Spicy food and health

What is spice?

Okinawa Soba (Okinawan noodle and soup) 

is delicious and healthier with spices

 (red pepper, chili source, & red ginger).

People who often eat spicy foods live longer. This finding is based on the research result announced from China. It is said that the possibility of living longer and higher more than 10% of the average life expectancy. 

By the way, spicy dishes in China almost contain chili. If so, it means that chili is good for your health. Well, the problem with this opinion is whether we should take chili every day or not.

Spicy is an adjective from a noun, spice. There are various spices in the world. Pepper, ginger, nutmeg etc. are also spices. Humankind has been using spices since the ancient times. 

Spices are important ingredients for making cooked dishes more palatable and tastier. Spices are also served as preservative by delaying food spoilage and as disinfection due to its antibacterial property. In general, spices are used as seasoning, and many more. However, spices effect of preservation and sterilization are actually mild.

For example, Okinawa soba (noodle) a classic menu served in the cafeteria and small eateries in Okinawa. When you reach the table at the cafeteria, you will notice the spices on the table such as, the Shichimi red pepper, Awamori Chili Sauce (Ko-Re-Gu-Su), and red ginger. We like to eat these "spices" with buckwheat Okinawa soba. This is how to eat Okinawa soba. Okinawa soba is a menu that uses spices well.

Spicy food is good for health

There are many spicy menus at American restaurants. Specifically, there is a famous menu called "chicken wing," which has a large amount of spices for deep-fried chicken. By the way, we love it myself. However, it does not have a good image of healthy diet.

Mexican food "Chile" seems like a healthy menu. It is because the ingredients mixed with chili peppers (legumes). Since “chicken wing” was originally "fried birds", and it is difficult to regard it as a healthy menu no matter how much chili is mixed.

Spicy foods and capsaicin

Various studies on spices and health effects have been conducted. It has been said long time ago that there are fewer incidence of cancers in areas with a high intake of spices. Bioactive substances, such as capsaicin contained in spice, have the function of burning fat. Upon ingesting capsaicin, the substance physiologically active, substance P near the pharynx (oropharynx) increases. This substance P also improves the swallowing function, and some studies succeeded in using spices to prevent aspiration pneumonia.

It also can improve digestion and absorption functions. In addition, spice has antibacterial action and a good effect on intestinal bacteria, reduce the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver.

In this way, the good effect of spice has been pointed out in the beginning of this article. The result of the Chinese research that we introduced at the beginning of this article is shown here:

About 20 thousand (subjects) people followed-up for an average period of seven years. The mortality rate of those who had spicy food more than six times a week had a 14% lower in total death rate compared with people who ingested less than once a week. The cause of death from cancer, ischemic heart disease, respiratory illness had declined. This good health benefit was found to be even bigger, especially for non-drinkers.

Based on this result, what will happen to our health advice? We recommend that a rich diet incorporating spices as part of the dishes as well. However, since the original ingredients are important, use spices for vegetables and fish dishes. In addition, it should be used for meat dishes too. We frequently eat Okinawa soba at restaurants in Okinawa. Of course, it is also spicy.

Yasuharu Tokuda, MD, MPH & David Itokazu, MD