Post by Fletchsmile on Oct 28, 2015 9:08:52 GMT 7
From Healthwire - more reasons to like it hot. A few caveats nearer the end though and things to bear in mind that everyone is different in the way they respond to foods and it may not always be positive
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The little red cure for cancer, pain... and a whole lot more
By Dr. Geovanni Espinosa | Tuesday, October 27, 2015
As a proud Cuban-American, my penchant for hot peppers is a matter of heritage. (Fun fact: Havana is the namesake of the habanero — one of the hottest chili peppers out there.)
But as a naturopath and fierce proponent of lifestyle medicine who’s made a career out of helping men stay healthy, well... let’s just say my love affair with spicy food runs a little deeper than most.
And if you can handle the heat, yours should, too.
Why? One word: capsaicin. This is the compound that gives chili peppers their signature burn — the higher a pepper’s capsaicin content, the hotter its heat. But fiery flavor isn’t the only thing that capsaicin brings to the table. And older guys in particular would be wise to take note.
Especially given the results of one recently published study. This new research found that capsaicin attaches itself to the surface of prostate cancer cells. And that in large enough quantities, it causes the cells’ membranes to rupture, resulting in destruction.1
It’s hardly the first study to shine a spotlight on capsaicin’s cancer-fighting potential, of course. In fact, it just confirms all the research that has taken place over the last decade — including a particularly impressive 2006 study out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
These researchers demonstrated that regular doses of capsaicin slashed PSA production and killed up to 80% of prostate cancer cells in mice, through multiple different pathways.2
It remains to be seen whether these results can carry over into humans, which is why I haven’t started prescribing capsaicin supplements to my patients — yet. But it’s more than enough reason to indulge in more spicy meals.
And it’s hardly the only reason, either. In fact, research has also uncovered capsaicin’s potential benefits against a long list of other forms of cancer — including colorectal, liver, lung, pancreatic, and breast cancers, just to name a few.3
But that’s not even the half of it. Capsaicin has quite a resume where pretty much every plight of aging is concerned:
• It kills pain. You probably know capsaicin best as an active ingredient in topical pain creams. And there’s a good reason for that. Studies show that the heat from this pepper compound overrides your body’s pain receptors with consistent application — resulting in relief from conditions ranging from arthritis and neuropathy, to psoriasis and shingles pain.4
• It pumps up testosterone. Strange but true: A recent study found that men who like their food spicy — and who use a heavy hand with the hot sauce accordingly — have higher salivary testosterone than those who don’t. (The same correlation didn’t apply to seasoning with salt.)5
Granted, this is a classic chicken-or-egg conclusion. But previous research on rats suggests that capsaicin can spike testosterone levels.6 So it certainly can’t hurt to throw some Sriracha on that omelet.
• It burns off your beer gut. Remember that conversation we had about brown fat a few weeks ago? Well, new research from the University of Wyoming suggests that increasing dietary capsaicin may be one of several natural strategies to “brown” your body’s white adipose tissue — and crank your metabolism into high gear.7
• It lowers blood pressure and boosts heart health. That’s right — studies show that capsaicin prevents cholesterol accumulation in the arteries and helps to keep blood vessels relaxed and dilated.8 I don’t know about you, but I’ll take hot sauce over statins and beta blockers any day.
• It’ll keep you alive longer. Clearly, some of these benefits reach outside the confines of the lab. Because get this: Researchers collected data from nearly half a million subjects across 10 regions in China. And they found that the people who ate spicy food most or every day of the week were 14% less likely to die prematurely from any cause. And that hot pepper consumption linked to lower risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease, in particular.9
If that’s not a case for an extra helping of capsaicin, I don’t know what is. There are a couple noteworthy caveats, however — with one blanket warning that, if hot peppers don’t agree with you for any reason, you certainly don’t want to eat more of them.
Bear in mind that some of these adverse effects may not be so obvious. Along with potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes, peppers are members of the nightshade family — a group of plants distinguished by their solanine content. Solanine is a compound that can worsen arthritis and allergy symptoms in some people.
If you’re one of these people — and eliminating and reintroducing nightshades from your diet is the only way to find out — then obviously, doubling down on your chili pepper intake isn’t a good idea.
It’s also true that strong spices can irritate the bladder and the prostate, and aggravate pre-existing urinary symptoms. This doesn’t happen in all guys — some are just more sensitive to it than others, for whatever reason. But as with nightshade sensitivity, identifying a potential reaction requires trial and error.
Ultimately, it’s worth it to you to test the waters. Because there’s no reason to avoid chili peppers if you don’t have to... and plenty of compelling reasons to feel the burn every chance you get.
Stay tuned and stay well,
Dr. Geo
Geo Espinosa, N.D., L.Ac, C.N.S., is a renowned naturopathic doctor recognized as an authority in integrative management of male and urological conditions. Dr. Geo is the founder and director of the Integrative Urology Center at New York University Langone Medical Center (NYULMC), a center of excellence in research and integrative treatments for urological conditions.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
1. Swain J, et al. J Phys Chem B. 2015 Sep 10;119(36):12086-93.
2. Mori A, et al. Cancer Res. 2006 Mar 15;66(6):3222-9.
3. Díaz-Laviada I, et al. Prog Drug Res. 2014;68:181-208.
4. Anand P, et al. Br J Anaesth. 2011 Oct; 107(4): 490–502.
5. Bègue L, et al. Physiol Behav. 2015 Feb;139:375-7.
6. Ilhan T, et al. Biotech Histochem. 2013 Jan;88(1):10-8.
7. Biophysical Society. "What's next in diets: Chili peppers?." ScienceDaily. 8 February 2015.
8. American Chemical Society (ACS). "Hot pepper compound could help hearts." ScienceDaily. 27 March 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327215605.htm>.
