Spice up your life with spicy foods for a beating heart

Is spicy food good for your heart? Your immediate answer would be a raised eyebrow and something like: what does spicy food has to d with the heart? A while ago I thought the same!

I’m a spicy food addict; I can go around all day eating hot chili peppers with every bite I take. I pour harissa paste on every plate; it just adds to the flavor of food beyond imagination.

In our efforts to raise awareness of heart health, possible risks, and potential beneficial treatments, I decided to show you some of the incredible advantages of spicy food.

How much on the Scoville scale for hot and dangerous?

Spicy food owes much to chili peppers. Chili peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, the reason behind all the wonders we witness in hot foods and their related advantages.

Peppers were not all created equal; even those that were initially the same were later genetically engineered to compete with other species.

Wilbur Scoville, an American pharmacist, created a test in 1912 to measure the pungency of peppers. In the last updates in the classification of the top hottest peppers, the Carolina Reaper scored 2,200,000 SHU. It is once again the hottest pepper in the world. Be aware, it might sting you.

Capsaicin is a chemical compound abundant in peppers; it gives a sensation of heat and stimulates the nerves. It might burn but it is also highly beneficial. However, you need to pay attention to your intake of capsaicin for excessive consumption might lead to severe damage and even death.

Health benefits of spicy food

• Metabolism and weight loss: spicy food has great effects on your metabolism. If you add some hot harissa paste to your meals you will be enjoying a significant rise in your metabolism resting rate, i.e., the amount of energy you burn. The boost can reach 8 % of the normal rate.

Burning more calories for your body to perform its functions would ultimately lead to weight loss. So make sure you spice up your food a bit.

• Bacteria and inflammations: spicy food has been relied upon as a good fighter of inflammations. Garlic, ginger, cumin, and chilies have great anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties; luckily for you, all these ingredients can be found in the famous Tunisian harissa paste.
• Mood changing spices: mental health has been in the loop, especially in the last couple of years. Depression and stress are inescapable due to exhausting routines and the pressing demand of life. Fortunately, spices help produce hormones like serotonin, known as the hormone of happiness. It boosts your feelings of confidence and is an excellent anti-depression compound.
• Digestion: with more or less unhealthy food choices and bad eating routines, digestion has been a rising problem for most people. Spices like chilies can increase the digestive fluids in your body.
• Heart health: the bottom line of our frenzied search for health solutions is to find the perfect formula to maintain good heart condition. Spicy food can work wonders for your heart. It inhibits the detrimental effects of bad cholesterol and fights inflammations. More importantly, capsaicin has been proved to inhibit salt cravings; combined with garlic’s anti-blood pressure effects, you have a miracle at hand.

Harissa paste, a spice that combines all heart-friendly ingredients, prevents the major causing factors of strokes and heart issues. Those ingredients help regulate blood flow and strengthen the heart muscles thanks to vitamin A and C. Spice up your food for a perfectly beating heart.

Bring on the heat with these spicy recipes:

If you would like to start your day with a dish that could jazz up your day, then you might want to try one of the following recipes:

Toast with fried beans and boiled eggs:

Ingredients:

• 1 bread slice
• 2 tablespoons of refried beans
• 1 Boiled Egg
• 1 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce

In simple steps, you should first toast the bread slice, put your beans on the slice, add the egg, and finally pour some hot sauce on top.

Lablabi:

Tunisians are huge fans of one dish named lablabi. It is the official dish during winter, and it can be consumed at all times of the day.

Ingredients:

• Boiled chickpeas
• Sliced bread
• Boiled eggs
• Harissa paste
• Tuna
• Salted olives

First of all, you need to cook your chickpeas; a handful is enough for one person. Place them in a pot with water, salt, and cumin, and leave them to cook for about twenty minutes maximum.

Slice the bread into small pieces, pour the chickpeas with some of the water and mix well. On top, put one or two boiled eggs, two tablespoons of harissa, one tablespoon of tuna, and a few salted olives.

Spicy food not only adds flavor to dull and bland dishes but also benefits your health significantly. Include harissa paste into your diet and enjoy perfect heart health along with endless advantages.