Is Chili Healthy? It’s All About Spicy Food Lovers

By - Dr. Rimita Farid

Just because we need to eat, it doesn’t mean that our food has to be boring. A few red chili pepper flakes on your pizza can make it pop. But the question arises, is chili healthy? So, here is going to be some good news for those who love to add spices, especially chili, to their foods.

Before knowing further about the health benefits and side effects of chilies, let’s first know what is chili or chili pepper? Chili pepper is the fruit plant that belongs to the family genus capsicum and is a member of the nightshade family, commonly known as chilies. It is equally popular in European as well as Asian cuisines to add spices and flavors to different dishes.

The article is going to explore everything about chilies. Whether the green or red chili is healthy? How healthy is chili? Why is it healthy? And most importantly,  through this article, you are going to know about how chili can help you lose weight.

Is Chili Healthy?

Is chili healthy for you? Is hot chili good for you? Is chili good for health? Is chili a healthy meal? Is chili a good diet food? We came across such sorts of questions about chili. So let us discuss how healthy is chili? As per an study, people who eat food seasoned with chili peppers had a lower risk of death as compared to people who never eat them.

Chinese researchers also concluded that eating chilies were associated with a lower risk of death. So chili is good for health because some experts believe that capsaicin found in chili pepper helps in weight management by curbing our appetite and speeding up our metabolism.

On the flip side, as per research people with the intake of more than 50 grams of chili per day self-reported much higher occurrences of poor memory. Also, experts caution us that eating a lot of chilies in a short period proves to be detrimental to our health as it can cause peptic ulcers or gastric ulcers and many other diseases related to the stomach.

Why Is Chili Good for You?

The science is far from settled, but a couple of big diet studies in China and the US have suggested that eating hot peppers or chili helps you live longer. And a deeper dive into the physiological effects of spice explains why. The idea that spices can have beneficial effects is not new. Research has demonstrated that many popular spices have antimicrobial properties which could slow food spoilage.

But some say, eating spicy food might extend your life. And there is some science behind such bold claims. There was a 2015 study in the British Medical Journal that found a spicy diet can increase life expectancy.

A detailed data set of questionnaires and physical measurements collected over 500,000 Chinese citizens found that patients who ate a lot of spicy food like hot chili peppers or chili oil have a 14 percent lower death risk than those who did not eat spicy foods.

This was mostly from reduction to cancers, heart diseases, and respiratory ailments such as asthma and not food poisoning. It was also found that spice lovers have low blood pressure and blood sugar level. That’s why chilies are considered healthy.

Health Benefits of Green Chili

Is green chili good for health? Green chili is good for health. It is even more healthy than red chili or red chili powder. Green chili has more water content and more vitamins and minerals as compared to red chili. It can be used in many different dishes including salads. Here are some proven health benefits of green chili.

Improves Immunity

Green chili is a rich source of vitamin C. You may have noticed that eating spicy foods having green chili can help you in opening up blocked nostrils. It can also strengthen your immunity.

Mood Stabilizers

Capsaicin present in green chili aids in the release of the endorphin hormone that makes you feel good. It is very beneficial in improving your mood.

Releases Saliva

Food that releases saliva when you chew it, will help in improving digestion. If you add green chili to your food, it releases saliva so the food mixes well and helps indigestion.

Have Zero Calories

Green chili has zero calories in it and it helps in losing weight by the process of thermogenesis.

Antibacterial

Green chili has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties that can help in improving your gut health.

Good for Constipation

Green chili has an excellent amount of fiber that helps to relieve constipation.

Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

Eating green chili can lower the risk of heart disorders as it lowers triglycerides levels in the blood, so it prevents heart attack.

Is Red Chili Good for Your Health?

Is chili powder good for you? Is red chili powder bad for your health? Is hot chili good for you? Is homemade chili good for you? Is chili pepper good for you? The health-conscious people ask such sorts of questions about red chili. Red chili has many health benefits.

But too much red chili is not good for health as it can lead to acidity, gastric ulcers, and diarrhea.

