Chili peppers have long been favored by people who want to spice up mealtime
But now it turns out chili peppers could play another important role in keeping you healthy. Researchers are looking at using capsaicin to help fight off several different types of cancer by keeping the cancer from growing. It’s the first time a publication in a medical review journal has gone in depth on this type of research involving capsaicin sustained released formulations and their anti-cancer activities. Previously, the issue has only been briefly addressed.
Researchers from Marshall University found capsaicin was able to inhibit the growth of several different types of cancer.
The issue now, is how to best deliver the capsaicin to people as a possible anti-cancer agent. It’s sometimes difficult for people to absorb capsaicin pills, plus sometimes the capsaicin is simply too hot. It’s not uncommon for the oral form of capsaicin to cause other issues like nausea, stomach cramps, gastrointestinal irritation, or a burning sensation in the gut, either. One idea is to encapsulate the capsaicin with some type of sustained release drug delivery system.
Researchers from the same university previously found capsaicin can help prevent the spread of lung cancer.
That’s significant because it’s the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women and men. Lung cancer can also spread, making it even more difficult to treat patients. The studies show capsaicin potentially has more health benefits than previously realized. Capsaicin is already used for things like pain relief, plus it’s thought to help with weight loss, too. Above all, though, the capsaicin in hot peppers really spices up mealtime, and that’s something we can all appreciate. So, whether you’re just looking for a way to take a journey on the hot pepper scale or perhaps greatly improve your future health, getting more hot peppers in your diet is sounding more and more like a good lifestyle decision.