Spicy foods can actually help you stay warm in the winter. Spicy foods contain a compound called capsaicin, which helps to warm up your body and raise your body temperature, which can help keep you warm in the cold winter weather. Eating spicy foods also increases your metabolism, which increases heat production, and improves blood circulation, which can help to raise your body temperature more quickly. In addition to spicy foods, there are many other ways to help keep your body warm in the winter. Wearing warm clothes, drinking warming teas like ginger tea or yuzu tea, and getting regular exercise are also good options.
How Spicy Foods Affect Your Body Temperature
Best Spicy Foods for Winter Warmth
What Science Says About Capsaicin and Warmth
Can Spicy Foods Boost Your Metabolism in Winter?
Tips for Enjoying Spicy Foods Without Irritating Your Stomach
How Spicy Foods Affect Your Body Temperature
The effect of spicy food on body temperature is mainly due to a compound called capsaicin. Capsaicin is a component found in large quantities in chili peppers, which makes you feel spicy and raises your body temperature. The effect of spicy food raising your body temperature is temporary and may vary depending on your body type and health.
Improved blood circulation: When you eat spicy food, your blood vessels dilate, improving blood circulation. This promotes blood circulation, transferring heat throughout your body and making you feel warm. Research shows that eating spicy food more than three times a week reduces the risk of blood vessel blockage by 20%.
Promotes sweating: When you eat spicy food, your body secretes more sweat to release heat. As the sweat evaporates, your body temperature drops again.
Increased body temperature: Capsaicin stimulates the body's heat receptors, making you feel hot. This can actually have the effect of slightly increasing your body temperature.
Increased metabolic activity: Capsaicin has the effect of increasing your body's metabolic activity. This can increase energy consumption and contribute to an increase in body temperature.
Best Spicy Foods for Winter Warmth
Spicy food is the best way to beat the winter cold. Spicy flavors go beyond simply stimulating the tongue, and they warm our bodies in various ways. Here are some representative spicy foods that warm up our bodies in the winter:
Kimchi stew: A traditional Korean spicy stew made with kimchi, pork, and tofu. The broth is spicy and warm, making it perfect for cold weather.
Maeuntang: A spicy soup made with fish and seafood, featuring red pepper powder and red pepper paste. It warms the body and soothes the stomach.
Gochujang stew: A traditional Korean spicy stew made with red pepper paste, various vegetables, and meat, and the spiciness of the red pepper paste is strong.
Spicy stews: Agujjim, seafood stew, galbijjim, and other dishes that are steamed with spicy seasonings and plenty of bean sprouts or radish are also winter delicacies.
Tteokbokki: Tteokbokki is a representative spicy food of Korea, made by stir-frying rice cakes, fish cakes, and vegetables with gochujang sauce. It is characterized by a strong spicy yet sweet taste.
Mala Tang, Huoge (Chinese): A hot soup dish with spicy mala sauce and various ingredients that helps warm the body in winter.
Tom Yum Kung (Thailand): A sour and spicy soup dish that helps blood circulation.
What Science Says About Capsaicin and Warmth
Capsaicin, the main ingredient that gives it its spicy flavor, is a chemical found in chili peppers. Capsaicin stimulates our body's sensory receptor, TRPV1 (Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1). TRPV1 detects hot temperatures (over 42℃) and chemical stimuli (spicy tastes). When capsaicin binds to the TRPV1 receptor, the following processes occur:
Increased heat production:
TRPV1 receptors normally respond to high temperatures (over 42℃). However, capsaicin activates this receptor, making you feel hot regardless of the actual temperature. This is called 'thermogenesis', and the body produces more heat, which increases body temperature. This is especially helpful in keeping the body warm in the winter.
Blood circulation:
Capsaicin intake increases blood circulation, which activates metabolism and can temporarily increase body temperature by 0.5 to 1 degree. Capsaicin also stimulates sweat glands to produce sweat, which has the effect of lowering body temperature, but at the same time, it promotes blood circulation to help keep the entire body warm.
Promotes metabolism:
Capsaicin increases metabolism when consumed. Metabolism is the process by which the body produces and consumes energy, which generates heat. Capsaicin activates this process, increasing heat production, which in turn increases body temperature.
Fat burning effect:
According to research (Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012), capsaicin activates brown adipose tissue (BAT), which increases energy expenditure and generates heat, which has the effect of burning fat.
Can Spicy Foods Boost Your Metabolism in Winter?
Spicy foods can help increase your metabolism in the winter. The main role is played by a compound called capsaicin in spicy foods. When capsaicin enters the body, it promotes metabolism and increases heat production, which in turn increases body temperature. This means that eating spicy foods in moderation in the winter can help keep your body warm by activating your metabolism.
Eating spicy foods activates your sympathetic nervous system, and when your sympathetic nervous system is activated, thermogenesis increases, which in turn activates your metabolism and increases your energy consumption. This is the process by which your body generates more heat to maintain its temperature. Studies have shown that eating spicy foods can increase your metabolic rate by 8-10%. Eating spicy foods also improves blood circulation, which further promotes energy consumption and heat production in the body. As your body temperature increases, your metabolic rate also increases.
Tips for Enjoying Spicy Foods Without Irritating Your Stomach
Spicy food stimulates your appetite and helps relieve stress, but sometimes you hesitate because of heartburn or indigestion. However, if you know a few tips, you can enjoy spicy food while keeping your stomach comfortable.
Adjusting the level of spiciness:
Don't try too strong a spiciness right away, but start with a mild flavor and gradually increase the level. It is important to find the spiciness that suits you by mixing various spicy ingredients such as red pepper powder, green chili pepper, and pepper.
Neutralizing the spiciness:
Drinking a cup of dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and kulfis 30 minutes before eating spicy food can neutralize the spiciness and relieve irritation in the stomach. Carbohydrates such as rice, bread, and noodles absorb capsaicin and help relieve the spiciness. Sweetness has the effect of neutralizing the spiciness, so adding a little sugar or honey is also a good way. You can neutralize the spiciness with acidic drinks such as lemon juice, lime juice, and vinegar.
Recipe usage:
When making spicy food, lightly frying or boiling the spicy ingredients in oil beforehand can dilute the capsaicin and soften the spicy taste.
Adding ingredients that are good for digestion:
Adding vegetables rich in fiber such as cabbage, broccoli, and carrots to spicy food can help digestion and protect the stomach lining. Ginger, garlic, and onions help digestion and are good for stomach health.
Managing eating habits:
It is recommended to avoid eating spicy food on an empty stomach. An empty stomach can stimulate stomach acid and worsen heartburn. It is recommended to eat a light meal before eating spicy food or eat other foods with spicy food. After eating spicy food, it is recommended to drink warm water or tea to soothe the stomach. Eating spicy food slowly will less irritate the stomach.
source:
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