Is spicy food good for blood pressure

For those with high blood pressure, chili peppers might be just what the doctor ordered, according to a study reported in the August issue of Cell Metabolism, a Cell Press publication. While the active ingredient that gives the peppers their heat – a compound known as capsaicin – might set your mouth on fire, it also leads blood vessels to relax, the research in hypertensive rats shows.

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What spices are good for high blood pressure?
Can you eat chili with high blood pressure?
Does hot pepper increase blood pressure?
Is hot sauce good for high blood pressure?

“We found that long-term dietary consumption of capsaicin, one of the most abundant components in chili peppers, could reduce blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats,” said Zhiming Zhu of Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China.

Those effects depend on the chronic activation of something called the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel found in the lining of blood vessels. Activation of the channel leads to an increase in production of nitric oxide, a gaseous molecule known to protect blood vessels against inflammation and dysfunction, Zhu explained.

The study isn’t the first to look for a molecular link between capsaicin and lower blood pressure. However, earlier studies were based on acute or short-term exposure to the chemical, with some conflicting results. Zhu says their study is the first to examine the effects of long-term treatment with capsaicin in rats with high blood pressure.

The findings in rats should be confirmed in humans through epidemiological analysis, the researchers said. In fact, there were already some clues: the prevalence of hypertension is over 20% in Northeastern China compared to 10-14% in Southwestern China, including Sichuan, Guozhuo, Yunnan, Hunan, and Chongqing, where Zhu is from.

“People in these regions like to eat hot and spicy foods with a lot of chili peppers,” Zhu says. “For example, a very famous local food in my hometown, Chongqing, is the spicy hot pot.”

It isn’t yet clear just how many capsaicin-containing chili peppers a day you’d have to eat to “keep the doctor away,” although that’s a question that should now be examined in greater detail, Zhu says.

For those who can’t tolerate spicy foods, there might still be hope. Zhu notes the existence of a mild Japanese pepper, which contains a compound called capsinoid that is closely related to capsaicin.

“Limited studies show that these capsinoids produce effects similar to capsaicin,” Zhu says. “I believe that some people can adopt this sweet pepper.”

Source: Cell Press

Turn the heat up.

Spicy foods could help lower blood pressure caused by hypertension because of an ingredient found in chilies, a new study finds.

The study used laboratory rats with hypertension to test if chilies could lower blood pressure over a long period of time. Researchers found that capsaicin, an ingredient that gives peppers their heat, relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure, reports the Daily Mail.

Capsaicin activates a receptor channel in the lining of blood vessels which increases nitroic oxide, a molecule that protects the body from inflammation and other vascular problems.

"We found that long-term dietary consumption of capsaicin, one of the most abundant components in chili peppers, could reduce blood pressure in genetically hypertensive rats," said Zhiming Zhu of Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China to the Independent.

Not a fan of spicy food? Hot chilies may not be the only peppers that contain capsaicin. Sweet peppers may have capsinoid, a cousin of capsaicin that mimics the same benefits, said Zhu.

Eating more than one teaspoon of salt in one day goes against the recommendations of the American Heart Association, but eating bland food is no fun. A new study shows how spicy food can lower the desire for salt, subsequently lowering blood pressure and keeping it at a healthy level.

High blood pressure, AKA hypertension, is one of the most frequently studied risk factors for heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease. Scientists know that keeping blood pressure at a healthy level is vital for maintaining cardiovascular health. Certain foods, like those with lots of salt, can increase blood pressure, but eating spicy foods may help people resist the temptation of salty food.

“Trace amounts of capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers their pungent smell, enhance[s] the perception of food being salty," explained senior study author Zhiming Zhu. Based on this finding, Zhu and his team of researchers from the Third Military Medical University in Chongqing, China wanted to see if eating spicy foods could also reduce salt consumption.

Capsaicin is one of several compounds called capasaicinoids, and what most people would describe as “hot” or “spicy” is actually not technically a taste but a different sensation; there are no taste buds associated with capsaicinoids.

In a study of 606 Chinese adults, researchers analyzed the varying preferences for salty and spicy flavors, looking for accompanying trends in blood pressure levels. They found that those with a “high spicy preference” had on average lower blood pressure and consumed less salt than people who liked spicy food the least.

A second part of the study involved imaging techniques to observe two parts of the brain, both associated with detecting a “salty” sensation: the insula and orbitofrontal cortex. Results showed that salty and spicy sensations in the brain shared similar detection areas. Additionally, spicy food increased brain activity in areas also activated by salt, increasing a person’s sensitivity to salt so they generally needed less to be satisfied with a food’s saltiness.

Zhu says that in general, a good way to cut down on salt consumption is to use a lot of spices during cooking: “Habit and preference matter when it comes to spicy food, but even a small, gradual increase in spices in your food may have a health benefit."

The present study was published in the journal Hypertension.

Sources: Northwestern University Helix Magazine, American Heart Association

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What spices are good for high blood pressure?

That said, there are several promising herbs and spices you can incorporate into your diet that may help lower your blood pressure. They include basil, parsley, celery seeds, Chinese cat's claw, Bacopa monnieri, garlic, thyme, cinnamon, ginger, and cardamom, to name a few.

Can you eat chili with high blood pressure?

The researchers report that another study has found that eating hot chillies causes a temporary increase in blood pressure in humans, but that the longer-term effects are not known. Until more research is done, people with high blood pressure should not try substituting their blood pressure medication with chillies.

Does hot pepper increase blood pressure?

Meta-analysis showed no significant effect of red pepper/capsaicin on SBP (0.43 mmHg, 95% CI: -1.15 to 2.01), DBP (-0.45 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.14 to 1.24), and HR (-0.60 bpm, 95% CI: -1.97 to 0.78).

Is hot sauce good for high blood pressure?

Hot sauce is relatively high in sodium, a nutrient you may need to limit your intake of — especially if you have high blood pressure or are sensitive to salt.