09/03/2026
A massive study of half a million men and women in China found that those regularly eating spicy foods had an associated 14 percent reduction in total mortality, meaning the risk of premature death. That could translate into about an extra year onto your lifespan, if it is cause-and-effect. A lot of healthy green tea is drunk in China, though. Would we see the same results in a country like the United States? We did. A similar benefit of a 13 percent reduction in premature death.
One of the mechanisms by which spicy food may help with longevity is hacking our brains by making foods taste saltier. Anything that reduces sodium intake could improve longevity, as excess salt consumption is a deadly dietary risk factor, killing millions of people every year. Not only could you use spice to replace salt, but the spicy compound actually makes food taste saltier than it actually is. Sprinkling on some red pepper powder can increase your sensitivity to the taste of salt, so you can get that same salty taste with less salt. Researchers were able to pick up differences in people’s secondary taste cortex, the part of our brain associated with pleasure signaling to salty foods, when they were in a PET scanner.
Use hot peppers to hack your brain for your health! But, just because all studies to date on spicy food and mortality suggest hot peppers may help you live longer, that doesn’t mean you should go out and eat a ghost pepper.
Watch the videos “Is Spicy Food Good for You?” at https://bit.ly/46l5iMj and "How Hot Peppers May Extend Your Life" at https://bit.ly/43rSCSC.
