotic spices in your diet. Yes, in excessive quantities such things are definitely harmful and this is not even in doubt. But when used judiciously, there shouldn't be anything particularly bad from pungency. Although there are some nuances that we will try to make out.

There is an opinion that all spicy food has a very good effect on a person, charges him with little energy. Spicy spices improve blood circulation, greatly strengthen immune system human against certain bacteria and diseases, and also make general exchange substances in the human body more effective. But there is another opinion: for the stomach, spicy dishes are harmful in any quantities and you can use them only to the detriment of yourself and your body.
Numerous nutritionists and experts in this matter highlight the mass positive sides from eating spicy food

- It stimulates the appetite very well, so it can be used as a snack before dinner. On the positive side, people who eat little but often have good calorie control;
- Spicy food normalizes blood circulation and makes it more positive. Blood with the help of such food can independently cleanse and liquefy. Poor cholesterol is also automatically removed from the blood, a person feels much better than before. They constantly say about hot pepper that it strengthens blood vessels well and saturates them with vitamins of groups C and A;
- What is the use of spicy food besides this? It protects well against bacteria that can penetrate into human body different ways and helps relieve the symptoms of a cold. Symptoms such as runny nose and fever are very well removed by the regular use of small amounts of spicy food;
- Under the influence of acute, the human digestive system begins to work better. Gastric juice begins to stand out more intensively, so any food consumed will be digested simply gorgeous. The gastric mucosa will also recover remarkably, so there are really solid pluses from this side;
- In addition, it is spicy food that produces hormones of happiness, which allows you to provide a small analgesic effect. The consumption of salt is also limited, because due to spicy food, unsalted dishes can be easily eaten;
- If you eat a little spicy food before going to bed, it will contribute to a more peaceful rest. Spicy dishes will also be very useful for phlegmatic people, as they can significantly increase their temperament;

Is spicy food healthy? As we can see, it has obvious advantages. But some nutritionists insist on the importance of the existing disadvantages. Let's talk about them:

- Spicy food is annoying digestive system and lowers their natural defenses. In fairness, it must be said that this is possible only with its excessive use. Also, remember that overuse such food inevitably leads to gastritis, and then to a stomach ulcer;
- Another obvious minus - because of spicy food, heartburn can quickly develop, especially when overeating. Therefore, it is undesirable to take it in quantities greater than your doctor can prescribe;
- It is customary to attribute the serious disadvantages of such food to the fact that it seriously violates the sensitivity of human receptors responsible for taste. If you regularly eat spicy things, then ordinary food will no longer be as tasty and interesting as before;
- Spicy food guarantees you bad smell from mouth. All the hot spices so often added to food keep bad breath very for a long time. Almost all such seasonings contain onions and garlic, and in large quantities.

In general - as mentioned above, spicy food in reasonable quantities is only good. If it is abused, then you can get a very unpleasant effect, in which a person gradually earns the most natural ulcer. On the this moment it is not known for certain whether excessive consumption of spicy food can lead to something extremely difficult for health, but the fact remains that if you eat spicy in moderation, then most often everything is fine. In addition, you need to take into account your own individual contraindications, which may prohibit eating any spicy food or seasonings. Listen carefully to contraindications and always follow them in order to avoid most problems.

No nation in the world can boast of the absence of spicy dishes in the national cuisine. And the main consumer of such culinary products is most often a man. For more than a decade, some scientists have been talking about the dangers of spicy cuisine for male body. Others, on the contrary, praise her beneficial features. So what should the modern man focus on?

List of spicy foods that do not need to be cooked

It's no secret that the best chefs are men. Is it any wonder that the representatives of the stronger sex every day try to create a masterpiece in their own kitchen, which would not be inferior to dishes served in restaurants or elite pubs. Those who never found common language with kitchen appliances, is simply content with new positions in catering places.