9. Ly J, et al. BMJ. 2015 Aug 4;351:h3942.
--------------------------------------------------
The little red cure for cancer, pain... and a whole lot more
By Dr. Geovanni Espinosa | Tuesday, October 27, 2015
As a proud Cuban-American, my penchant for hot peppers is a matter of heritage. (Fun fact: Havana is the namesake of the habanero — one of the hottest chili peppers out there.)
But as a naturopath and fierce proponent of lifestyle medicine who’s made a career out of helping men stay healthy, well... let’s just say my love affair with spicy food runs a little deeper than most.
And if you can handle the heat, yours should, too.
Why? One word: capsaicin. This is the compound that gives chili peppers their signature burn — the higher a pepper’s capsaicin content, the hotter its heat. But fiery flavor isn’t the only thing that capsaicin brings to the table. And older guys in particular would be wise to take note.
Especially given the results of one recently published study. This new research found that capsaicin attaches itself to the surface of prostate cancer cells. And that in large enough quantities, it causes the cells’ membranes to rupture, resulting in destruction.1
It’s hardly the first study to shine a spotlight on capsaicin’s cancer-fighting potential, of course. In fact, it just confirms all the research that has taken place over the last decade — including a particularly impressive 2006 study out of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
These researchers demonstrated that regular doses of capsaicin slashed PSA production and killed up to 80% of prostate cancer cells in mice, through multiple different pathways.2
It remains to be seen whether these results can carry over into humans, which is why I haven’t started prescribing capsaicin supplements to my patients — yet. But it’s more than enough reason to indulge in more spicy meals.
And it’s hardly the only reason, either. In fact, research has also uncovered capsaicin’s potential benefits against a long list of other forms of cancer — including colorectal, liver, lung, pancreatic, and breast cancers, just to name a few.3
But that’s not even the half of it. Capsaicin has quite a resume where pretty much every plight of aging is concerned:
• It kills pain. You probably know capsaicin best as an active ingredient in topical pain creams. And there’s a good reason for that. Studies show that the heat from this pepper compound overrides your body’s pain receptors with consistent application — resulting in relief from conditions ranging from arthritis and neuropathy, to psoriasis and shingles pain.4
• It pumps up testosterone. Strange but true: A recent study found that men who like their food spicy — and who use a heavy hand with the hot sauce accordingly — have higher salivary testosterone than those who don’t. (The same correlation didn’t apply to seasoning with salt.)5
Granted, this is a classic chicken-or-egg conclusion. But previous research on rats suggests that capsaicin can spike testosterone levels.6 So it certainly can’t hurt to throw some Sriracha on that omelet.
• It burns off your beer gut. Remember that conversation we had about brown fat a few weeks ago? Well, new research from the University of Wyoming suggests that increasing dietary capsaicin may be one of several natural strategies to “brown” your body’s white adipose tissue — and crank your metabolism into high gear.7
• It lowers blood pressure and boosts heart health. That’s right — studies show that capsaicin prevents cholesterol accumulation in the arteries and helps to keep blood vessels relaxed and dilated.8 I don’t know about you, but I’ll take hot sauce over statins and beta blockers any day.
• It’ll keep you alive longer. Clearly, some of these benefits reach outside the confines of the lab. Because get this: Researchers collected data from nearly half a million subjects across 10 regions in China. And they found that the people who ate spicy food most or every day of the week were 14% less likely to die prematurely from any cause. And that hot pepper consumption linked to lower risk of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease, in particular.9
If that’s not a case for an extra helping of capsaicin, I don’t know what is. There are a couple noteworthy caveats, however — with one blanket warning that, if hot peppers don’t agree with you for any reason, you certainly don’t want to eat more of them.
Bear in mind that some of these adverse effects may not be so obvious. Along with potatoes, eggplants, and tomatoes, peppers are members of the nightshade family — a group of plants distinguished by their solanine content. Solanine is a compound that can worsen arthritis and allergy symptoms in some people.
If you’re one of these people — and eliminating and reintroducing nightshades from your diet is the only way to find out — then obviously, doubling down on your chili pepper intake isn’t a good idea.
It’s also true that strong spices can irritate the bladder and the prostate, and aggravate pre-existing urinary symptoms. This doesn’t happen in all guys — some are just more sensitive to it than others, for whatever reason. But as with nightshade sensitivity, identifying a potential reaction requires trial and error.
Ultimately, it’s worth it to you to test the waters. Because there’s no reason to avoid chili peppers if you don’t have to... and plenty of compelling reasons to feel the burn every chance you get.
Stay tuned and stay well,
Dr. Geo
Geo Espinosa, N.D., L.Ac, C.N.S., is a renowned naturopathic doctor recognized as an authority in integrative management of male and urological conditions. Dr. Geo is the founder and director of the Integrative Urology Center at New York University Langone Medical Center (NYULMC), a center of excellence in research and integrative treatments for urological conditions.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
1. Swain J, et al. J Phys Chem B. 2015 Sep 10;119(36):12086-93.
2. Mori A, et al. Cancer Res. 2006 Mar 15;66(6):3222-9.
3. Díaz-Laviada I, et al. Prog Drug Res. 2014;68:181-208.
4. Anand P, et al. Br J Anaesth. 2011 Oct; 107(4): 490–502.
5. Bègue L, et al. Physiol Behav. 2015 Feb;139:375-7.
6. Ilhan T, et al. Biotech Histochem. 2013 Jan;88(1):10-8.
7. Biophysical Society. "What's next in diets: Chili peppers?." ScienceDaily. 8 February 2015.
8. American Chemical Society (ACS). "Hot pepper compound could help hearts." ScienceDaily. 27 March 2012. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120327215605.htm>.
9. Ly J, et al. BMJ. 2015 Aug 4;351:h3942.