Here are some health benefits of red chili.

Is Chili Good for Weight Loss?

Is chili fattening? Is chili healthy for weight loss? Is vegetarian chili good for weight loss? Is chili healthy for diabetics? Can you eat chili every day? Most health-conscious people ask this type of question about chili. Green chili and red chili pepper both are good for weight loss.

Chili pepper, known for its hot flavor, has many benefits. Once you bite into a pepper, chemical capsaicin is released causing a burning sensation in the mouth which releases adrenaline into the bloodstream causing the breakdown of fats.

This is because chili peppers are thermogenic, which are those spices and herbs that increase your metabolism. While you eat them, calories are burned by heat production in the body. And this thermogenic effect continues after you consume peppers, increasing your metabolism up to 10-20 percent for 30-45 minutes.

The combination of both exercise and adding chili peppers into your nutrition can be an effective way to lose weight. Chilies also help with diabetes by improving the balance of blood sugar and insulin in the body.

Reviews on Some Famous Canned Chilies

Here are the reviews about different types of canned chilies and chili sauces available in the market.

Is Turkey Chili Healthy?

Is turkey chili good for weight loss? Is turkey chili good for you? So, the turkey chili is similar in nutrition to beef chili but the flavor is different from that. Hormel turkey chili is best in taste. It is 98 percent fat-free and is good for weight loss. Turkey is used in it as meat. It is very filling with 410 calories. It is spicy but not overly hot.

Is Wendy’s Chili Healthy?

Is Wendy’s chili good for you? Is chili from Wendy’s healthy? Well, Wendy’s chili has 250 calories, 7 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber, and 23 grams of protein but it is very high in sodium that can be bad for health. It contains beef as a good source of protein but is very high in fats and sodium so it is not considered healthy.

Is Beef Chili Healthy?

Beef chili is very tasty and rich in flavor. It is an excellent source of protein. It is healthy and good for you.

Is Tim Hortons Chili Healthy?

Tim Horton’s chili is very high in sodium. The amount of sodium in it is 50 percent of your daily recommended intake. Moreover, it is highly processed and high in fat so it is very unhealthy.

Is Canned Chili Good for You?

Canned chili can be good for you if it has high protein content, low sodium, and fat content and it is less processed. Best canned chilies are:

Are Chili Beans Healthy?

These chilies are an excellent source of fibers and protein. Beans are a very good source of protein but you should also add some vegetables to balance the food portions.

Is Frito Pie Healthy?

Frito pie is a super chili, Mexican in origin, very delicious but very high in sodium and saturated fat that is not good for heart health.

Is Wolf Brand Chili Healthy?

Wolf brand is made from beef and pork. It has 400 calories but too much sodium and carbs make it unhealthy. It has no beans in it.

Is Vegetarian Chili Healthy?

Vegetarian chili contains beans and meatless crumbles, which are a good source of protein and fiber. It is a lean protein, low in sodium, and heart-healthy. It is very filling and has 190 calories per bowl. Best vegetarian chilies are:

The Bottom Line

So, what do you think, is chili healthy or not? Yes, it is healthy. It has a healthy immune system and your overall body. It can help in reducing weight through the miraculous effects of capsaicin and thermogenesis. But too much of it can cause stomach problems. So keep in mind that you should include spices in food but a moderate amount. When it comes to choosing the best chilies, select fresh ones with vivid deep colors and glossy firm skin.

FAQs

Is a bowl of chili fattening?

Canned chilies usually contain high amounts of sodium and fats. So, if a bowl of canned chili is high in salt and saturated fats, it can be fattening.

How bad is chili for you?

Chili peppers can not be good for everyone. Those having stomach problems should avoid adding an extra amount of chili to their diet as it can cause gastric ulcers or diarrhea.

Is it okay to eat chili every day?

It is okay to eat 50 grams of chili every day. Consuming more than that can result in memory problems and can cause stomach ulcers.

What is the healthiest chili?

Green chili is the healthiest chili because of its water content. It has zero calories and it can help in weight loss.