Eating Spicy Foods Reduces Blood Pressure And Heart Attack Risk: A Study

High blood pressure is known to be a risk factor for a heart attack, so lowering your blood pressure is a good way to lower the risk. There are many different ways you can lower your blood pressure such as reducing stress, losing weight, exercising regularly, and above all, eating well.

The main trick to lowering blood pressure is to reduce your salt intake, because salt is a major contributing factor to higher blood pressure. Unfortunately, many Americans are eating too much salt, but the secret to reducing your salt intake is to get a little spicy.

Eating spicy foods reduces salt intake, reducing the risk of heart attack

The study found that people who ate spicy food were more likely to be sensitive to salt, which means they enjoyed meals with less salt.

Senior study author Zhiming Zhu explained , “Previously, a pilot study found that trace amounts of capsaicin, the chemical that gives chili peppers a pungent odor, have improved the perception of salty food. We wanted to test whether this effect would also reduce salt consumption. "

The researchers looked at the eating habits of 606 Chinese adults and decided whether they preferred spicy or salty foods. The participant's preferences were then compared to their blood pressure levels.

The researchers found that those who ate more spicy food had an 8mm reduction and a 5mm reduction in diastolic blood pressure. People who did not like spicy food were more likely to eat more salt.

They recommend that if your food is seasoned well with other spices, then you will not need to use as much salt, which can positively affect your blood pressure.

The NHS recommends that we eat only six grams (2,300 mg) of salt a day as a way to lower blood pressure. Unfortunately, the average American consumes 3,400 mg or more per day as a result of a diet high in processed and packaged foods.

Even if you do not like spicy foods, there are many other flavors that you can try on your meals to taste your dishes properly instead of salting them. This way you not only cut back on your salt intake, but work towards lowering your blood pressure, which protects your heart.