As a rule, spicy food is classified as "Alarm!", and is not recommended by nutritionists. Therefore, it is better to completely or partially exclude some items from the daily menu from the diet:

1. Hamburgers.
Do not give up the periodic snack cutlets with a crispy bun. It is only necessary to focus on the content in the middle of these components. Spicy and pickled peppers, pickles and a sauce full of harmful trace elements - this is what serious harm. But remember your student days - beer with a burger was our daily meal.

2. Seafood.
Most modern dishes are made with spices. Thanks to them, it is possible to give a special taste. Seafood itself is an indispensable component of a man's diet. But what is mixed in them is a taboo for health.

4. Beer snacks.
Today, many pubs serve up beer accompaniments to patrons. These are garliks ​​(garlic croutons), onion rings, fish and meat cuts. As a rule, these dishes are made from expired products. A large amount of spices allows you to add flavor.

There is not enough time to list all the dishes that are very popular in modern world and which should be excluded from the diet. Suffice it to sum up one result - you should refrain from food rich in such ingredients:

• Pepper
• Marinades
• Other spices

However, do not build rigid boundaries. Measured use (rare and in small quantities) will allow you to simultaneously enjoy delicious food, and not harm the body.

Top 5 Spicy Food Recipes

As already mentioned, you should not completely give up spicy foods. Sometimes you can pamper your stomach with delicious spicy dishes. It will not be difficult even for a novice culinary specialist to prepare each of the items listed below.

The best spicy food recipes:

1. Cheese and garlic sticks

An excellent delicacy that is suitable for both holiday table, and for an ordinary evening gathering at the TV. You will need:

• Filtered water (1.25 cups)
• Honey (1 tsp)
• Salt (1 tsp)
• Yeast (7 grams)
• 5 garlic cloves
• Butter (225 grams)
• Garlic powder (1 tsp)
• Parmesan (150 grams)
• Oregano (2 spoons)
• Rosemary (2 tsp)
• Thyme (1/4 tsp)

Pour water into a container and add honey with yeast. After the appearance of foam, add salt and flour. Knead and leave for 30 minutes. Blend cheese, oregano, thyme and rosemary in a blender. Transfer the resulting mass to a bowl.

The dough, when it is infused, roll up and divide into 5-6 parts (strips). Separately, mix the oil with garlic powder. Dip the dough sticks in this oil. Then roll in the cheese mass.

Put the sticks on a baking sheet, and send to bake for 17-18 minutes. The temperature in the oven should be at least 200 degrees.

2. Spicy cheese cakes

Another tasty dish perfect for your holiday table. You will need:

• Egg (2 pcs)
• Cottage cheese (250 grams)
• Sugar (1/2 teaspoon)
• Salt (1/2 teaspoon)
• Flour (250 grams)
• Baking powder (1 teaspoon)
• Mozzarella (150 grams)
• Garlic (cloves)
• Sour cream (1 tablespoon)
• Thyme (1 handful)

Mix one egg, butter and cottage cheese. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees. Flour is mixed with baking powder. Salt and sugar are added to it. After that, everything is mixed with the curd mass. The resulting mixture is put aside for a few minutes.

The cheese is rubbed on a grater, and garlic, passed through a press, is suspended from it. Next, thyme and sour cream are added.

The dough is divided into two parts, each of which rolls into a ball. The first layer is placed on a baking sheet. Cheese filling is laid out on it. It is closed with a second layer, and sent to the oven. Bake no more than 20 minutes.

3. Chicken wings in a spicy apple-tomato marinade

Chicken dishes will never lose their relevance on the table. For the dish you will need:

• Chicken wings (1 kg)
• Butter (150 grams)
• Apple puree (80 grams)
• Tomato sauce (80 grams)
• Sugar (3 tablespoons)
• Tabasco (1/2 teaspoon)
• Soy sauce (3 tablespoons)
• Half a lemon (squeeze out the juice)
• Vegetable oil (2 tablespoons)
• Cinnamon (1/2 tsp)
• Paprika (1 tsp)

Add sugar to lemon juice. Combine with tomato paste and applesauce. Add spices and vegetable oil there.

