“A lot of patients have misconceptions about how much salt is already in their food.” But researchers have identified a simple alternative to salt: chili peppers. A study of 606 Chinese adults found that those who prefer spicy food consumed less sodium and had lower blood pressures than their mild-palate counterparts.
It has been proven that consuming spicy foods from peppers that contain capsaicin can help lower blood pressure. Statistics show people who consume spicy food on a daily basis have a 14 percent lower risk of death, diabetes and cancer than people who consume it less than once a week.
The researchers say that laboratory research has shown that blood vessels relax when exposed to capsaicin. However, other studies in humans and rodents have had contrasting results, with some finding it raised arterial blood pressure while others found it lowered blood pressure.
One study specifically highlighted that frequent consumption of spicy foods can trigger upper gastrointestinal symptoms in some people with dyspepsia (or, indigestion). For people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), spicy foods can also trigger symptoms.
Spicy food may play a role in promoting heart health. Research shows a correlation between a higher intake of spicy food and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies have also found a relationship between spicy food intake, higher HDL cholesterol levels (the "good" kind of cholesterol) and lower blood pressure.
Spicy food can improve heart health
In one large study conducted at the University of Vermont, scientists found that people who regularly consumed capsaicin had a 13 percent reduction in total mortality — primarily in deaths caused by heart disease or stroke.
Looking after your heart
Both cardamom and sweet basil are often included in curry powder and they're known as vasodilators. In other words, they can lower blood pressure, which means reducing the chance of developing cardiovascular conditions, including atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes.
Lifestyle - Certain lifestyle habits can raise your risk for high blood pressure, such as eating too much sodium (salt) or not enough potassium, lack of exercise, drinking too much alcohol, and smoking.
Packed with the goodness of antioxidants, black pepper can naturally help in managing blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health.
High sodium consumption can raise blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt.
Still, you can make lifestyle changes to bring your blood pressure down. Something as simple as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water every day improves blood pressure. Water makes up 73% of the human heart,¹ so no other liquid is better at controlling blood pressure.
Egg consumption has no significant effects on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in adults.
Tomatoes are a good source of potassium, which also plays a role in lowering blood pressure.
Eating a low-fat diet that includes lots of fibre, such as wholegrain rice, bread and pasta, and plenty of fruit and vegetables also helps lower blood pressure.
eat too much salt and do not eat enough fruit and vegetables. do not do enough exercise. drink too much alcohol or coffee (or other caffeine-based drinks) smoke.
Cheese is a great source of protein and calcium but is often high in saturated fat and salt. This means eating too much could lead to high cholesterol and high blood pressure, increasing your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Capsaicin, the active pungent of spicy foods, is the endogenous ligand of the transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1). Experimental data show that TRPV1 activation leads to vasodilation, water retention and natriuresis - effects that may reduce blood pressure (BP).
Yes, the chili pepper eaters were also 61% less likely to have died of cerebrovascular disease such as strokes.