A man in Canada recently set his third mark recognized by the Guinness World Records for speed eating his way through 246 grams of ghost peppers, which are ranked as the world’s hottest chili pepper. Afterward, he told a television station he felt “great about winning the title,” because it puts him one step closer to his goal: “Collect as many Guinness Records for eating hot peppers as I can.”
According to some research, this pepper champion may be extending the time he has to achieve his fiery ambition. A new study, presented initially at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2020, suggests that people who regularly eat chili peppers may live longer. Researchers from Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute looked at data from 4,729 studies that included roughly 570,000 people and found regularly eating chili peppers reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by as much as 26% and of cancer-related deaths by 23%.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a chemical compound that, despite its red-hot nature, has a cooling, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer and blood-glucose-regulating effect. Some research also suggests that when eaten regularly, chili peppers can aid in weight loss, possibly due to their high levels of polyphenols.
Don’t hesitate to chop up a pepper for tonight’s dinner -- but reports from the Environmental Working Group suggest some hot peppers may contain potentially toxic insecticides that can harm the central nervous system. So spice up your life, but wash peppers well, and buy organic or grow your own when you can.
More proof of the remarkable health benefits of walnuts
Walnuts are the oldest known tree food. There are records of their consumption dating back to 7000 B.C. Merchants traveling the Silk Road transported them between Asia and the Middle East. The ancient Romans called them Juglans regia, “Jupiter’s royal acorn.”
More recently, nutritional science has identified what makes them so good and good for you. Some studies show they help control diabetes and lessen diabetes-related nerve pain. Other research finds they’re beneficial to brain health and lower LDL cholesterol levels. And a new study clarifies how and why they’re so good for your heart.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the research followed 600 healthy older adults for two years -- some consumed 30 to 60 grams (1 to 2 ounces) of walnuts per day; others followed a standard diet without any walnuts. When the researchers measured levels of 10 well-known inflammatory biomarkers, they found that people on the walnut diet had reductions of up to 11.5% in six of them, including interleukin-1B, which is often a target of pharmaceutical intervention when treating heart disease.
Tamping down of inflammatory markers likely comes from walnut’s super-serving of the omega-3 fatty acid called alpha-linolenic acid. Just about 1 ounce of the nuts provides 2.5 grams of ALA. And according to a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, every gram of ALA you eat per day lowers your risk of dying from heart disease by 10%. So go nuts -- about 12-14 walnut halves a day should do