Put the container on the fire and heat to a boil. Add Tabasco sauce.

Cut the chicken wings and put them in the marinade. Leave on the stove for 2 hours over medium heat. After pulling out the wings and spread on the grill. Fry for 5 minutes each side.

4. Garlic croutons

Soft crackers are perfect both as a snack for beer and for a snack before a feast. You will need:

• Rye bread
• Salt (1 teaspoon)
• Garlic (3 cloves)
• Butter (100 grams)
• Garlic powder (1 teaspoon)

Slice the bread into 1cm strips. Melt the butter in a frying pan and pour the remaining ingredients into it. Pour the resulting mass over the bread slices, and put them on a baking sheet covered with foil. Warm in the oven for 25 minutes.

5. Spicy Mexican Burger

Is the king of fast food. Not to say that it is healthy, but one burger, eaten once a week, has never harmed anyone. For cooking you will need:

• Minced meat (500 grams)
• Chili pepper (5 grams)
• Onion (2 pcs)
• Ground black pepper
• Avocado (1 pc)
• Garlic (1 clove)
• Lemon juice (15 ml)

Mix minced meat, onion and chili. Add spices. Make 4 patties and brush each with oil. Grill until each side is brown.

Mash an avocado and combine it with lemon juice and onions. There are also garlic, pepper and salt. Place the resulting mixture on the minced meat. Next, combine with a bun.

The benefits and harms of spicy food

Spicy food, although criticized by nutritionists, is not only harmful to the body. Its more useful properties are as follows:

• Strengthening the walls of blood vessels;
• Improvement of blood circulation;
• Normalization of digestion;
• Elimination of colds / Destruction of harmful microbes;
• Stress management;
• Sleep normalization.

The benefits of spicy foods also lie in weight loss, because after taking it, the heartbeat quickens and the temperature rises, which has a positive effect on fat burning. Spicy stimulates the appetite, but eliminates the desire to taste harmful salty foods. In view of this, many people who want to lose weight tend to replace salt with pepper, turmeric, ginseng or some other spice.

The reason spicy foods are avoided is because of the following negative effects:

• Indigestion (gastritis, ulcer).
• Damage to receptors on the tongue.

A person who often uses spicy food will sooner or later go to a gastroenterologist. Conclusion: Spicy dishes are quite appropriate on the table, but this should be a rare occurrence. Special attention should pay attention to the serving size.

Consequences after eating spicy food

Although the dishes of this category have a warming effect on the body, the presence discomfort they are more typical. After spicy food, there is an unpleasant smell from the mouth. Also, in most cases, heartburn occurs. If, after eating spices, abdominal pain appears, then this is an indicator of the development of a stomach disease.

Eating spicy foods promotes the release of bile, which allows you to break down heavy fats in food and prevents the formation of gallstones.

Who does not have problems with diseases: gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcer, he can eat spicy food with pleasure, this is useful.

Pepper and hot spices also contribute to the rutting of worms from the digestive tract.

Spicy foods include not only pepper and seasonings with it, but also horseradish, mustard, onion and raw garlic. All the same, the tradition is to eat these spicy foods in cold period is not accidental. After all, they increase immunity, contribute to the destruction harmful bacteria, improve appetite and speed up metabolism. Harm can be when used in in large numbers and on an empty stomach, as spicy food can irritate the walls of the stomach.

Spicy food is useful, only in moderation, and not everyone can use it, only people without problems and diseases of the digestive system. In some cases, spicy food is strictly contraindicated, for example, with ulcers, gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, doudenitis, etc. If a person does not suffer from any diseases, then spicy food can help boost immunity, it also helps burn fat, calories, increases metabolism, normalizes blood circulation, blood pressure, and even reduces appetite, because. actively affects taste buds and a person is saturated faster. But it is worth noting that excessive consumption of spicy foods irritates the walls of the stomach and can cause pain even healthy people so everything is good in moderation.

