An unexpected vegetable turned out to be a natural elixir of life

Cardiologists from the Cleveland Clinic (USA) have made a preliminary conclusion about the potential benefits of hot chili peppers for prolonging life. They plan to report the results of their large-scale analysis at the upcoming annual scientific sessions of the American Heart Association.

The researchers analyzed data from four major studies involving more than 570 thousand people from the USA, Italy, China, and Iran. All studies were dedicated to examining the relationship between regular consumption of chili peppers and mortality rates.

The findings were impressive: people who frequently eat hot peppers had a 26% lower risk of death from cardiovascular diseases, 23% lower risk from cancer, and a 25% lower overall risk of premature death from any cause compared to those who do not consume chili or do so extremely rarely.

Scientists note that such benefits may be associated with capsaicin - an alkaloid that gives peppers their spiciness. It has previously been established that this substance has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer effects, and also helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Nevertheless, the researchers emphasize: the exact mechanisms of capsaicin's action on the body are not fully understood, and additional clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings and better understand the biological processes.