It's all individual. If the body accepts spicy food well, then it is possible. The benefit is that the dish is ten times tastier, and well seasoned food improves appetite. And it harms those who have gastrointestinal problems.

Spicy foods are just as bad as foods that are too salty, too fatty, or too sweet.

Extremes in everything are undesirable.

Spicy food in reasonable quantities improves appetite, has a good effect on immunity, relieves the stomach of some pathogenic bacteria.

The abuse of hot spices has a bad effect on gastrointestinal tract, impairs the sensitivity of taste buds. People with caution eat spicy food hyperacidity stomach.

Spicy food has long been loved by man, it is only important to understand that not all spicy food is good for health and, again, there is no universality. If a person has a stomach ulcer or ulcers on the oral mucosa, then spicy food contraindicated. But it is not for nothing that most people have a positive attitude towards spicy food. Spicy food stimulates appetite, kills pathogenic bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, and I personally like the taste of spicy food, which is also important.

Spicy food is harmful in case of exhaustion, in diseases of the stomach, gastrointestinal tract. Also, an excess of such food is harmful to hot people, Pitta type.

Spicy food is far from being a safe product if eaten in moderation or consumed by people with certain gastrointestinal diseases. It is believed that the hotness of food allows you to increase metabolism, facilitates digestion and thereby contributes to weight loss. This will be read by those who are on an eternal diet and let's experience it for ourselves without the slightest movement of the mind.

There are countries in which it is a tradition to use hot peppers and others in their diet ... these are some tropical countries. Some tribes simply escaped epidemics and infections in this way. I consider this a plus. So think, most of the epidemics mowed down Europe, lacked pungency? from Asia and Latin America hot and spicy food has arrived in our area. But did it stick? Is it useful?

Abuse spicy foods lead to:

• Gastritis.
• Irritations of the esophagus, walls of the stomach and intestines (little pleasant).
• It definitely brings heartburn.
• Causes bad breath, rumbling in the stomach.
• Worse, such food can also be addictive. A person will simply stop getting a taste from ordinary non-burning food, receptors are tuned only to a strong taste.
• There is an assumption that spicy food can have a bad effect on the joints, leading to headaches.
• Based on some studies, conclusions are drawn that such food spoils the mood, as it has a rather bad effect on the nervous system.

What are the benefits of spicy food?

• Excitement of appetite, acceleration of assimilation and digestion.
• Prevents slagging of the body.
• Strengthening immunity.
• Tones the work of peristalsis.
• Stimulates lactation.
• It thins the blood and thus prevents blood clots from forming.
• Suppression of certain infections.
• Promotes the production of those phytoncides in the body of the user, which are needed to destroy the unpleasant, pathogenic flora.



What to do? Can you eat or not? Sun depends on medical indicators and, of course, the measure should be in cm.

Of course, such food has its own specifics, for example, in such hot countries as India, where from high temperatures a person has no appetite at all, it is consumed because pepper and hot spices disperse it. Although there they fry them in ghee, as it is believed that there is no harm from this.

But for most people with a sick stomach and intestines, such food is simply contraindicated, since it, like salt on a wound, corrodes a sore spot and, for example, in a sick stomach can bring everything to an ulcer.

Spicy food irritates the stomach lining. Therefore, the use of a large amount of hot red pepper such as chili, as well as seasonings generously sprinkled with it, ground pepper has a negative effect if there are prerequisites for the development of gastritis. Spicy food is contraindicated for those who have chronic inflammation stomach and duodenum, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer. It can be used quite moderately in the period without exacerbation, very carefully a little bit.

And such food can provoke a serious deterioration in health and complications, for example. Although there is a reverse version that hot pepper causes blood vessels to fill, expanding them. This is positive for inflammatory processes because it prevents stagnation.

So you need to be attentive to your health and treat with care. Everyone knows the capabilities of his body. You can not get carried away and excessively, uncontrollably violate the diet. And if a little bit with caution, then you can sometimes.



In everything, and in food it is especially important to observe the measure. Spicy food, for example, is contraindicated in gastritis and duodenitis and stomach ulcers, and other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity. If you know the measure, then spicy food rather has a positive effect, which is to increase appetite and secrete gastric juice. The main thing is not to overdo it and you will be GOOD!

Craving something spicy? Have you ever thought about the effect of spicy food on your body. We all love to eat tasty, with an appetite.

Spicy spices added to food tend to create "ethereal" flavors that excite and enhance the sense of smell, and we unconsciously begin to experience hunger. The food seasoned with them is amazing in taste - as a rule, spices do not change, but enhance its best taste. There is an opinion that people added spices to food earlier than salt. The first mentions of spices are found in the ancient written sources of China, India and Egypt, as early as 3 thousand years BC. Having received its worldwide recognition and wide application(used in almost any national cuisine), are small particles of subtropical and tropical plants after processing.

We are not designed to digest spicy food.

Everything would be fine, but our internal organs they are not used to digesting spicy food, and “tuning” for processing takes centuries, and is passed down through the genes. Eastern countries have long used hot spices in cooking - this is their ethnic cuisine, and the body oriental man adapted to such food. In turn, our cuisine seems tasteless and insipid to them, as taste buds are accustomed to more “thrill”. In our region, spices were brought relatively recently, therefore, the body has not yet adapted. Excessive passion and use of hot spices by us can lead to big health problems.

I can already hear how lovers of spicy food object to me - after all, in most Internet sources, it is precisely its useful properties that are described. I can list them:

• Promote weight loss. As if, after eating spicy food, the body temperature rises, the metabolism speeds up, and the portion of food eaten becomes smaller. They write that all this leads to weight loss. I'd like to argue - the temperature and metabolism increase very slightly, which does not affect the restoration of normal weight; regarding portions - eating spicy food, we only irritate the walls of the stomach, as a result, more gastric juice is released, respectively, the feeling of hunger will visit us after a short time.
• Normalize blood circulation. Again, "due to the increase in temperature, the vessels dilate and the pressure drops." And what about people with low blood pressure, if you believe what is written, then after consuming spicy food, it will drop even more. And where is the "normalization" of blood circulation?
• Improve the work of the digestive tract. People with gastritis with low acidity may. And to everyone else? Excessive and constant secretion of gastric juice in a larger amount than necessary for the normal process of digestion can lead to gastritis with high acidity, or even worse - ulcers.

I don’t argue with other properties, in any case, there are positive and useful sides in hot spices, but now it’s not about them.

Choose spices wisely

You need to carefully select spices for your body, and use in cooking in small quantities. If you immediately start eating very spicy food, and in large quantities, as a result, you can cause irreparable harm to the body.

First, you will have problems with your taste buds. The perception of taste will change, or in general, the receptors will stop “working”, and you will not feel the taste of food. As a result, you will add more and more different spices to food, for a sense of taste.

Secondly, as I wrote above, spicy food irritates the walls of the stomach, excess gastric juice is released - as a result, you get pain, colic and, ultimately, gastritis and ulcers as a gift. Also, all of the above can be attributed to the intestines.

Third, you may have the strongest allergic reaction on food that is unaccustomed to the body.

Based on the foregoing, it is necessary to carefully monitor your body's reaction to taking spicy food - if you experience discomfort or pain in the abdomen, or a slight rash on the skin, it is best to exclude such food from the diet, and not "terrorize" your internal organs.

If everything is fine with you, there are no negative consequences, you can eat seasoned food at your pleasure, but do not forget - everything should be eaten without frills. After all, we have a habit of harming ourselves, and then running around to doctors and looking for solutions to health problems, although we could have avoided them initially.